Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-11-25

ana Stlll wisely, consented 10 40.
At last the long expected day came.
wus Furnished with "a passport bearinB tho
name of Moses Parish, real person, who
was on the list of drivers, but who was
unable to go with the train, on account Of
sickness. / was to personate him, and all
that the forethought of myself or my
friends could provide for as TO questions
that might be asked me on the expedition
W did not lack. / was 10 go with the
train as far as it went toward the Poto-
mac, and then take my chances to desert
and make my way across the river.
IL was full of risk-yet what escape from
captivity is not?-and may say that it was
with q light heart that babe farewell that
morning to that noble woman and few
others of our loyal friends, and walked
over to the rendezvous. The officer in COM
mand of the train looked at nv passport,
and then at my face. was anticipating a
close scrutiny, and i certainly got it.
Everybody was suspected!
Moses Parish, is it? Soldier or civil
ian?"
Civilian, SIR"
"How about that uniform, then?"
"Picked it up, sir. 1t was either that or
go naked"
"Hum! Who are you, anyway"
"a Marylander; enlisted in the Yankee
army, and deserted and came here through
the lines, after Charlottesville.
where did you enlist?"
"AtBaltimore."
"Ever lived there?"
"All my lifo, SIR"
was so we'll acquainted with that city
that could safely make this answer.
"Ho-you have, have you? Well see
about that. Now, my fine fellow, 1 hap
10 hA al
you've been lying to me, shall find it out. +"
l saw that L was suspected; but, knowing
that was perfectly equal to the ca.echism
he proposed, 1 faced him boldly. From
Druid Hill Park to Patterson Park, and
from Fort Fedora. Hill to the Battle Monu-
ment, he led me all over Baltimore, and
was not very long in discovering that 1
knew quite as much about that city as he
did.
"Well, can't fool with you any longer"
he said, testify. SECT up on that wagon;
you can drive it, aud take care of the
mules; but. by if we catch yon in any
hear?"
"Yes, sir-all right" 1 cheerfully re-
sponded and climbed up TO my seat.
The train left the city, the empty wagons
stringing out over n mile of the road, until
they we're closed up, with three companies
of cavalry for escort, and wended slowly
along toward the Lower Potomac. There
were incident and excitement enough hap
pening every day on this tour to make a
story of itself; but must omit everything
save what related to my own fortunes. We
crossed several rivers; the water was high,
and the crossing was usually made on
boats. As We were thus passing the Pa
munkey, while 1 was standing by myself
and looking into the water, q resounding
slap fell on my shoulder, and q familiar
voice exclaimed:
"Halloo, Porter! why, who'd have
thought to see you here?"
My forethought had carefully provided
for Just such an incident as this. For a
week before l left Richmond my friends
had called me nothing but Mr.. Parish, in
order to familiarize me with the name; and
had schooled myself not to betray the
slightest sign of recognition upon hearing
my own name. l turned now, slowly and
deliberately. There stood my friend, the
wagon master, with a simulated smile on
his face, holding out his hand.
That's not my name, sir, said; but
I'm on hand for duty"
"The deuce it isn't! and the deuce you
are" he exclaimed, snappishly. "You
needn't deny the truth, sir; you are Cap
tain Porter, of tho Yankee army, who
escaped from the Libby few weeks ago. "
"No, sir, am not"
"Well, you're Yankee out of the Libby,
whatever your name is.
"No, sir; ana beg you won't accuse"
90, boSh! don't put on airs with me. Who
are your the truth, mind!"
"Just what told you at Richmond, sir.
My name is Moses Parish; l am from
There, there enough of that stuff! If
you're not a knave, then I'm fool; we'll
try to find out which"
He turned abruptly away. Ny position
was now critical indeed, after what had
happened. l m ght be put under guard at
any moment. We crossed the Mattapony,
| and, after proceediny some distance toward
| the Rappahannock, the train turned down
| the peninsula. 1t was now or never with
| me; every hour now removed me further
from the Union lines. l resolved that
would desert the train that night.
Everything seemed to favor me. The
guards were sleepy; there was no danger
TO be apprehended by them from
our troops, in this locality. l found il
easy to Slip out with one OF my mules.
| led the animal TO safe distance, and then,
mounting, rode him with all the speed
cou,d get out of Linn toward Il Q Rappahan-
4 HUM Il bLo AlN1A bSiOAN
and with the help of sympathizirg negro
and his boat 1 had soon put that stream
between myself and the ain. Tlen away
l sped to the brond Potoma'. My flight
was without an incident worth n rrating,
and with the friendly help of another
negro and bis skiff was fcrried across tc
Goods country" 1t is very distinct
memory of that last dav of eager hope and
harassing fear, that when the boat touched
the shore, leaped from i'll fell PROSTATE
on the sand-I caught up great handfuls o
it, and cried aloud, m ryland, my Mary.
land" i laughed, danced, and possibly
wept for Joy. Safe, safe, thank G 4
A cavalry camp in the vicinity welcomed
aud provided for me all that my imme
date necessities required. l felt like hug
ging every blue-coa of them. With thu
help OF the officer in command, / was abl,
TO reach Washington in n few hours; and
had not been in that city whole day be
fore / was closetcd with the Secretary o
War, giving him a full account of my ex
perience. / have reason to know that
gave him information that was OF great inn
portance to our arms.
But / should really have liked TO hea
what the rebel ain-master beyond tn
Rappahannock said, when he came aroun
that morning and found me missing !
james Franklin Fits iR Chicago LEDGE