The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-01-28
SKATING FOR LIFE.
Remarkable Escape Of a Confed-
crate Prisoner.

Remarkable Escape of a Confed-
crate Prisoner.
The snow, which had been coming down
Tor hours, gradually ceased, the soft flakes
changing into an icy sleet, stinging the
races OF pedestrians, and converting the
feathery covering of the streets into @
sheet Of glass, over which locomotion was
becoming more and more impracticable
The leafiess branches Of the trees along the
sidewalks swayed in the rising wind, drop
ping fragments Of ice upon the heads OF
the passers-by, and occasionally, no longer
able to sustain their icy burden, coming
down with sharp crash on tho pavement
below.
The Office Of Messrs. Simmer & Har
court. Attorneys at Law, presented @
cheerful contrast to the dreary scene with
out. huge bed Of Goals glowed in the
open CRATE. and lit up still more brightly
the crimson rug and curtains The two
gentlemen, themselves the only occupants
OF the room, seemedto to fully appreciate their
agreeable situation, as seated before the
fire they allowed newspapers and chat tc
snpersede, for the nonce, briefs and law.
books.
Skating at the Park" said Mr.
.Simmes, the junior partner, as street car
bearing the announcement in large letters
rolled by within sight OF the window.
THAT little flag will bring Joy TO the
hearts of the skaters"
II confess" said Mr.. Harcourt, folding
up his newspaper, ''that I still enjoy the
sport as much as the young people. It puts
young blood in the veins-skimming over
an icy floor, through an icy atmosphere,
Now this roller-skating Is q miserable sub
stitute. suppose that is the only kind you
ever enjoyed, SHINES, in your benighted
section, where you can hardly save ice
enough to cool your summer drinks"
"You are very much mistaken, my dear
fellow" rejoined his companion, returning
from the window where he had been view
ing the arctic scene below. 'In my section,
as you call it, have felt as cold heather
as here-perhaps I'll escepb the present
blizzard You remember came from
Kentucky. We had splendid skating e.
most every year."
''Indeed! You irdulge in it here, then, I
suppose"
NO." said Mr.. smmes, "never have
not skafed," he continued, refiectiyely.
'for twenty years: and then skated for
my life"
'What!" exclaimed his friend, sswere
the wolves after you"
Mr.. SHINES smiled. "Yes," he said, "the
wolves We're after me; and nearly got me,
too.n
my dear fellowi" cried his companion.
slapping him upon the shoulder, sis it DOS
sible I've known you so long, and you've
never told me such an adventure! Here.
sit down. We have nothing specially i'm.
portant on hand this afternoon, so suppose
we devote it to the recital.n
swell, II you are willing to run the risk
OF being bored. But perhaps your sympa-
thies will be on the side Of the pursuers.n
What the wolves"
Simmes laughed. "They were not beasts, ~
he rejoined, 'they were human wolves: or
perhaps that is too harsh q term to apply
to them. They were simply doing their
duty in trying to catch me.''
"You are growing mysterious, Simmes.
guess the sheriff and his posse were after
you. Was it arson or murder that you had
committed"
''Neither. In fact I had committed no
crime, that was aware Of, and yet was
escaping for my life, and my pursuers were
perfectly right in endeavoring to capture
me-"
'Well, nomore riddles, il you please. NV
curiosity is sufficiently whetted, so pro-
ceed;" and Mr.. Harcourt settled himself
comfortably back in his chair in the atti.
tude OF listener.
His partner sat meditating for several
moments. "Twenty years ago." he said :
''that is long time, Harcourt 1t makes
me feel quito elderly to think that was
twcnty-four years old then"
"Well, was nearly thirty then" Mr..
Harcourt vouchsafed this comforting niece
OF information, and his companion contin-
ued.
ut was in the winter of '65 when the
whole country was involved in war. The
fortunes OF the Confederacy were looking
pretty gloomy-at least It seemed SO to us.
poor fellows, who were spending the winter
ut Je hnson's Island.n
''Jrhnson's IslandW His listener leaned
forwrrd attentively.
"Yes, Sin prison on Lake Erie.' Once the
lake Was frozen over, and our guards and
the prison employees amused themselves by
skating; and as we were taken out to 20
through our daily exercise we were allowed
the privilege OF watching them. don't
think there was man among tho prison.
ers, besides my myself, who had ever had
on skates; and the guards urged, and even
insisted ON our trying them, for the diver.
sion our awkward attempts afforded them.
The pooi fellows were nothing loath to en-
gage In eny thing that broke the monotony
OF prison life, and loud and many were the
shouts OF laughter that echoed over the
lake a. tae luckless tyros, one after an
other, caiae to an ignominious fate.
SIN my Kentucky home had been &C
customed 70 the sport every winter, and
was accounted the champion skater OF the
neighborhood. Many time had I dis
tsnced whole party Of young people in q
race up the river, aud prided myself on
my accomplishment, This, however, L kept
sprofound secret; for the wild thought
had entered my brain, why not make my
escape In this waYp Once across the lake
and In The woods, pursuit would bs next 70