Wichita eagle., 1888-08-03
A BREAK FOR LIBERTY.

member 1t, this is the story, and l have no
doubt the true story, that Peter Lands, a
clerk at the East st. Louis stock yards, told
to me-
People who picture a bloodhound as mas
tit magniied about two diameters, tawny
colored, with muKzle like keg 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 exten-
sively as in Texas, where the raising Of them
and their sale to sheriffs and wardens forms
quite an industry. l happen to know good
deal about the beasts although l was rever
dog fancier or an officer. The truth is
was a convict.
look back on it with sorrow, but without
shame, for was convicted Of something l do
not consider crime l 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 sherifrs posse stopped US to search
for some stolen horses, and one of the depu-
ties claimed my pony. had raised the an
imal from colt, but the deputy was obsti-
nate, SO we had words, and he finally
i
no wish to hurt the man, but l believed l
was in danger, and, to make a 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 | was tried.
Rod laI fall or,d
this was heartbreaking 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 rail,
and there were eighteen of us to 60 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 a 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 long chain that ran down
the center Imagine a 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
Dur chains. were driven through the jeer-
Ing crowds up to smoking car side tracked
for us, and the journey began.
1t 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 a quiver 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 clankIrg, cursing, miserable
mass moved with him. We got some bread
and meat once Oh the trip, which lasted ex-
Rctly 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
30 stiff from sitting nearly nlotionless for
day and a night, that we could with diff
Guilty walk As we were getting out of the
car l stumbled and pulled over another man,
half strangling myself at the same time
Instantly the nearest guard rained down
shower Of kicks upon me.
1--WE noticed you shamming," he shouted.
"W ait till we get you in the walls"
"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 duh determine
tion to escape at the first opportunity.
1 was put TO work for while IN the stove
factory at Huntsville, but as the summer
opened gang of were let out to a con-
tractor TO work in Ii wood camp about fifty
miles away
BE careful Of this man. said one Of the
deputies, pointing me out 20 the contractor;
''hes slick conniyer and apt to make you
trouble"
IN bore hole through him if he does,n
replied the other.
So with this Recommendation was intro
duced TO the camp. 1t lay III the midst Of
thick belt of woods, and was guarded by
Gordon of sentries, exactly es a military post
The men slept in log barracks, and the work
consisted altogether of cbopping and cording.
The tasks were severe, the punishments ex-
cessive, and the food and sanitary arrange
msnts OF the place abominabla 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 couvicts were allowed
to give these dogs food or become familiar
with them on pain of lashing. but often
saw them, and they looked very much like
settlers, dead liver colored, small in size and
sleek of hide, with rather sharp pointed
noses. Thier was nothing at ell formidable
about their appearance, but dreadful stories
were circulated of their ferocity
Fall was coming on and it was getting
cold, when one evening 1 escaped. 1t was
unexpected. had gravitated into a water
carrier. and had gone, just about dusk, to a
spring near the outskirts of the camp AsI
ueared it the guard ct that point passed me
and said as be passed me; Jim, I'm glad
you're here. I've been feeling sick.n TAeu
It flashed on me that be mis.ook me in the
gloam for the relief guard, it was chance
that might never come again dropped my
bucket and quickly walked away.
Now, this was my position; / was in
WOOD in strange, thinly settled country
THAI did not know. had convicts stripes
ON my back, and not a cent or weapon in
my pocket and / knew that my absence was
sure TO be discovered in less than an hour,
when the roll would be called They were