The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1888-03-15

Thunder would form the associations
that were wont to greet our eyes when
inmates of far-famed Libby The
prison without its associate surroundings
would not be Libby to the boys in
blue who were from time to time con-
fined within it's walls. 1t might serve to
collect dimes and dollars as ghastly
CIRCUS exhibition to fill the pockets of
sharp, unprinoipled speculators-men
that have conceived the selfish and de-
spicable idea of violating the sanctity of
the soldiers sufferings and to many tho
very spot of their death"
A UNION VETERANS OPINION.
The oldest ex-prisoner of war in
Chicago is MIR. Lee Mayer, of l.. Simon
IL Co., Monroe street. Mr.. Mayer has
been for tho last four years vice-presi-
dent Of the Veteran Union League. He
is one of the very few Union officers now
residing in Chicago who were imprison-
cd i'll Libby, and his incarceration in
that prison was ono of tie longest
namely, eleven months. Ho spent twon-
ty months, all told, in various prisons.
He belonged to tho Twelfth Ponnsyl-
vania Cavalry, was wounded and cap
tured at the battle of Winchester, and
during his stay at Libby escaped twice,
but was recaptured both times, once by
bloodhounds. He was one Of tho famous
100 who made the tunnel escape, but
belonged to tho unlucky ffty-1ive who
were recaptured. Ho finally escaped at
Columbia, S. c., just prior to Sherman's s
capture of the city.
Said Mr.. Mayer yesterday to Daily
News reporter: 81 am opposed to any
such scheme as bringing Libby prison
to Chicago, and l should suppose any
cx-prisoner of war would be. This mat
ter was talked over among the veterans
last Sunday, and the sentiment seemed
to be unanimous that it was an uuwisc
step. No eX-prisoner of war would care
to have the horrors of twenty years
ago revived, as would be tho case in this
instance. Although they might not have
been in Libby, still an ex-prisoner who
has suffered at Andersonvillo or Belle
Isle would have his own Imprisonment
wildly brought to remembrance.
| Speaking as ono who endured imprison-
ment in Libby, L never care to go into
the details of those horrible times. The
actual starvation, suffering and filth en-
dured are not pleasant to recall, but thoy
can hardly be exaggerated. What, then,
is the use of bringing the old building
uolS w oSlfo DO S1PS1uui AClhlilIicI VI
these things?"
The shade of pain in the speakers
eyes softoned, and he continued, with q
smile:
Gas commercial enterprise, should
expect it to be u failure. After being
taken to pieces and re-erocted in ChicugC
it will be practically new building
There will have to be new mortar used
and suppose it will receive fresh Goa
of paint. This will not be the Libby
prison of history. If they turn it into d
museum and charge m admission fe,
there will have to be something insid,
beside the bare walls. Why not ge
some eX-soldiers who have passeC
through Andersonville, or othor prisons
some without arms or legs, and show
them as curios? But, seriously, the effect
of making a show of Libby prison and
pointing out to visitors tho particular
rooms, etc, where our officers endured
their greatest hardships, will be injuri-
Gus, and not calculated to make the two
participants in the great strife mutually
forgive and forget"