Daily Republican., 1884-06-05
A Thrilling Iacident az Libby.
From the Albany Evening Journal.

From the Albany Evening Journal.
Ofthe officers ofthe regular army who
found themselves in Libby Prison In
1868 a, Cne was fine looking Colonel
from Indiana-a big bodied, big Drained,
big hearted fellow, chock full of energy.
He worked liked a steam engine until
he got out of Libby. Once he found
his tunnel too small for his burly form
once he was checked at the outer end OF
it by two or three Confederate soldiers,
who had been quietly waiting for him;
again q clever ruse was detected Just as
he got to the middle of the gate, and 50
1t went, until he had made half a dozen
attemps, But.he never gave up, and
finally got out and is now prospecting
citizen of indianapolis, a trifie stouter
than when he was in Libby, and good
deal richer, but otherwis, unchanged.
As Uncle Remus says, the ColoneI's
min wuz allus wukking.' After
two or three attt III pts to get tout OF Lib
by had failed, he began TO suspect that
his failures were the result of treachery
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 tor mess OF
pottage-currying the favor which
wsuld exchange" him to his home by
betraying the Plans OF his companions
in arms to the enemy. He looked
about him for the man. Cautious in
quiries at length gave him such infor-
nation as prompted him to say to each
of the other five regular army officers:
meet me at such spot at midnight.
l have found the traitor. We will
court-martial him to night"
Atmidnight the six men met in a
dark corner and in Whispering voices
organized drum head court.martial.
The Colonel presented the name of the
suspect, and then his proofs. In the
ballot that followed each of the six
voted "guilty" Now" said the
Colonel, "this is not a farce. We
must vote a sentence, and then we must
execute it," Very WE'LL" said the
next man. "Well," said the Colonel
"I vote FIR death. The wretch de-
serves it," $50 do l." said the next,
and 80 en- down to the sixth-a Pennsyl-
vania Major. He knew the culprit, a
pennsy like himself, better than
the rest. He knew that he was quite
capable of tho crime charged against
him. He had no doubt of his guilt.
He wanted to see him punished. He
said al this to the other members of the
court, and then he added:
But you know we are not a legal
court-martial. We have no authority
to act--certsinly no authority to kill.
We may sitt the evidence presented
against u man for our own satisfaction,
but we cannot sentence, much less kill
him. The most we can do Is to prefer
charges against h i'm TO the War De-
partment. We cant kill him Sud
denly interrupting himself, he said
Colonel, what's that in your hand ~
The rope" said the Colonel grimly
:" I've been plating it as we talked,
and he passed it around. He had taken
an old shirt, torn it into narrow strips
and woven it into something that look
ed like u rope.
"Now, Major" he said, when it was
handed back to him, what you have
said is a Il very we'll as to your head.
But you're outvoted the majority
is against you. The sentence of the
court is that the scoundrel shall die,
and die he will this miuute, for III kill
him myself. Come, Captain" he said
to the brawny Irishman next him,
you and ! will settle the rascal:
"Why, you wouldn't strangle him in
his sleep, would you 2" asked the Ma
jor, also on his feet as the others start.
ed toward the sleeping form of the trai'
tor. Certainly" whispered the Colo
mel :" why not? He can't pray, and We
can't have any noise"
You never WILL" said the Major
firmly, getting in front of the Colonel
81 won't let you you'll have to Kill
me first. | won't stand by and se'
you stain your honest hands with hi!
dishonest blood in such way as that
Why, man, it would be murder. Yot
would be murderer. l won't PERM
it,"
Gliding softly before the rest, h'
reached the sleeping man and sat doWr
beside his bead. There he sat till thu
gray morning came stealing in through
the chilly atmosphere.
Long before that time the Colonel anC
his companions, batiled and disgHsted
had stolen away to their sleeping place'
carrying the plated rope with them
AS soon as the Major could see thu
traitors face in the dim light of thu
dawn, he walked bin and told him al
that had occurred. "Now Sir" he saiC
sternly, "I saved your life last night
although l believe you worthy ofdeath
won't do it again. saved your lif'
for my sake, not for yours. My advice
is that as soon as the guard comes il
for roll call you get out of Libby, ant
as soon as you get to Washington ge
out of the army. If you're in the arm!
when | get out III prefer charge
against you, and If l meet you I'll xii
you.'
Trembling with excitement, tn
wretch, without word of denial or pal
liation, got up, and as soon as tn
lguard came in, got out. The stalwar
six forwarded charges against him from
Libby. When they got out of the pris
on they found him out of the army, 81
they dropped the matter. The traito
is in the army now, reinstated by &C
of Congress, believe; but the MaJo
who promised to kill him on sight l
under the green sod of the prairie
lSill, the Colonel would make thing
lively for the traitor if they were T.
meet face to face.
Curran's Story.
Lord AvOnmOre was very fond Q
I;,+.runtino rnunae1 His lOruShi