The National tribune., 1885-03-05

much lower down thar the day before. Hero
he swain a narrow channel and reached a small
| island, where, for q time, he secreted himself
| among some drift wood at the upper end OF the
| island. In all his terrible struggle he seemed
to look to the river and TO trees for safety.
| These became fixed ideas, and possibly inter-
! fered with his seeking refuge in any other
manner. But the loss of clothing at the outset
was fatal misfortune
| 4 party with blood hounds now came over
| from the mainland to search the island for him.
| The dogs came upon him, but he broke away
| from them, and ran around the lower end Of
! the island, wading in the shallow water, and
| in this way throwing the hounds off the track;
| then he plunged into the dense thicket with
| which the island was covered, and again as
cended tree There for long time he re-
| Bained securely concealed. while his pursners
searched the whole island. Frequently they
| were under the very tree, whose high follags
efectualy screened him from the gaze of dogs
and men. Al last they abandoned the search
| in despair, concluding that he had by some
means left the island. Slowly they took their
! departure to devise new plans of search. Two
| little boys, who came along merely from Curl
oslty were all that were left behind.
| At length, in their play, one Of them looked
| upward, and said that he saw great bunch on
| tree. The other lOoked,-shifted his POSI-
| tion,-looked again, and exclaimed, why, 10
| is man! They were alarmed and cried
| aloud, thus announcing their discovery to their
| friends on shore. Tho1atter instantly returned,
| and Andrews, seeing himself discovered, drop
ped from the tree ran TO tho lower end of the
| island, took a small log, with limb for pad
die, and showed into the stream, hoping to
reach the opposite shore before he could be
overtaken, But there was another party lower
down the river with a skif, who saw him and
rowed cut to meet him. Thus inclosed he
gave over the hopeless struggle, and surren-
dered TO his fate,-inevitabio death He after
| wards said that he felt a sense almost Of relief
when the end had come ard he knew the worst.
From the time of losing his clothing In the
drift-wood he had bat little expectation of
ultimate escape. Tho spectacle of man con-
dcmued 70 DEATH starving and naked. hunted
through the woods and waters by dogs and
| men, is one OF the most pitisb,s that can be
imagined.
Alfred Wilson, who was one of the eight who
failed to escape, speaks in feeling terms of the
manner in which their leader was brought back
to them on the third day sfter escaping. he
says:
AT the prison We were startled by a runnoF that
Andrews had been taken, but we at first gave little
credence to it. probably because did not desire
to believe il. But alas the only too
true for after, strong guard OF soldiers, hay
ing III charge a prisoner, followed by rabbe OF
citizens approached the prison. IL was Andrewsl
Oh how our hearts and hopes sank down Within
us beyond the power of expression! l could have
prayed that death had spared me those painful mo-
meuts, the most narrowing OF my life. He was the
most wTetclied and pitiabe human being ever
saw-a sight which horriled us all, and even drew
words Of compassion from of prison
guards. His brother would scarcely have been
able TO recognize him. IL did not seem possible
that the short space OF three days could have
wrought change startling. AS he lay there
chained 10 the floor, naked bloody, bruised, and
speechless, he seemed more dead than alive lie
had not eaten naors&i since he iet us. during
which time he had made the most desperate strug-
gle for liberty and life. lie had swami about seven
miles in the river III his efforts 20 keep clear of the
dogs. His feet were literally torn to shTeds by
running the sharp stones and through the
brush Towards tne last he LEFT blood at every
step. His back aud shoulders were sun-blistered
almost to the bone and completely exhausted
he that he could hardly move his limbs after
he wGs brought in. His face was pale haggard
and enaciated. His eyes, which were sunken,
gave forth u wild. despairing, unnatural light.
When we were left 20 ourselves we drew around
the miserable man, and after he had some what re-
vived he told us in that low calm of voice in
which he always spoke, and which seldom failed
to impress tile Listeners aToTthly 10 wards the man,
the whole story of his unfortunate attempt to es-
cape He tod us heAad but little time 10 live, and
that now, after having made every effort to save
his life and to and failed he felt recon-
cilcd aRd resigned - his ate. lie said he was In
capable of doing anything more to help himself,
aud only regretted hs his death could not III some
way be inst rumeiitaN in saving us. his comrades
He eounseed US gjl against the fsilacy OF hoping
Tor an exchange, or Tor any mercy from those into
whose hands had fallen. He said his doom
fOTcshadowcd our own, and entreated us 10 prepare
IOr the worst, %tien the jiiue came 10 prove
to them that we were as brave in confronting an
ignominious death for cOuntry's sake
had been fearless in doing service for her"
A few more words will finish this pitifol
story. Andrews in Wilson's opinion, wss
somewhat of a fataliSt, or at least was haunted
with presentimeut of coming doom from tho
time he had fairly entered upon this expedi-
ton. He bad not long to wait. He was put
back into the hole but not before negro
blacksmith had welded pair of heavy fettsrs
upon bis ankles aud connected them with
chain only about Is inches in length. A scsf-
fold was prepared for him in Chattanooga, but
the indications of an advance by Mitchell and,
possibly, expressions of sympathy the part
OF the citizeus induced the authorities at the
last moment To transfer the death scene TO At
isnta. His comrades were sent with him 60
that town. On the way to Atlanta he wss
taunted with his approaching doom by the
crowds who surrounded every station.
1t was the day appointed for the execution.
On reaching Atlanta Andrews aud his eight
companions were conducted to a second story
room not far from the depot. In little time
Il body of soldiers marched up into the build
ing, an officer appeared at the door and, while
all were silent IS DEATH said, in l0w, almost
fltering tone, Come on now, Mr.. Andrews"
lie instantly arose, aud the low, sad Fare
we'll, boys" spoken in his caimest, sweetest
tones, mingled with the horrible ciaukiug of
his chains as he walked out with the short,
halting step bis irons compelled. This was the
fual separation.
The survivors we're conducted 60 the oity
jail of Atlanta and there placed in m iron
cage. AT meal time the guards told them how
bravCiy Andrews died. lis fortitude stiiled
even the csmor0us spectators. The dying
agony was 9r0tracted by the unskillfulness OF
the exeCutioncr, the rope stretching SO that his
feet touched the ground. But the earth was
sh0veled away and the brave spirit sot free.
Why should tho gallOws ne accounted infamous
when courage and patriotism there meot Il
hcros death2 The cross was oncs esteemed
more shameful than the galows ROW, but Que
death has aanctifed that instrument forever
The grave of Andrews at Atlanta was un-
marked, and, ia tho many changes tuat have
taken piace there, it is probably lost forever.
The most diligent search on the part of the
writer failed 20 discover it. But the rops ad-
judged by the cOuTt-maFtial. all of whose MEM
bers have passed into obScurty with the down
fall Of the r,helii0a they served cannot desc
crate his memory. No flowers csn be placed on
bis unknown grave by loyal hands, but loving
tears will fail freely for him as long as hearts
can feel for the ez tTonity Of misfortune that
gathered around the las: hoGrs Of the man who
planned and boldly eXecuted the most romantic
and perilous enterprise of the Great Civil War.
To be continued
CONSUMPTION Cured.
An old physician retired from practice. hsv-
ing had placed in his hands by al East ludis