Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-07

OC0ihNt ofNulC ~ iOtl. ulu OlOoo VIZ
river into their own lines.
THIRTEEN DAYS OF THE ROAD.
This object they accomplished after
thirteen days of privation and suffering.
The man who owned the boat did not
wish to take them across, but they
threatened him so that be was compelled
to furnish them with the aid they re-
quired.
AT that time there was a good deal OF
blochade- running across the Potomac,
and the Confederate cavalry were
securing the country to break it up, and
on one occasion they came near captu-
ring these fugitives.
A NEW STORY.
This story Of their escape from Rich
mond is somewhat different from the
one that has long prevailed here. The
Colonel gave as the party who sheltered
him one whose name has never heretofore
been mentioned generally among Rich
mOnd people in this connectiOn-Ia Mr..
| Quarles, northern man, since de-
ceased. who lived on Twelfth street, in
easy stones throw OF President Davis S
| house.
Colonel Streight is now largely en-
| gagged in the lumber trade in the West,
and having business in Washington he
/ concluded to come over tho Chesapeake
and Ohio railroad ria Richmond, intend
( ing to revisit the scenes OF his imprison-
ment OF his escape from the hatless sol
der; of his seven-days' confinement IN
the house of friends, and of his setting
forth on his journey on the Brook road -
all Of which he was no doubt able to dc
satisfactorily on Sunday.
A CniOn Agent in Libby Prison.
! Colonel ID. b. Parker. July, l8Sll
"Nliss Van Lew got young Ross, q
nephew Of Franklin Stoarns, thc rich
Unionist OF Richmond, appointed to Gn
Office in LIBBY Prison. Ross helped q
great many OF our officers to escape from
that horrible place; and so well did he
play his part that not only was he not
suspected 10y the Confederatos, but tn,
most of our boys in the prison who did
not escape considered him one OF thC
most brutal of their jailers, anC
whea the end camc would have beer
very glad TO put an end to him. Sew
eral years ago / met Captain Lounsbery
who bad been confined in Libby. ano
lie asked me about Ross, who died scy
cral years ago. He was burned up in
the SpotsvooI Hotel Lounsbery sale
that one afternoon ROs3 came into the
prison rs usual to call the roll, cursine
the d Yankees, and as be passcC
him sall in a low tone : BE in ms
Office at $3.50 o'clock tonight. Louus
berry did not know what to make
Of this, but he determined 10 find
out what it meant. To his surprise hC
had no difficulty in getting TO the ofic'
past several guards. Once there he
/ found Ross. who gruilly said : See here
have concluded to try you and see Il
YOU can DO cooking. Go IN there anc
look around. See what you can iiu,
and will see to your case after awhile.
I.ounsbcry went into back room
whore Ae found n complete Con
fedcmte uniform hanging over q
chair he took in the situation IN
sHnt'y, and douncd the uniform s..
speedily as possible and walked baca
into the Office, which he found vacant
and stepped ont into the street. The
guard did not stop him. and ho haD
walked only few steps from the door
when o. bbcll man accost"d him au,
nsllcl him If he desired to find the way
to Miss Van LEWIS house. He replieC
that be did, and was guided 10 her resi-
donce on Church Hill, where he was Sc
crelcl until an opportunity was found ;'
get him ont Of Hichmoud. He got of
safely and camo into orr lines.
co1OBED cCIDEs FOR EsCArED PRISONERS
"Nliss Van Low kept two or three
bright, sharp colored men on the watcl
near Libby Prison, who were Away
ready to conduct an escaped prisoner t
a place Of safety. Not all of them were
secretod at her house-for there werl
several safe places of refuge in R;ch
mond supported by her means. Whel
Colonel Streight, OF Indiana, an'
his companions dug their way out o
Libby, he and several Of his comrade
were secreted for several days in tie
house Of a man namet Quarles, Whlcl
was situated across a myine on y a fcV
hundred yards from and in full view o
the mansion occupied by Jefferson Da
Wis. But Miss Van Lew was the guiding
spirit, and she it was who took upon her
self the dangerous duty OF providing
means of maintenance and escape TO
such Of our men who were so fortunate a
to escape the horrible walls OF Libby"