Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-06-22
A BREAK FOR LIBERTY.

CleIk ttt OIlO LdSb iOU. LOUIS SUOCk UOlu
to me.
People who picture bloodhound as mas
tiff magnifed about two diameters, tawny
colored, with a muzze like key, and paws
the size of small hams, have derived their
idea from Uncle Toms Cabin troupes, and
know nothing about the real article. Blood
hounds are used in the penal institutions Of
all the southern states, but nowhere as extern
sively as in Texas, where the raising of them
and their sale to sheriffs and wardens forms
quite an industry. happen to know good
deal about the beasts, although I was rever
dog fancier or an officer. The truth is I
was convict.
look back on it with sorrow, but without
shame, for was convicted of something I do
not consider crime. | had been employed as
a COW puncher on a ranch south Of Fort
Worth, on the Rio Grande, and we were tax
ing bunch of cattle north to the Panhandle
district At little town called Hayman
Junction a sheriff's posse stopped us to search
for some stolen horses and one of the depu-
ties claimed my pony. l had raised the an
imal from a colt, but the deputy was obsti-
nate, so we had words, and he finally
snatched up Winchester. protest had
no wish to hurt the man, but 1 believed I
was in danger, and, to make long story
short, shot him in the shoulder, was ar
rested, tried, and, in spite of all my friends
could do, sentenced to the Northern peniten-
tiary for two years. The charge was assault
with intent to do great bodily HARM and
there was considerable prejudice against
cowboys in the place where 1 was tried.
Ihad never been bad young fellow, and
this was heartbreazing to me, but had still
my self respect and determined to serve out
my sentence patiently. The penitentiary
was at Huntsville, 400 miles away by raj,
and there were eighteen Of us to go. The
method used in transporting us is the method
still in vogue in Texas, and challenge penal
history, with the exception of that of the
galleys of Toulon, to furnish parallel to it
in brutality. Iron collars, weighing at least
five pounds, were riveted around our necks,
we were stood in double file and then yanked,
two and two, to a long chain that ran down
the center. Imagine vertebra with eigh-
teen ribs and one has fair idea of the ar
rangement, but no words can convey the
sense of degradation, the brutalizing horror
and shame that even the most callous feel
upon becoming part of this sad and sinister
procession. Handouts were snapped on
each man and bending and stumbling under
our chains we were driven through the jeer-
ing crowds up to smoking car side tracked
for us, and the journey began.
It was a terrible one. The central chain
was long enough to stretch from seat to seat
as we sat, two abreast and nine rows deep,
but if any man moved his head he would jerk
the necks of those before and behind him,
and CULVER would pass along the whole
line. In fact, the last two men were chained
UP so short that they could barely sit ON the
extreme edge of their seat by craning their
necks as far front as possible, and in this
posture they rode the whole 400 miles. To
sleep was out of the question, and when one
moved the whole clank1ng, cursing, miserable
mass moved with him. We got some bread
and meat once on the trip, which lasted ex-
actly twenty-six hours.
When we finally reached Huntsville, was
trembling like child, tears Of sheer agony
were running down my face, and [ tried as
best could with my manacled hands to hold
the cruel collar away from my neck, which
it had chafed raw. The rest of the men were
in scarcely better shape, and our joints were
SO stiff from sitting nearly motionless for a
day and night, that we could with diff
Guilty walk. AS we were getting out Of the
car stumbled and pulled over another man,
half strangling myself at the same time.
Instantly the nearest guard rained down a
shower of kicks upon me.
''I've noticed you shamming," he shouted.
ssWait till we get you in the walls"
1.-THE walls" was the slang name for the
prison, and this little episode fixed my status.
was reported as sly, cunning rascal, fond
of subterfuge, and in this light my conduct
was viewed and all my little mistakes and
failures were prejudged. 1t was not long be-
fore the constant misery of my life blotted
out every sentiment except dull determine
ton to escape at the first opportunity.
was put to work for while in the stove
factory at Huntsville, but as the summer
opened gang of us were let out to con-
tractor to work in a wood camp about fifty
miles away.
"Be careful of this man." said one of the
deputies, pointing me out to the contractor;
s'he's slick conniver and apt to make you
trouble"
ssrIl bore hole through him if he does, y
replied the other.
So with this recommendation was intro
duced to the camp 1t lay in the midst Of a
thick belt Of woods, and was guarded by q
Gordon of sentries, exactly as military post.
The men slept in log barracks, and the work
consisted altogether Of chopping and cording.
The tasks were severe the punishments ex-
cessive, and the food and sanitary arrange
ments of the place abominable Although
chains and shackles were dispensed with
there were no escapes, for not only were the
guards instructed to fire unhesitatingly in
such a case, but in one corner of the camp
was kennel containing twenty blood
| hounds None Of the convicts were allowed
| to give these dogs food or become familiar
| with them on pain of a lashing, but often
saw them, and they looked very much like
| settlers, dead liver coIored, small in size and
sleek of hide, with rather sharp pointed
noses Thier was nothing at all formidable
| about their appearance, but dreadful stories
| were circulated of their ferocity.
| Fall was coming on and it was getting
| cold, when one evening ] escaped. 1t was
! unexpected. 1 had gravitated into water
| carrier, and had gone, just about dusk, to q
| spring near the outskirts of the camp. AS
| neared it the guard at that point passed me
| and said as he passed me: "Jim, Pm glad
| you're here. I've been feeling sick" Then
1T flashed on me tias be mistook me in the
| gloam for the relief guard; ii was chance
| thaS might never come again. iqropped my
| bucket and quickly walked away.
| Now, this was my position; was in 6
wood in a strange, thinly settled country
that did not know had convict's stripe:
on nay back and not cent or q weapon il
my pocket, and I knew that my absence was
sure to be discovered in less than an hour
| when the roll would be called. They were
| long chances, but death, it seemed to me
would be preferable to recapture and pun
| ishment. The thing was to put as muel
space as possible between myself and thu
camp before the alarm, and plunged ahead
taking southeasterly direction from thu
stars Ichose the thick Of the wood rathel
than the open, for from the time passed thu
guard the bloodhoHnds had never been out O
| my mind an instant, and I knew
| that the trees would seriously embar
rass the riders who follow tho pack
It is generally supposed that blood
| hounds track and tree fngitives for hours be
| fore the pursuing party comes up, but as {