Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1883-02-08

scending. and again We seemed 10 rise.
The earth was elammy cold. and the air
foul and sunocating. Ny bruised shout
der got rough usage As I wedged myself
forward on my hands and face. The
hole grew narrower as / advanced, and
notwithstanding my slight form. Hound
myself more than once in the position Of
the fat man who had preceded me-
Morgan unhappily took q violent cramp
in one OF his legs, and 10 relieve his
distress Ipulled Of his shoe. This
proved somewhat troublesome charge,
for in order to save il for its owner I
had TO push IL ahead of me as crawled
onward. The length Of the tunnel SEEM
ed interminable. I was gasping for
breath, aud my shoulder was paining
me dreadfully. Il seemed as il we were
lost in some horrible grave.
Twas struck with the wonderful clear
ness with which all sounds were trans
mitted through the passage, as If we
were encompassed by metallic instead
of clay walls. At last, near fainting
with suffocation, pain and fatigue, .
ray of light gladdened my eyes and I
felt the welcome blessednpss of fresh
air-certainly the most delicious air I
have ever bresthed in my whole life
Morgan extended his hand and gave me
q friendly welcome rs | rose like an
apparition to the surface of tho earth,
and having reached terra firma / made
q careful and minute survey of my sur.
roundings. l was in yard that divided
two old buildings that faced respective
lv north and south.
stood about seventy feet from the
eastern wall of the prison, and looking
through the dilapidated fence saw the
sentinels pacing their posts, and by the
light OF the street lamps could easily
distinguish their features. An arched
way Of sufficient width for the passage
If wagons led to the street on the south
that ran next to and parallel with the
canal. l now noticed a third person
in the yard, and Morgan in whisper
introduced Lieutenant William Wat
son. of his own company of the Twen-
ty-first Wisconsin Regiment. We held
hurried conference, and decided to 90
down the street in an easterly direction,
agreeing to meet ut the second corner
for further consultation. We each re-
moved our shoes. that We might move
noiselessly. and also that we might run
the swifter if challenged by the senti-
nels.
Watson went off first and was follow
ed in about two minutes by Morgan
As they moved away closely watched
the two nearest guards, who at one time
halted on their posts and gazed together
after the retreating forms of my two
friends. l resolved, should they show
sign of firing, to shout an alarm to my
comrades and dash down the street af-
ter them. But the guards appeared to
have no suspicion that they were Yam
KEGS, and without any audible comment
regarding them resumed their pacing on
their posts. Feeling this to be my op-
portunity, l stopped from the arched
way and leisurely followed in the wake
of my friends. 1t would be difficult to
convey to one who has not shared in
like experience clear idea of the pecu-
liar sensation I felt when, after an in,-
prisonment of over six months, first
found myself in the open, fresh air, and
drank in the first fragrant breath of my
liberty; and I felt pang of regret as I
turned irresistibly to look at the grim
walls of Libby, where / was leaving,
perhaps forever, many of the most gal
lant fellows, the most valued friends of
my life. l followed the tracks
of the Confederates to the border of the
open field, which afforded clear view
for not less than half-mile toward the
north. A small farmhouse stood in
sight at distance which estimated at
1000 yards, but not man was in sight
of hearing. The sudden disappearance
of the party, whom knew could not
have reached the house in SO brief
time, was significant, and instantly
concluded that they were at that very
minute deploying about the border of
the swamp, SO as to encompass and close
in on us. ! turned quickly, and ran
back into the swamp. expecting, as | re-
treated to hear the whizz of bullet
from concealed Confederate. I had
taken less than dozen steps, when
long, clear whistle was heard to my
right, and instantly answered by another
on the opposite side of the swamp. My
two friends, mistaking these for my sig
mails, bounded thrcu III the woods like
startled deer, running towards the south
side.
1 stopped an instant, and heard o
dozen answering whistles, followed by
the loud, clear command of the Com
federates to ''close in" l could hear
the crash and parting of the brush as
our pursuers pushed their way into the
tangled jungel. The thought of going
back captive to Libby was like q knell
of death, and l fully resolved to take
any chance short of actual suicide rath-
er than be taken. had yet heard no
sound from the east side of the swamp,
and therefore determined upon that as
the point to run the gauntlet. tore
through the low bog, and lost my left
shoe in the treacherous mire, and. to
increase my speed, took off the other
and threw it away. / struck a cow-path
running eastward, and, hatless and
without shoes, 1 fairly few over the
ground. | sprang upon the huge trunk
OF fallen tree that crossed the path,
and, as | leaped to the ground on the
opposite side, tall Confederate con-
cealed behind it, and who had not heard
my swift and noiselessapproach, sprang
to his feet, leaving his carbine leaning
against the tree, turned and ran. He
tripped and fell Hat on his face, utter
ing q "whoop'' like Comanche In
dian.
As he lay straight In the path ieaped
squarely over him and almost into the
arms of three of the Confederates, who
leveled their carbnes at nv head and
commanded me to halt, while the fallen