The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1886-04-24
A Rope of Refuge.

served under Gen. Sherman at Allan
ta or elsewhere.
A Rope of Refuge.
From the New York Star.I
Among the many dolorous incidents
of the late war it is pleasant to find
one with a touch OF humor in it:
"When | was captured before Peters
burg" said Capt. Richard O'Neill, II
was first taken TO Libby Prison. The
prison was crowded, and the day after
| was placed in it we were told that we
were all to be searched for valuables.
| had $500 in my pocket and was
thinking with little pleasure that this
would soon go to swell the Confederate
purse, when | noticed a man in a
corner with his back to the crowd
busy at some mysterious work.
stole up to him, and glancing over his
shoulder saw that he was rolling up
greenbacks irto small cylinders.
'Hullop | said. what are you doing?
Il amt doing nothing he replied
grutfiy, looking at me suspiciously.
But | saw he he had arope IN his hand
which was larger at one end than the
other. Don't tell any one for the
world, he said, for hesaw | knew what
he was about. Pm in the same boat,
l said. Well go and get a rope he
said, 'and I'll hide them for you
81 pressed my way through the
crowd to the door. My good friend,
l said to the sentry, Il have lost my
suspenders, and I'll give you $5 to get
me rope to tie round my waist
'Greenbacks' said the sentry, and in
few minutes brought me one. took
it to my friend, and in two hours he
had plated my $500 into a rope so
skillfully that no one could see a ray
OF bill. Soon after we were stripped
and searched. When my clothes were
returned the rope was not noticed.
My good FRIEND / said to the soldier
in charge, 1 have broken my suspend
ers, and have nothing but that old
rope to tie around my waist; will you
not pick it up for me?' Take your
old rope, you Yank, said the Confed-
crate. Tveno doubt you have right
to it; only you had ought to wear it
higher up than your waist, as many a
better man has done He tossed me
the rope and tied it around my waist
My friend, who was sailor, got his
rope back safely, and the next day es-
capped. My own rope afterward saved
my life and that of a Bostonian named
Curtis"
This story teaches that what is one
mans destruction is another's saliva
tion; and that rope which lands
man Justly breads, as Mr.. Evarts
breads period, is to the sailor the
pathway to freedom and fortune.
Are the Indians Dying Out?
From the Washington start
"The Indians decreasing in numbers
Certainly they are," remarked IL well.
informed official OF the Indian Bureau
in conversation upon the subject.
''The report OF the commissioner for
last year shows that there has been a
decrease since the previous year OF
nearly five thousand. For instance,
the total number of Indians, accord
ing to the commissioner report in
1884, was 264, 1863, and in 1865,
259, ,4S3. If there could be made an
actual count of the Indians, the num-
bers would be much less. We succeed
ed in counting the Chey enne and Arap-
ahoe Indians recently, and found
that they numbered two thousand
less than the estimate made by
lodges. The Indians are superstitious
about being counted, and besides they
make more rations when a family OF
three goes supplies for a family of five.
An attempt to force an actual census
would probably result in a war, and
as the same result is being gradually
attained the authorities have never
tried to compel the taking of the CEN
sus. There are the Sioux Indians for
example. They have never been
counted, and it is probable that if an
actual count was made their latest
numbers, as now reported, would be
reduced to some two thousand. The
Indians, however, are dying out very
rapidly, and as the tribes grow fewer
in numbers the individuals become
wealthier, and in the course of g. few
years the millionaires or the country
will be found among these Indian
tribes. They now control large guam
titles of land, which are becoming
more valuable each year, and have
besides trust funds in the treasury
amounting altogether to over 81 1,0OO,-
600. In addition the government, as
shown in the Holman report, appro-
PIRATES large amounts for their sup
port yearly, and provides schools for
their children. The Indians are being
very well treated Just now"