The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-01-19
A DEATH SENTENCE , EyERsED.


and fighter himself like the other
Hickory Bayou boys" said Col. Baker,
Chairman of the Cairo Ill.l Lecture
Association. He's joined the church
now, but he takes care of every drunk
en- man he sees. See, he's pulling
Whiskey Bill into his wagon
"But why does he interest himself so
for Whiskey Bill? p
well, as l was saying, the Captain
used to be drinker and fighter himself.
He was sentenced to be shot once in the
army for fighting. He struck an officer,
got on drunken frolic, and"
And how did the Captain escape" 1
asked.
"Well," said the Colonel, "Mason and
a dozen fellows from Hickory Bayou en-
listed in my regiment. He was a splen-
did fellow-always ready for battle
one of the best men in the regiment, but
he would have his sprees. One day,
about three weeks before the battle of
Mission Ridge, Mason brought a canteen
of whisky into camp, and, always gener-
GUS, went to giving it to the boys. This
was against orders; so l ordered my
Major to arrest him and put him in the
guard-house. Mason found out that the
Major was after him with squad of
men, and, full of deviltry, he COM
rienced lodging around behind the tents
to keep from being arrested. But, pretty
quick, in trying to keep away from the
men, he ran square against the Major.
Here, you rascal" said the Major,
Selling him by the coat-collar, without
giving him chance to explain. "Now,
you walk to the guard house. I'll fix
you, you scondrel."
"But, in the excitement of the mo-
ment, Mason knocked the Major flat,
and then he went and gave himself up. !"
"What was done about it, / asked.
''Well, Mason was tried before a-court-
martial for striking a superior officer,
sentenced to be shot, and the sentence
was sent to Gen. jeff Davis to be APP
proved. Then poor Mason was impris-
oned on bread and water, with a ball and
chain to each foot"
did General Davis approve the SEN
tence?"
Eyes, he approved it,"
But how did Mason escape being
shot?"
We'll, the next day, before the APP
proved sentence arrived, came the battle
of Mission Ridge, and our regiment was
ordered forward. Mason, of course was
in the rear, under guard, with a ball
chained to his ankles. We heard the
Rebel cannon in front all the forenoon.
We knew there was big battle on, and
we needed all our men. So l rode over
to the guard house and told Mason that
we would have to leave him behind
alone with his ball and chain on till the
battle was over.
LET me go with the boys, Colonel"
pleaded Mason. Il don't want to see
the boys in fight without me-"
"But you might escape, Mason, You
know there is sentence hanging over
you"
"'By heavens, Colonel! you amt going
to let the boys go into fight without
mel" and the tears came to his eyes.
Got to, Mason, l said. Il can't trust
YOU
"Then," continued the narrator, "the
order came from Gen. Davis for our
regiment to move up and charge Rebel
redoubt and the boys dashed forward.
1t was an awful fight Twice they emf
laded us, and the Rebel bullets moved
down our men by dozens, while the
Rebel flag still waved on the redoubt.
Colonel, you must capture that re-
doubtr' was the order that came from
Gen. Davis.
"Our men were now badly tired out,
and the dead and wounded lay all around
us; but got our men together, and made
the final charge. Gods! what charge!
Ny horse was killed under me. The men
went forward in a shower of bullets. l
thought they were going straight for that
flag; then all at once they wavered. The
bullets flew like rain, and the advance
men were all shot down. There was no
one to lead, and thought all was lost.
just then l saw a man come rushing up
from the rear. He grabbed dead SOL
dier's repeating rifle, pushed right
through the dead and dying. reached the
head, and pushed up the redoubt. The
boys saw him, took courage and followed.
In moment / saw the brave fellow
swing his rifle around him on the top of
the'redoubt grasp the flagstaff and break
it off, while the boys struggled up the
side and emptied their guns into the re-
treating rebels.
1.-The day was ours. As came up L
shouted:
"'Who took the flag, boys?'
est was Mason said the boys, and
looking down, l saw broken chain and
q shackle still on his ankler'
Then the narrator's voice choked him,
and the tears came TO his eyes.
~ couldn't help it, Colonel said
"a a n A.