The Northern Pacific farmer., 1885-05-07

eO.
He was discharged from the prison
with one dollar in his pocket He had
no home nor friend in the wide world,
outside of his criminal associates, to
whom he could apply for advice or as
sistance. As a matter of course he went
back to his old friends.
Success attended him for some time,
but before he reached his twentieth
year he was again arrested. He had
become SO noted that the District At
torney felt justified in pursuing az t->1}nus-
ual course-that of making eacg of
eight larcenies q separate charge against
him. He was convicted upon each
count, and was sentenced to the State
Prison for thirty years.
!, Fortunately f9t him. he looked upon
the bright side. [He proved to be per-
severing end Industrious, and became
an excellent workman.
Reserved and quiet, he had no COM
munication with the other convicts, and
seldom asked favor. obeying the rules
faithfully except in one respect. Hav-
ing been once pardonea, he had no hope,
Tor many years at least, il that direc-
ton; his only chance of freedom was to
= escape, and he was frequently detected
IN some scheme for that purpose.
But unlike most others engaged in
such plans, no dangerous weapons were
ever found upon him. A long time of
unusual quietness, on one occasion, led
me to suspect that, like the calm, it was
the forerunner of storm. I became
satisfied that he was making quiet
preparations to escape, but how or in
what manner could not conceive He
had nothing in his cell except table,
high cricket and Bible. Ihad examined
these very carefully many times with
out being able to discover anything
wrong
One day, noticed that the heads of
the nails in his seat, which was made
of inch board, were covered with putty
On removing the putty from one Of
them, found that the seat was fastened
with screws instead OF nails. With
q screw driver I removed one of
the side pieces which secured
the legs, and the secret was d.
vulged. The edge OF the board
which formed the leg had been mortised
ont, making quite areceptacle, in which
was concealed set of keys, fitting oil
the locks from his cell door TO the
outer one,
sent for him and showed him what
1 had discovered. His head dropped
for a moment, then raising his eyes,
with a look so sad and sorrowful that
the impression has not yet passed from
my mind, he said,-
"Mr. Warden, thus pointing to the
keys-"vanish into air hopes that have
buoyed me UP for the last three years.
have Que more, the key to the outer
door, on which I am now ut WORK.
Permit me to return to the shop. No
one else can find it, and will deliver it
up. It IS of no use to me now"
The key was found concealed in the
door Under his bench.
I,felt that any punishment had the
power to inflict would be slight con1par-
= ed with what he suffered from the dis
covery of his plans, and the destruction
of his hopes of escape. He was there
fore permitted to return to his work
without being punished.
Years passed. He 1naintaind the same
quiet demeanor, giving no trouble, MAX
ing no more attempts to escape until he
reached his twelfth year in prison.
,-ebellion had broken out, troops
~ -.sscalled for. He became quite in
ested in the result, and early express
"a desire to take part in the conflict,
that he might, as he said, to some extent
by his services, OF even his life, COM
pensate the community for the wrongs
he had committed.
Feeling great interest in The man,
laid his case before CIV. Andrew, who
granted him pardon. I saw him en-
listed in one of the Massachusetts regi-
ments, and was present when he left for
the seat of war. He assured me should
hear no i'll report from him.
On the night following the battle of
Fredericksburg the Union commanders,
J. uncertain Of the movements of the
rn emy during the night, called for some
one to volunteer to go to the front, and
if possible ascertain what they were do
ing.
D-,as shall call him, was the
first to step forward. Receiving his
instructions, he silently disappeared in
tho darkness. After long interval of
almost intolerable suspense, the silence
was suddenly broken by struggling
shots followed by volley all along the
enemys lines. A few minutes later our
spJ emerged from the darkness covered
with mud and the blood streaming from
half-a-dozen wounds.
y He had succeeded in penetrating
their lines, and had obtained correct
knowledge of their plans. In attempt
ing to return he was discovered, fired
upon, and wounded in several places,
but not seriously. The darkness favor
ed him and he escaped.
His information was so important
nat the commanding officer withdrew
mis- troops under cover of the darkness
and established another line which COM
pletely destroyed the plans of the ene-
my, thereby saving the Union army
Hon1!gr peril, if not from destruc-
tion.
D. was complimented in general
orders for his services, aud every one
expected that he would receive COM
mission. But it got whispered abroad
that he had been convict, which not
only prevented promotion, but had
tendency to ALLEVIATE from him many of
HIS old associates, who from that time
avoided HIM. Notwithstanding this
unjust treatment, he continued to dis
charge his duties in faithful manner.
Some months later he was made
q prisoner and taken to Richmond.
His skill as workman became
known, and every inducement was
held out to him by the Confederates
to induce him to enter their workshops,
but in vain he remained true to his oath
as soldier. E.
After many weary months, sick and
emaciated, he was exchanged. His con-
stitution was so shattered by the hard
ships he had gone through, that he ask
for, and obtained, a furlough to come
In this he had double purpose
,ruit his health, and4o obtain, If pos
some information in regard to q
I,r. who. on tEla death Of his mother