Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-07-25
GOING TO THE WAR.
SUMMARY PUNISHMENT METBD OUT 10
BOUNTY JUMPERS.
Horrors Of the Trip from New York 10 Alexandra
Vyidly Rssited-Bum-Crazed Recruits
Robbed BY Authorized Gamblers
Eunl ERstnsoa. IN cgsre,ma Leader.

In the steamboat that took Us to New
York were two mysterious men, clad IN
soldiers elOthiug, whom | had not seen
until after we had left Albany. Their APP
pearanee was 50 striking, they were so alert
and quick eyed, so out Of place among US,
that my attention was attracted to them.
One of these men was an active, trim-built-
dark-eyed, black-haired, handsome fellow
of - years. The other was stOeSy, red
faced blonde of about 30. They moved
quickly among the recruits. They made
pleasant, cheerful remarks to almost every
man on the steamboat. They told stories
which were greatly enjoyed by the recruits
who heard them. "Where did these two
men ioin us? Where did they come from,
and who are they" were questions mu-
singly asked myself over and over again as
/ sat on my knapsaek in corner. Finally
l walked to a guard and asked who they
were. He eyed me suspiciOusly for an in
slant. and then furiOuSly answered: Stand
back YOU bounty-iumping cur" and he
lunged at me with his bayOnet as though
10 thrust me through. / stood back, and
and then sat down on my RnapSaek IN
corner and wondered musingly if were
a patriot or simply young fool
Morning came, and we diSembarked IN
u VI - ,,.,,-, ,,,,rcbal still heavily
guarded, TO the low white barracks, which
then stood where the pOst-otice now stands.
There we were securely penned and de
Gently fed. The men tretted and fnmed
and burned 10 escape. Many of them had
jumped previous bOunties in New York.
They knew the slumS of the city. They
knew where to hide in safety. Dozens Of
them said that ii they could get out OF the
barracks they would be safe. But they
could not get out. This time they were
going to the front. The officers and men IN
whose charge We were were reSOlute IN their
intention To deliver one consignment OF
bounty jumpers To the commands they be-
longcd to. That afternoon live days cooked
ratlonS were issued to Us, and we were e.
COTted 10y
\ HEAVY DOUBLE LINE OF GUARDS
down Broadway to the Battery. There we
turned to march along 4 street that led to
a dock where IN ocean steamer lay. The
head OF the column was opposite the dock
when four recruits shed their knapSacSS
and ran Tor the freedom they coveted. One
oil these men marched two lilies IN front OF
me- lie dashed past the guard, who walk
eddy my side, NJ the top of his speed. Not
a word was said H. him. The column halted
at command The guard near me turned
on his heels quickly, threw his heavy rifle
10 his shoulder, covered the running man
and shot him dead. Two OF the remain
inc three fell dead Is other rifles cracked.
The fourth man EIu through the shower OF
balls safely | thought he was going to
escape; bat u tall 1.-the officer ran after him,
pistol i'm hand lie over took the fugitive
lust ~ he was about 20 turn street corner.
tie made no attempt to arrest the deScrter,
hut placed his pistol 10 the back Of the
runaway's head and blew his brains out Is
he ran. The dead man fell in pile ut the
base OF a lamp post. That ended all at
temptS to escape. We marched on board
the steamer a propeller, and descended
narrow stairs to between decks, where the
light was dim and the air heavy with
smell OF damp sea weed. There we're three
large matches, freight matches, probably,
i'm the deck above us, through which the
heavy, cold, outside mir sank, and through
which three systems of draughty, Snecze-
provoking ventilation were established rs
soon rs the air the hold became heated.
Tobacco smoke arose from hundreds OF
hR a
haZy. At short distances the forms OF men
Were indiStinct and phantom like. In this
space were about 600 men. False history
and dishonest Congressman, who desire TO
secure reelection by gifts oil public money
and property to voters, say they were brave
Northern youth going to the defence OF their
country. ], who know, SAY they We're "a
arrant sang of towards, thieves, murder
ers and blacklcssS rs were ever gathered in
side the walls ct Newgate OF Sing Sing
Money was plentiful and whisky entered
through the steamers ports, and the guards
drove q profitable business in selling
CANTEENS Full OF WHISKY At s. EACH.
Promptly the hold WAS transformed into
a floating hell. The air grew denSer and
denScr with tobacco smoke, drunken men
staggered to and fro. They yelled and
sang and danced and then they fought and
fought again. Rings We're formed, and
within them men pounded each other
fiercely They rolled on the Shiny floor
and hOwlcd and SwOre and hit and gOuged
and the delighted spectators cheered them
10 redoublc their efforts. Out Of these
fights others Sprang into life, and from
% IN. a.
The wharf became crowded with men ca
ger To know what WAS going on in the YES
sci. 4 tug WAS sent Tor, and We were lowed
into the river, and there the anchors were
dropped Guards ran in on us and beat
men with dubbed rifles. and were in turn
attacked We drove them out Of the hold.
The hatch at the head OF the stairs was
closed and locked. The recruits were mad
dened with whisky. Dozens OF men ran
amuck, striking every one them came to,
and being struck and kicked and stamped
on i'm return. The ventilation matches were
surrounded BY stcrn-hced SentinelS, who
Sazed into the gloom below and warned
all of us not To try tO get out by climbing
through the matches. Men Sprang high IN
the air and clutChed the hatch ratings and
had their hands smashed with muSket
butts. SentinelS paced To and fro along
the vessels deck, and called loudly To all
rOwbOats To keep oil or they would be
fired upon. They did not intend that any
fresh supplies of whisky should be brought
10 Us The prisoners in this floating hell
were then told to 90 il, ~ and they went
il. We had been searched for arms before
we entered the barracks at Albany. The
more decent and quiet of It's had no means
of killing the drunken brutcS who pressed
on us. There was not club OF o knife or
an iron bolt that We could lay our hands
to. ! fought and got licked; fought again
and won, and for the third time faced my
and got knocked stiff in two seconds. My
face resembled q raw ham. 1t was a scene
TO MAKE A DEVIL HOWL WITH DELIGHT.
The light grew DINNER and DINNER, and
then the interior of the hold was dark, eN-
cept such portions aS were dimly lighted
by bars of light that shot through the ports
and that which was reflected down the
matches in square columns. We fought
and howlcd and Swore with rage and pain.
II -, n.