Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-13

'About twenty five miles; then I'm go
ing TO stop with an old colored man for
month, or until the matter blows over"
"How ye giving to get that hoss?"
Why, to night, soon after dark, you'll
be taken with cramps and send for me.
I'll come. Then III ride off,
"But day'll track yer"
"Its going to rain. Il will be q rainy
| night"
"Dar mought be two HOSES in the sta
ble," he said, after looking at the weather
from the window.
"HoS?"
DE capting bought anoder yesterday,
which he's giving to send of to some
body"
"WelI you can go, too.''
| After dinner had opportunity to speak
with him again, and it was settled that he
| should go with me. He realized the dan
ger as fully as I did. IF recaptured, l
would be returned TO the pen, but he
would suffer death in some horrible form.
A elave would not only help prisoner
! off, but go with him, and rob his master
in the going, would he be burned st the
stake as fitting punishment. At 5
| O'Clock in the afternoon the heavens were
overcast, and slow study rain-storm set
! in. I was determined TO go that night,
| Joe or no Joe. He came TO me as 6
O'Clock with the information that
| strange negro, and one he dared not
trust, had been sent to share his quarters,
and thai any attempt to get off with the
! horses would be frustrated. From to 8
might be alone for fifteen to twenty
minutes. When taps sounded at 8 y was
supposed TO TURN in, as were all others
| 10 : I I 81 k,o
fore thar hour, as would then be stopped
by the sentinels.
At $50 lieutenant who had quarters
few steps away, came in off duty with
chill. l advised him to go to bed, and
when he had done so hung his clothes
before my fireplace to dry. 1t was while
engaged IN this that I got tbs idea OF
taking them along. [ bundled them mp,
wet and soggy az they were, brought out
from my desk some bread and bacon L
haG saved up, and al Z O'Clock, bundle In
| hand, 1 stepped outside. It vas q dark
night, with steady drizzle Of rain, and
put on the lieutenant's CAP, and passed
the camp sentinel with wave CT my
hand. went down into the village, pass
| ing numerous soldiers on their way back
to camp, and without coming in contaot
with anyone, took the highway running
west. | had made break, and l could
not expect that my absence would re-
main long undiscovered. While in fever
ism haste to get as far away as possible,
[ did not run. The dogs could not fol
! low me, owing to the rain, and if pursued
| by hOrsemen, l hoped to hear aHd avoid
them.
Luckily for me, after going about two
WI I
men coming from the west. lay down
beside log, and as they passed, L made
out it was portion of some home guard
company proceeding to the post to do
duty. It was lucky for me, because when
met nearer the town by those IL pursuit
of me, they truthfully declared they had
met no one in the highway. After the
guards passed L took TO the roab and
| pushed on at the rate of five miles an
| hour. [ was strong and hearty, and g
good walker, and was determined that
| daylight should find me far away. Twice
before midnight l had to give up the
road to horsemen, but after that hour l
met no one. l put in st least nine hours
| walking between the time OF my escape
and daylight, and I was justified in be
iieving that was over thirty eight miles
| from Andersonville when [ sought a hid
| ing place. | was mistaken howeye. In
| the darkness aid rain, and without the
| slightest suspicion on my part, 1 had
taken the wrong road at the first forkr,
and gone toward Columbus. had thus
| cheated myself out of ten miles.
| As daylight began to break l entered
upoa plantation, having for the last
half hour been following the road through
| the woods. 1t WAS still raining and l
wanted shelter for the day. As soon as it
was light enough to take an observation /
crossed an ola cotton field to cabin OF
| building, which turned out to be filed
with cow peas on the vine. l climbed in over
the vines and slowed myself away neal
the roof, cold, and soaked through and
through and so tired out that could not
| go rod further. Ny crackers had been
reduced to dough by rain, and the bacon,
none too good &C the start, nov 6isgusted
me. 1 therefore lay down without tast.
| ing food, and was just doing off to sleep
| when Two or three people came to the
| building. A little ister they went TO work
or the peas, and | made out that there
were at least three old negroes in the
! party. They were below me and entirely
unsus picious, ard after time got over
my scare and went to sleep. It was neon
Der was the voice Of white man who
come riding up "a the place. Looking
out between the o.s saw that he wa.
Confederate caviar, man, aud from his
mud-s FLASHED appearance I could guess
| he had ridden many miles. His saluta
ton as he rode up was:
$40! thar you niggers,come GU !"
"Yes, mas'r" answered all in a choE Us,
| and hurried to the door.
'You are hiding white man in thar!
He came here this morning. Bring him
out or I'll have the three of you skinned
| alive.
"a white man?" queried one.
"Yes, d-n you! Bring him out!"
For a moment gave up, believing
had been seen as crossed the fields. Ny
heart was in my throat as one of the ne,
grnes finally said:
No, mas'r, no white man ar hidip' yere.
Nobody but Us has dun been yere dis
Rawnin'."
IF you lie to me I'll shoot you!" shouted
! the troope
sFo' God, but we's done toled de troof.
mas'r!'
'Well, keep your eyes open. If you see
a strange white man around here, do you
let 'em know at the house at once"
"Git away from de PRISON pen, sahsn
Eyes, last night. Keep yer eyes peeled"
Yes, sah."
With that he rode off, and l was salts
fed that no trace had been found of me.
L fell asleep again in little while, and
when | awoke 1t was night. l was now
thoroughly rested, but sharp set. Salts
fed that ran a great risk in trying for
ANYTHING to est on tha plantati0n T