The National tribune., 1885-04-02


| widely-diyerging lines.
| All our plans were completed We bad patched
our clothes as well rs possible, and made cloth
| moccasins to protect our feet, many of our shoes
being worn out. We only waited the coming
| OF the appointed hour.
| Slowly the sun sunk down the west; slowly
| the shadows heightened in the east, till the
| gloomy shade of the Jail had nearly reached
| the crest of the hill, that usually marked our
| supper-time. We bade each other a solemn
| farewell, for we knew not if we should ever
meet again on earth, or how many Of US might
| be cold and lifeless before the stars shone out
| We prayed fervently, though we dared not
kneel or speak aloud. Capt. Fry, who was ten
der-hearted as child, wept at the parting. He
had two large coats, and as he could not take
both with him in the expected rush, he gen.
erouSly gave one to me. needed it extremely,
for was very nearly destitute of clothing. He
| and were 20 be companions, according to a
previous arrangement.
Everything was put in readiness. had care
fully piled In corner such of the books be-
longing to the minister as we still retained and
had written him note of thanks for them.
Anything that could be used rs weapon was
now put within reach.
At last the supper hour came. We could not
afford to lose a morsel of the scanty food, aud
ate it in silence. The jailer was not accustomed
to come into the room, but merely opened the
N'OUi
pans filed with corn-bread. Old Thoer, the
watchman whom everybody hated, was for
tunately away. 1t was well, or he might have
suffered. Turner we respected, and were de-
termined not to injure if we could help it, Af-
ter the jailer had given their food to the in
mates of the other rooms he came back to ours
and swung open the creaking door to remove
the food pans. This was the signal.
1t was thrilling moment On the action of
the next few seconds hung the issue of life or
death. / confess that for one instant the blood
flowed to my heart with sharp. piercing throb,
aud there came sudden and terrible fear lest
the fever-weakened body would not in this
crisis obey the dictates of will. But this ceased
before the door had swung wide enough open
to admit the passage of man. The others
were pale but determined, and single glance
told me that there would be no faltering. AS
for Capt. Fry, who was to initiate the move
ment,-supported by myself and whom | had
seen weeping few minutes before, he was per-
fectly calm. and his face wore pleasant smile !!
AS soon as the door had swung far enough he
stepped adroitly through it as if this were the
most natural thing in the world, and said, very
quietly:
"a pleasant evening Mr.. Turner"
Yes, - rather pleasant" responded the
jailer, looking bewildered by this movement, as
he no doubt was.
We feel like taking little walk this even
ing continued the Captain, while the door
was forced clear back, and three of US stood
abreast in it ready to spring.
The astonshment of the jaier now knew no
bounds. What?-how ?-where?" he gasped
in broken CALCULATIONS.
Frys countenance grew darker as he elapsed
the old man in his arms, and said:
I'VE have stayed as long as we can stand il,
and are now going to leave and let the other
prisoners out; so give up the keys. and make
hN,,t ,,y,lI h,
you!"
Turner tightened his grasp on the keys
whispered, hoarsely, "You can't do that"
then threw himself back and began in loud
tone, GUAR" when my hand closed
across his mouth and stifed the incipient call
for help. He bit my finger, but did no great
damage.
Then came the rush of the prisoners,-quick,
stealthy cat-like. Not sound was audible
dozen yards away. The negroes huddled in a
corner of the room in stupid fright, but had
sense enough to be quiet. Turner struggled
violently, for he was a man Of great strength,
but Fry and l kept him mute; the keys were
twisted from him, and Bufum was soon at
work on the locks of the other doors. Quietly
the assaulting column descended the stairway
and burst out upon the guards outside Ii they
committed a fault it was in being too quick.
In one minute Buffum would have had the
other doors unlocked, and then, throwing aside
the disarmed jailer, Fry, Buffsm. and myself,
re-enfOrced by all the prisoners who chose to
GO with us, would have stood by their side in
the second charge. This trifing circumstance
did make q considerable difference in the
result,-at least, to some of US
Seven sentinels were on duty,-three in the
back yard, four in the front yard. The charge
upon the former was completely successful,
their guns being wreSted from them before
they knew their danger, and they were kept
perfectly quiet under the threat-which would
have been executed-of instant death.
The attack in the front yard was made with
equal gallantry and skill, but not with equal
success. Two rebels stood near the front door
of the prison, and these were secured in the
same manner as their comrades at the rear, and
held i'll silence. Had tho remaining two been
close at hand. l have no doubt they would
have Jared as their comrades, and thus the un-
paralleled feat of 12 unarmed prisoners taking
the loaded muskets from seven guards on their
post would have been accomplished. But, I'M
fortunately, the last two stood at the open gate.
Their conduct was not brave but 1t was wise,
for, without firing shot, they ran out through
the gate, screaming the alarm in tones that
reused the whole neighborhood. The reserve
guard was close at hand, and at once rushed TO
the rescue.
The whole action. from the time Fry stepped
out of the door until the wild cry was raised at
Fry and myself were preparing to secure the
jailer, for we knew not yet that the attack was
made. Butfum had opened two doors, and was
working at the third when the wild, thrilling
cry of alarm arose from below. Those within
adjured him to open, and the brave man,
though his own chances of life were losscning
each second worked till the door opened, and
then violently flung it wide with an impatient
there :" while he bounded down the stairway
like hunted deer.
All secrecy was at an end, and the only re-
naming hope was in headlons flight. Our
comrades in the yard saw their peril, and We're
in little better position than those of us who
were still inside the Jail. They let go their
terrified enemies. flung away the guns, which
now could only impede their flight, and. seal
ing the board fence, made for the woods nearly
q mile away. Even for the foremost of them it
was fearful race. Rebel bullets whstled
around their ears, but none of them was hit
Indeed. | am inclined to think that il was y
fortunate thing for our comrades that tho reb-
els had guns to carry, and stopped to fire whom
ever they came near a fugitive. Otherwise
hundreds of fresh, vigorous soldiers-for there
were soon hundreds on the scene-could have
run down dozen half-starved prisoners.
Fry and myself started down stairs together
as soon as Bufum had opened the last door,
only moment after the alarm had been g iven,
but moments were more precious then than
common months. Tho Captain was q little in
advance. His eagle eye took i'll the situation,
as in two leaps he cleared the stairway. He
filled with armed rebels, and darted to the back
-, g. III