The National tribune., 1882-08-19

cumbrances and hastened to the point of
exit, intent on at least change of prisons.
On reporting TO the commanding sergeant
we learned that he had room for only one
man more. Dick and / drew cuts for the
chance. l won, and bidding him good-by,
/ took my place in the ranks Almost i'm
mediately the order was given to move from
the stockade. With impulses of Joy we saw
the heavy wooden gates swing opel, and
with loud cheers that Te-echoed from the re-
mainder of the prisoners we marched out
At every pace forward the air grew purer
and purer We had become so accustomed
TO breathing tetid atmosphere of death
that the uncontaminated article seemed a
positive luxury. On reaching the head
quarters of Wirz we were counted off for the
second time and were then guarded to the
station and crowded into box cars sixty men
10 car, with two rebel soldiers on the in
side and party of them on top. As soon
rs meagre ratiOns for two days were dealt
ont TO us, the locomotive gave a shrek. We
answered il with hearty cheer, and the
train ratified of on the road toward Macon.
The rebels Gwore positively that we were
bound foT home. We had proceeded but
few miles on our journey when, on rounding
4 curve in 4 deep cut at q high rate of speed,
a shocking disaster occurred. The rails had
been woUI TO almost the narrowncss of an
inch. The locomotive was lifted from the
track by own momentum, and, plunging
headlOng into the bank, car after car came
piiing IN confusion upon it. The car ] was
in was be third from the engine. It's for
ward end was buried III the bank. part of its
floor was disloca.ed, and It's rear end was
crushed. TIE next one behind it was torn
to flinders, and almost every car in the train
was thrown from the track and more or less
shattered. SgTinging from the wreck as
quickly rs possible, I gained the top Of the
bank, and could have escaped with ease, for
no5 n guard was in sight. I preferred my
chance Of being exchanged, however, to
wandering for month. through hostile
country. The Sgoans Of the wounded under
The cars were, indeed. pidable, and We i'm
medidtcly commenced the task of extTicating
the sufferers. Itwas difficult one, and half
the night was consumed before they were all
out ard sent back to the station AS many
of the rebel guards were killed and wounded,
in proportion, as there were of the prisoners.
! can give no estimate OF the entire loss.
We felt double sympathy for the wounded
prisoners, for we knew they would receive
little or no attention from the rebel surgeons.
Most of them viii certainly die-perhaps
all of them--from gangrene. Many of the
dead had been crushed TO Jelly between
the bank and the cars. The negro engineer,
who was caught between the engine and the
bank, behaved in a very heroic manner.
calmly giving directions while a party was
digging him out He was mortally injured,
and must have expired on the following day.
While engaged in rescuing the wounded,
whenever we found rebel musket we broke
it to pieces This was easily done in the
darkness. After the excitement had some
what subsidized we kindled fires and slept
till morning. We were in spacious pine
forest, and so great was the contrast with An
deTsonville on waking that it seemed that we
had hnan snddAnlv transnlanted from q place