The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1881-12-08
A STORY OF THE WAR.
WHAT CAUSED THE CONFEDERATE SWEET
POTATOES To DISAPPEAR.

ing story of his experience while stand
| ing guard over the prisoners one night
in Libby Prison in 1868: 'aThe building
was SO crowded with prisoners that
large number of them were quartered in
the second story of a building across the
street. In the first story of this building
| the prison officers had slowed large
supply of splendid North Carolina sweet
potatoes.
"About the third day after the pris.
oners had been placed in the building
it was noticed that the potatoes were
disappearing at the rate of about bush
ell a day. At first it was thought that
the rats had taken them, but second
thought showed that the idea was absurd.
Sentinels wero posted around the build
ing, with orders to shoot any man caught
stealing those potatoes; but they didn't
see anybody to shoot, and, although
they were posted there day and night,
and no one was allowed to enter the
room in which the potatoes were kept,
they still continued to disappear.
"These potatoes at that time were
considered luxliries, and the Confeder-
ate officers were nearly wild with rage
windows of the room were sealed, and
private marks were put on the wax. The
next morning the officers went into the
room. The wax was all right, but an
other bushel of potatoes had vanished.
It was the maddest crowd you ever saw.
They locked me in, and lighted candle
was put at each end of the room SO that
[ could see.
II was ordered to shoot on sight any
body l saw stealing those yams. 1t was
terrible lonesome in that room. just as
fast as l would light one candle and 90
| to the ether end of the room to light the
other, the rats would cut the first one
down. They were regular Confederate
rats, and candle was godsend to them.
About midnight / heard cracking, graf
ing noise. cooked my gun and listen
ed. The noise ceased, I could see
nothing but the rats, and I began to
think the place was haunted. Presently
the noise occurred again. 1 looked at
the pile of potatoes, and presently 1 saw
something shoot from the ceiling and
fall on them. | saw it was brick, and
could distinguish rope tied to it. /
| crept a little nearer to get good look
at the thing, but before I could examine
it, it was drawn slowly up, and there
was about peck of potatoes sticking to
| it. It went up through hole which had
been cut in the floor above, and pres
emily came down again with thump
right among the potatoes. 1t was the
most artful arrangement you ever saw.
The brick had about fifty holes drilled
| in it, and through each hole a sharpened
tenpenny nail had been run, 50 that
when the brick fell among the potatoes
these nails stuck into every one they fell
on. l could not help laughing at the
smart dodge those Yankees had taken.
| gently put my hand forward and caught
hold of the rope. Pretty soon they
began to draw on it, and when it did
not move heard one fellow say: STEADY,
boys; the bricks hung in something.
Pull her steady without jerking.
''Ihey did pull steadily, and fairly
lifted me from the floor. No jerk; easy,
boys, easy the director said, and they
tugged away. I got pretty red in the
face holding to the rope. l was afraid
to let go. because I thought some of
those spiked nails might strike me in
passing. I thought of my pocket knife
and bauled it out just as they were put
ting all their weight on the other end of
the rope. / cut it in two and the erd
shot back through the ceiling, and /
could hear rolling and tumbling on the
floor above, showing that the sudden
giving way of the rope had disastrous
effect. heard another voice say: ''There,
now, told you so. You've broken the
rope. We've lost our brick, and to NOR
row We'll be found out. Can't you see
it, We might hook it up. Next saw
a long neck protruding through the hole,
and fellow peering down. Then /
called out: eff you trouble any more
of those potatoes I'll shoot" The fell
lows head shot back through that hole
just like terrapin, and it was as still as
death up there. l hated to tell on them.
because it was such sharp scheme of
foraging on the enemy, but 1 had to.
When the officers went up next morning
TO examine the room it took long time
20 find the hole. Those Yankees had cut
a hole about foot square through the
floor, and it was done SO neatly that it
took good eyes to discover it.
SOME Texan farmers are trying the ex-
pertinent of importing from Russia a
certain beetle which feeds on grasshop-
peTs, locusts, cotton worms and other
destructive insects.