Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1888-04-07
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Donald, lOlSt OhlU. L,eUt. y. :. MC-
Kean, 2lst Illinois; LieGt David Gar
bett. 18th Pennsylvania; Liert J; I.
F1slar. ;th Indiana Artillery; LitW'
John d. Simpson, 10th Indiana; Lieut..
John Mitchell 18th Illinois. aud Lieut..
Eli Foster, 5Oth fndiads This party
was divided into three reliefs, ana the
work of breaking the cellar wall wss
successfully done the first night by Nc
Donald and Clark.
The earth was very denseiy compressor
sand. that offered a strong reslstsnce
TO the broad bladed chlsel, whlch
was their only effecti c instrument,
and il wa, clear that long turn OF
hard work must be done 20 pen
etrate under the fifty foot lot to the OBJ
iective point. The lower part OF the
tunnel was about six inches above the
level of the cellar floor, and ITS top about
two and half feet. Absolute accuracy
was of course impossible, either in CIV
ing the hole perfectly horizontal direc-
ton or in preserving uniform dlmen-
sions: but fair level was preserved,
and the average diameter Of the tunnel
wa, a little over two feet. Usually one
man would dig, and fill the splttoon
with Garth: upon the signal of gentle
pull, an assistant would drag the load
into the cellar by the clothes-lines fas-
" famed air into the tunnel WITH ruo-
ber blanket stretched across frame, the
invention Of the ingenious HaTlIton
fourth would give occasional relief 70 the
last two, while fifth would keep a
lookout.
When the opening had been extended
nearly across the lot some OF the party
believed they had entered under the
ward which was the intended terminus )
and one night when Mcdonald was the
digccr. so confident was he that the de-
sired distance had been made that he
turned his direction upward, and soon
broke through to the surface. glance
showed him his nearly fatal biunder,
against which, indeed, he had peeh
earnestly warned by Rose, who from the
first had carefully estimated the inter
yening distance between the east wall OF
Libby and the terminus. In fact. Nc
Donald saw that he had broken through
in the open lot which was all IN lul
!, view of a sentinel who was dangerously
close.
) Thelast effort was made by Rose alone
| one Saturday night. 1t was not custom
, arv for the Confedetates TO visit the ope
{ rating cellar on Sunday, and ne oe
J termined to make the most in his powe
t Of the now precious time. lie tnereior
. caused all the party to remain uP-staiis
I directing them to keep cfosc "a.c'
4 unon the Confederates from a'' aVal'aO.
: np;nts of observation, and await NJ
return. -, o,,
= Taxing Mcdonald with him, he wen
X down through the fireplace before DAY
a I;obt ON Sunday morning, and, biddln
+ Iobnson TO keep vigilant watch fc
e ,ntruders and Mcdonald to fan air INT
|, him no entered the tunnel and began TN
1t forIorn hone. From this time iorWar
r ho never once turned over the chlsel 10
=, relief. ,d n,Sse
re .oro,d , most which he felt must be
lie the ward. During the last few minute
n he had turned his course upward, al
IN 70 relieve his crampcd limbs he 'urne
IN mon his back. His strength was nea,
be apno. the feeble stream of al wh'ch II
s. comrade was trying, with Al. ms m,sn
an 10 send to him by means - u ian II"
ng distance of fifty-thrPe ioet coulo
e, Ion,or reach him throu-h the dCao
e. stancb HIS senses reoicj. he had u
ne hrcatb nor strength enough 10 reu'
he backyard through his narrow 4IaVc;
re ~ ooonv of suffocation he crop
"a, Hi cbisel and beat his two hsts aesit
lat .Io ronf his grave with the might OIL
est ,;rNwhon1 blessed boon! the CIV
eet ST. ,vav and the loOsened earth sho
on- 81 mon his dripping face, purple VI
TO- agony: his famlshed eye cduSn'
ace a radiant star in the blue vault aoo'e -,
nto a flood of light and volume Oh co
nat delicious air poured over HIM. AT u
,de verv instant the sentinePs cry rang
out like prophecy: "Half-psst j. anu d
his wellm A.. ,rsr
vas ;rg air. he dragged his body out "i
,cIs bo1e and made careful survey 0l
nt .S no in which he found himself. II
% yader yadI - , sbed. with a board fence 4 i
mo. him and the t-side sentinels,
M | n. nah,c end of Libby loor
Of 5%a;nst the blue sky. ~
any wagon-way unuei .m
7ere closed from ar1 nar,
hers pv s"s ho
hal many eno tbe
the ms wa The
Gets soon a
hoe minute
g. ~
Ter
orgs