Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-02-01
SKATING FOR LIFE.
Remarkable Escape Of a Confed-
crate Prisoner.

The snow, which had been coming down
tor hours, gradually ceased, the soft fakes
changing into an icy sleet, singing the
faces of pedestrians, and converting the
teathery covering of the streets into a
sheet Of glass, over which locomotion was
becoming more and more impracticable.
The leaf1ess branches of the trees along the
sidewalks swayed in the rising wind, drop
ping fragments of ice upon the heads of
the passers-by, and occasionally, no longer
able to sustain their icy burden, coming
down with sharp crash on the pavement
below.
The Office of Messrs. SHINES & Har-
court, Attorneys at Law, presented a
cheerful contrast to the dreary scene with
out. A huge bed of Goals glowed in the
epen CRATE. and lit up still more brightly
the crimson rug and curtains. The two
gentlemen, themselves the only occupants
OF the room, seemed to fully appreciate their
agreeable situation, as seated before the
fire, they allowed newspapers and chat to
snpersede, for the nonce briefs and law
books.
"'Skating at the Park" said Mr.
SHINES, the junior partner, as a street car
bearing the announcement in large letters
rolled by within sight of the window.
'eThat little flag will bring Joy to the
hearts of the skaters.''
81 confess,'' said Mr.. Harcourt, folding
up his newspaper, "that still enjoy the
sport as much as the young people. Itputs
young blood in the veins-shimming over
an icy floor, through an icy atmosphere.
Now this roller-skating is a miserable sub
stitute. suppose that is the only kind you
ever enjoyed, SHINES, in your benighted
section, where you can hardly save ice
enough to cool your summer drinks"
ssYou are very much mistaken, my dear
fellow" rejoined his companion, returning
from the window where he had been view
ing the arctic scene below. Gin sny section,
as you call it, have felt as cold weather
as here-perhaps I'll except the present
sblizzard.' You remember I came from
Kentucky. We had splendid skating al
most every year."
Indeed! You indulge in it here, then, I
suppose"
'sNo," said Mr.. SHINES, 'snever. have
cot skated," he continued, rehectively,
''for twenty years: and then l skated for
my life"
t:What!" exclaimed his friend, sswere
the wolves after you!'
Mr.. SHINES smiled. eyes," he said, "the
wolves We're after me; and nearly got me,
too"
my dear fellowp' cried his companion,
slapping him upon the shoulder, sis it pos
sible I've known you so long, and you've
sit down! We have nothing specially i'm
portant on hand this afternoon, so suppose
we devote it to the recital"
'sWell, if you are willing to run the risk
Of being bored. But perhaps your sympar
thies will be on the side Of the pursuers."
What! the wolves!''
SHINES laughed. 'They were not beasts !"
he rejoined, ''they were human wolves; or
perhaps that is too harsh a term to apply
to them. They were simply doing their
duty in trying to catch me-" VI = n "
"You are growing mysterious SHINES.
L guess the sheriff and his posse were after
you. Was it arson or murder that you had
committed?''
'.Neither. In fact I had committed no
crime, that was aware OF, and yet was
escaping for my life, and my pursuers were
perfectly right in endeavoring to capture
me-"
''Well, no more riddles, if you please. Ny
curiosity is sufficiently whetted, so pro-
coed; :" and Mr.. Harcourt settled himself
comfortably back in his chair in the atti-
tude of q listener.
His partner sat meditating for several
moments. 'Twenty years ago." he said
<'that is long time, Harcourt. 1t makes
me feel quite elderly to think that was
twenty-four years old then"
*'Wel], I was nearly thirty then" Mr..
Harcourt youchsafed this comforting piece
of information, and his companion contin-
Aed. =
ut was in the winter OF '65, when the
whole country was involved in war. The
fortunes of the Confederacy were looking
pretty gloomy-at least it seemed SO to US,
poor fellows, who were spending the winter
at Johnson's Island." #
"Johnson's Island!" His listener leaned
forward attentively. n q
eyes, in prison on Lake Erie Once the
lake was frozen over, and our guards and
the prison employees amused themselves by
skating; and as we were taken out to "a
through our daily exercise we were allowed
the privilege of watching them. dom,
think there was . man among the prison
ers, besides my myself, who had ever had
/. on skates; and the guards urged, and ever