The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-10-12
Arhrilling Incident at Libby.

A Thrilling Incident at Libby.
From the ALBANY Evening journal
Ofthe six officers of the regular army
who found themselves in Libby Prison
in 1864, one was q ~fine-looking colonel
from Indiana big-bodied, big. Drained,
aig-hearted fellow, choke-full of energy.
He worked like a steam engine until he
got out of Libby. Once he found his
tunnel too small fer his burly form;
once he was checked at the outer end
OF it by Two or three armed confederate
soldiers, who had been quietly waiting
for him; againa clever ruse asdetected
Just as he got to the middle of the gate.
and SO it went, until he hau m ide half
dozen attempts. But he new gave up.
and finally got out, and is now a prns'
pering citizen of Indianapolis, a trihe
stouter than when he was in Libby, and
a good deal richer; but otherwise I'M
changed. AS Uncle Remus says, the
colonePs min WIZ allus wulking."
After two or three attempts to get out OF
Libby had failed, he began to suspect
that his failures were the result of treach-
cry in the prisoners camp. Exchange,
like kissing, went by favor. The colonel,
after thinking each failure over, came to
the conclusion that some poor devil was
selling his manhood for a mess of pot.
tage-currylng the favor which would
Exchange" him to his home by betray-
ing the plans of his conipan-
ions in arms to the enemy. He looked
about him for the nan. Cautious in
quiries at length gave him slch infor.
nation as prompted him to say to each
of the other five regular army office RS:
Meet me at such a spot at midnight. l
have found the traitor. We will court
martial him tonight"
At midnight the six men met i'll n
dark corner and in Whispering voices or
ganized a drum head-court-narlial. The
colonel presented The name of the sus-
pect, and then his proofs, In the ballot
that followed each of the six voted
guilty" "Now," said the colonel, "this
is nj a farce. We must vote a sentence,
and then we must execute it." Very
well" said the next "Well, sal
the colonel, ri vote for death. The
wretch deserves it." $50 do l." said
the next, and so on, down to the sixth
"a Pennsylvania major. He knew the
the culpri q Pennsylvania like him
self, better than the rest. He knew
that he was quite capable of the crime
charged against him. He had no doubt
of his guilt. He wanted to see him pun
ished. He said all this to the other
members of the court, and then he ad-
ded: "But you know we nre not a
legal court-marlial. We have no au-
thority to act-certainly no authority
to kill. We may sift the
evidence presented against a man for
Az n II ofiof,pt,or I-,t ,o ,r-l ,ar
tcnce, much less kill him. The most we
Gym do is to prefer charges against him
to the war department. We can't kill
him Suddenly ~interrupting himself,
he said: Colonel, what's that in your
hand?" THE rope" said the colonel
grimly; GIVE been plating it rs we
talked" and he passed it around. He
had taken an old shirt, torn it into mar.
row strips and woven it into something
that looked like a rope. Now, Major
he said, when it was handed back to
him, what you have said is all very
we'll. 1t does credit to your heart us
wen as to your head. But you're tut
voted: the = aiority is ag linst you. The
sentence of the court is that the scound.
rel shall die, and die he will this min
ute, for I'll kill him myself. Come,
Captain" he said to the brawny Irish.
man next him, you and l will settle the
rascal" "Why, you wouldn't strangle
him in his sleep, would you?" asked the
major, also on his feet as the others
started toward the sleeping form of the
traitor. Certainly" whispered the
can't have n noise" "You never wi)i.n
said the major firmly, getting in front
ofthe colonel; 81 won't let you; You'll
have to kill me first. | wont stand by
and see you stain your honest hands
with his dishonest blood in such a way
as that. Why, man, it would be a mur-
der. You would be a murderer. I
won't permit it," Gliding softly before
the rest, he reached the sleeping man
and sat down beside his head. There
he sat till the gray morning came steal
ing in through the chilly atmosphere.
LoGg before that time the colonel and
his COMPANIONS, baffled and disgusted'
had stolen away to their sleeping places,
carrying the plated rope with them.
AS soon as the major could see the
traitors face in the dim light of the
dawn, he walked him up and told him
all that had occurred. "Now sir" he
said sternly, 81 saved your life last
last night. although l believed you wor-
thy OF death. | wont do it again. |
6aNeu youi me iOT my sake, moi
for yours. My advice is that as soon as
the guard cores in for roll call YOU get
ont of LIBBY, and as soon as you get to
Washington get out out of he army. If
you're in tie army when I get out IN
prefer charges against you, and if l meet
you III kill YOU" Trembling with ex-
element the wretch, without a word of
denial or palliation, got up, aud as soon
as the guard came in, got out. The stall
wart six forwarded charges against him
from Libby. When they GOT out of the
prison they found him out of the army,
30 they dropped the matter. The trait
or is in the army now reinstated by act
Of congress, l believe; butthe major who
promised to kill him on sight is under
the green sod of the prairie. Still the
colonel would make things lively for the
traitor if they met face to face.
Tailor Made Costumes.
The tailor podo dra,eo, L.