The National tribune., 1888-04-05

most hENbaDlN lfBueWGGN DN the hdI DC part
mentsucllers, whom have mentioned, and who
were Cnyious of my independent and important
telegraph or secret communications, made up
my mind that 1t was going 10 be long siege
in prison for me The more | thought about
it, sud rs each days scanty news brought US
fresh and exciting intelligence of the dolnGs OF
our army at the front l concluded, impul-
sivelv, that I wouldn't stay very long; that !
must be on hand and once more ontside
would vindicate myself independently of Mr..
StantOn'S advisers.
Our mess was served by 2 caterer from the
outside, as l have already explained. The
meals were brought in three times each day on
q tray by a colOred boy, or a contr2band as he
evidently Was I had noticed from my room
window that this colored boy came from GER
tain direction, and had in consequence learned
to look out for his appearance regularly at each
meal-time, SO that il became daily question IN
our mess,
Is dinner in sight yet?"
The same boy brought itevery day. BE had to
pass the quartet of guards in front of the house,
and his basket was subject to inspection inside
the front hall before it could be admitted
through the house.
But, as a matter of fact, the inspection be-
came something of a fraud, because the hungry
guards selected the best bits Of everything by
way ofsampling the contents. We held so many
Indignation meetings and bothered Col. Woods
so much with protests and complaints about
this that he was glad enough to arrange with a
troolv Toll cook whom he could trust to not
pack any papers in our grub. In this way our
boy was permitted TO pass Unquestoned, and 1t
occurred to me one day at our table that 1t
would be q good scheme to
PERsoNATE THE COLORED BOY
and walk ont with the empty dishes, past the
guards uuquestioned, and thus escape from the
prison.
Looking up into the colored boys face, no
ticed that has ragged, old white straw hat, al
ways worn well pulled down over his curly
head half concealed q black face that while 1t
was not exactly similar to my own in features,
may be set down as being with the exception
Of the black about my style ~ III age and
general appearance.
PIaytuIly at first, I suggested quietly to Belle
Boyd a scheme of exchanging places with the
boy, c0Oring my face. dressing in his coat and
hat and attempting to walk out with his tray.
She looked at the boy, then at me, and with
a hearty laugh declared: It's the very thing
lets do It,"
Mr. English was, Of course, consulted, aud
ersciously gave his assent 20 the undertaking,
provided he was allowed to make me up and
boss the job generally.
This suggestion Of mine was fully discussed
between us during that and the following days
indeed we talked oflittle less for awhile How
"
safely out of reach of the guards was the most
difficult part of the problem. The trouble that
would eEsue from my friends completely, or II
they should be detected, WAS also fully dis
cus=ed and a plausible way out Of all these diff
I fiCg.tie5 was arranged
was TO borrow or buy from the boy his old
/ hat and coat. and the patched pants and torn
shoes / would manufacture. | was TO be already
blackeued when he should come in, at a certain
evening meal that was usually served nearly
at dark. While he was waiting on our table
4 ] was quickly 70 don his hat and coat, and with
/ the empty basket Of rafting dishes to boldly
march ont. as ne had been in the habit Of doing
. into the street and then trust to my legs i0I
+ the balance We were long time IN arranging
. all the details; indeed, the occupation it gave
7 u US all helped to pleasantly pass hours that
might otherwise have been distressing.
4 Belle Boyd was as much interested in my
outfit is any schoolgirl is over the dressing uI
Of her new doll while the Engiishman gave
. me enough instructions aud orders TO
CARRY NE AROUND THE WORLD.
He was certainly an adept in the business
4 These were the only two persons who were e
be ID the secret and it was to be carried out sC
I quietly that no blame or trace Of suspicion
should attach to them as aiders or abettors.
During my three weeks at the Old Capito
4 Prison ! made a number Of peculiar acquaint
ances tl.at were quite interesting in the yeal
which followed. As ! am only to furnish tha
which pertains TO myself personally, ! vii
omit the mention Of any other. except TO record
4 my first acquaintance with q most universally
known war character.
The party 10 whom I refer will be recognized
By every soldier may say without a single
excepu0u-in all the armies. ! regret very
much that I cannot give the name lin latin
but in war talk it was gray back" or in plair
United States, lice
Theses etestable things were in Old Capito
as thick as they only can be; aud afte
my lrst contact / may say frankly, the!
stuck 10 me closer than a brother" and tnOugl
the prison is now a beautiful block of resi-
dences containing to-day probably as fine anC
luxurious furniture, and occupied by as refinc'
people as any in the country, | wouldn't liv
IN il for anything, because 1 feel sure the bug
are In the walls yet.
Ny intended plan Of escaping in the disguis
Of a cOlOred waiter boy was the principal sub
iect for the private talk between the happ,
trio. composed Of Belle Boyd, the female spy
English, the international spy, and myself, a
the Secretary Of Wars private prisoner. 1t wa
. an interesting subject Tor ali Ol us just then
probably because we hadn't anything else {
occupy our time during the long, tiresom
Sumner days and evenings.
The plan tuat ] proposed was entirely feast
BE. We al agreed on that. Not one Of Il
doubted that / would be able to successfull
accomplish the dangerous undertaking. it Wa
dangerous only because If ! should be dctectC
ii the attempt - would certainly end IN II
= being sent of to Fort lafayette, in New YOEi
hara0r where / would probably be iTOned am
placed ia q dungeon dangerous character
and be kept there. too. during the war. At tina
time did not realize the especial RISK TO myze
personally. nor what would Da the result il dC
3 teccod. II never once occurred to me that
.