The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-03-25
atfording relief 10 suffering millions yeas
after that heart ceased to beat.
TWICE EaANGEAI.


There was an episode during my life at
Andersenville that stands out in my memory
above all others. No man can conceive of
the Generalization that comes upon men
confronted on all sides with SO much,
misery. The greatest luxury that could
be enjoyed by prisoner was a warn
blanket. Yet men were found among the
prisoners base enough to rob their fellows of
even these comforts. A gang of robbers
was organized, who went around the camp
OF night and tore the bankots and clothes
off from sick and dying men, kicking and
beating those who made any feeble at
! tempt at resistance Money was also taken
from the prisoners, or anything of value
that could be found upon them. In little
while the robberies became so frequent as
to be the worst of our troubles. A perfect
reign of terror existed, and we did not
know what to do. Finally, after CONSUL
tation, we asked permission of Wirtz to in
vestigate and see who were the perpetra-
tors of these outrages and punish them.
Wirtz granted 1.-THE only kind act he ever
did, believe, for the Union prisoners
there, and thank him for it to this day.
We picked out six men for trial before
tribunal of Cur own selection. It sat out
side of the stockade under Confederate
guard. judge, jury, prosecuting at
torney, and clerk were appointed, together
with O. counsel for the defence. Evidence
was heard from many of the prisoners,
and the accused were all identified as among
the parties guilty of the robberies A yer-
yict of guilty was returned, and they were
sentenced to be hung. The proceedings
were approved by Wirtz, who ordered the
lumber to be furnished US for a scafold.
We built one sufficient for our purpose. 1t
consisted simply of O erossbeam, supported
by two uprights. platform was con-
structed about three feet from the ground,
: the first plank, laid at right angles with the
upright and parallel with the crossbeam
: directly above it, being 80 adjusted that 1t
could be with drawn from its position at
moments notice The six condemned men
were escorted to this sceffold by a.gnard of
300 prisoners, armed with sticks and clubs
They were placed on this plank. In lieu
of the customary black cap, their heads:
were encased in -four sacks.
Notwithstanding this absence of cere-
meny, the scene was an impressive one.
The gallows stood near the top of the hill,
and nearly all the thirty eight thousand
prisoners were gathered to witness the exc
, cution: They maintained perfect silence,
refraining from any insults to the con-
demned, but their hollow eyes, pale,
pinched faces their savage expression Of
countenance were sufficient indication Of
their determination that not one should es-
cape. The ropes were carefully adjusted,
with the knot in each case under the left
ear, and by signal, the board Withdrawn
from beneath them. There was drop Of
two feet and the bodies swung about a
foot from the ground-all but one. The
sixth man, former sailor in the navy, was
, perceived to have fallen to the ground.
The rope had broken.
, In an instant he was on his feet. He
started to run down the hill. The crowd,
q comprehending his intention to escape,
g followed with wild yell in pursuit. It
g was flight for life. He Ind the start by .
' few seconds and he made the most of it.
q I never saw man run as he did. He went
down to the morass with nearly thirty
; eight thousand men close upon his heels.
t Not finding him there we looked up and
saw him running up the side of the other
: HILL We followed. He made for one of the
f huts or sheds, but as soon as he heard us
/ coming got out and again started on the
Q run. Widening the distauce between us,
he again sought refuge in dugout, and
Q second time had to abandon it as we came
up. 1t was twenty minutes before we had
him fast. He begged piteously for his life,
but we had no mercy We had to drag
n him down the hill through the sand, thence
: through the swamp and up the other hill to
J., the scaffold. He was held by three men on
the platform while the moose was adjusted
s the second time, after we had spliced the
: rope. He trembled in every limb. At the
0 given moment the men pushed him from
e the scaffold, and he swung clear from the
q ground two feet The robberies never
occurred again Correspondence 81. Loat
e Post