The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-03-14
CONDEMNED BY THEIR COMRADES.
a RomiHiscrHcp Of AudrrsouNttIr, Told by "a
Prisoner,

a RcmiHIscrHcs Of Andrrsou'iiIe, Told BY a
Prisoner.
An old survivor Of Andersonyille IN
talk with Il representative Of the Eren'
ing Post says There was an episode
during my life al Audersonyille that
stands out in my memory above all 9th
ers. While Audersonyille developed cx-
amples Of as noble heruism and sell
sacrifice as the world probably ever
witnessed, il served also 10 bring out
upon the part of some Of the inmates
many Of the most abhurrent and despic-
able traits Il human nature The great
est luxury that could be enjoyed by Il
prisoner was warm blanket. Yet men
were found among the prisoners base
enough to rob their fellows Of these com
forts. A gang Of robbers was organized
who went around the camp al night and
tore blankets aud clothes of from
sick and dying men. kicking and beat
ing those who made any feeble attempt
az resistance. Money was also taken
from the prisoners, or anything Of value
that could be found upon them. In a
little while the robberies became 80
frequent as 10 be the worst Of our trou-
bles. A perfect reign of terror existed,
and We did not Enow what % do.
Finally, after consultation, VIE asked
permission Of Wirtz 10 investigate and
see who were the perpetrators Of these
outrages, aud punish them. Writ
granted il, and thank him fer il b
I this day. We picked ont six men for
trial before "a tribunal Of our own selec-
ti0n. 1t sat outside Of the stockade
under confederate guard. A judge.
jury, prosecuting attorney and clerk
were appointed, together with a oounsel
for the defence Evidence was heard
from many OF the prisoners, and the
accused were all identified as among the
parties guilty II the robberies. A YER
diet oi guilty was found, and they were
sentenced 10 be hung, and the entire
proceedings approved 10y Wiriz, who
ordered the lumber - be furnished Us
for scafuld. We built one sufficient
for our purpose in few hours. IL con
sisted simply Of n cruss-beam supported
10y two uprights. A platform was con-
structrd about three feet from the
ground, the nrst plsnk, laid at night
angles with the uprights and parallel
with the cross beams directly above IL,
being SO adjusted that il could be with
drawn from its position az moments
notice. The six condemned men were
escorted 10 this scafold 10y a guard Of
about three hundred prisoners, armed
with sticks and clubs They were
placed on this plank. In lieu of the
customary black cap We encased their
heads in Hour sacks.
Notwithstanding this absence Of GER
emony the scene was an impressive one.
The gallows stood near the top Of the
hill, and nearly all the thirty-eight thou
sand prisoners were gathered 10 witness
the execution. They maintained per
fec, silence refraining from any insults
10 the condemned, bat their hollow eyes,
pale, pinchci faces, their savage express
sion 81 couuienance, we're a sufficient
indication that not one should escape.
The ropes were carefully adjusted. with
the knot in each case under the left ear.
aud, by signal. the board withdrawn
from beneath them. There was a drop
Of two feet, and the bodies swung about
foot from the gruund-all but one.
The sixth man. a former sailor in the
navy. was perceived 10 have fallen to the
ground Tho rope had broken.
In an instant he was on his feet He
started 10 run down the hill. The crowd,
compreheuding his intention 20 escape,
followed with Wild yell in pursuit. II
was n flight for life he had the start
by a few seconds and he made the most
ot il. ! never saw man run AS he did
He went down 20 the morass with nearly
thirty-eight thousand men close upon
his heels. Not finding him there we
looked up and saw him running up the
side Of tho other hill We followed. He
made for one OF the huts or sheds, but
as soon as he heard us coming got out
and again started on the run. Widen
ing the distance between us he again
sought refuge in a dugout, and n sec
ond time had 90 abandon IL rs we came
up. II was twenty minutes before we
had him fast. He begged piteously for
his life, but we had no mercy. We had
20 drag him down the hlll through the
sand. thence through the swamp, aud
up the other hill to the scafold. He
was held hy three men on the platform
while the rope was adjusted the second
time. after we had splicci the rope He
trembled in every limb. AZ the given
moment the men pushed him from the
scafTold, and he swung clear from the
ground two feet. The robberies never
occurred again. ST Louis Ercning Post.