The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-05-10


EBIEL E = Kinney evidently did.
~ ~ / say / was an eye
r-G4E I4cr-7S IN witness. but l was not
VIZ ~ to al OF it, for the most
A5z-lilf tragic part Of the affair
Afr occurred IN one Of the
k6IsS tfl- darkest nights depO-
~4S=- nent ever experienced,
aud In one Of the thick
forests peculiar to that rugged region round
about Pilot Knob and Iron Mountain.
I shall quote largely from my diary made ut
that time, for I find the memory OF the stirring
scenes Of 1861 to 1868 Is sadly obscuTed by the
mists of multiplying years; therefore am IN
cliued To be charitable enough toward my com
rades to believe that they do not purposely
misstate but write from memory, which IS a
treacherous guide.
AT the time this little episode Of the late
" onploasantness occurred the writer was an
atiache-Assistaut Adiutant-Generals clerk at
the headquarters Of the Second Brigade, Third
Division. Sixteenth Corps and therefore was in
a position 10 know whereof be writes.
On the morning Of Sept q, 1864, our brigade
was sent down the Iron Mountain Railroad and
distributed 1t various points from jefferson
Barracks 20 Pilot Knob
The temporary headquarters Of the brigade
was established at Mineral Point, and Capt.
SlocUm, of the 9th Iowa, was detailed rs Pro
vOst-Alarshal. and portion Of his regiment
was detailed as pr0yost-guard. il was at tins
place that the desperate Shelby Cole was
captured.
On the morning Of the 27th Cole with other
prisoners. was taken for breakfast TO board
ing-house IN the village. While returning
from breakfast to the gaardh0use, the guard
becoming careless. Cole fc.l behind one Of them,
and snatchiHg gun OF the guards shoulder
from behind, with the agility Of a cat sprang a
pace OF two backward and snapped the gun al
his cautOTs: then dashed ii 70 the ground, and
with the speed Of deer broke for the woods.
The guards were all young men, and Cole was
an old man-pIob8biy 30 years old,-but be
was too deet-footed for tie boys aud would
have escaped If lie had not run into picket
post. he was taken back to the guardhouse,
and during the day borrowed from one Of the
guards isOcket-knife, which be kept, the
guard forgetting that be had let him have it.
About noon our little garrison became panic
stricken by the report that a large force OF
rebel cavalry was approaching, and hasly
preparations were made for evacuatIng at once.
a train Of . box and fat cars was made up,
and al the military force, except cavalry, and
many citizens COZ aboard, and amid great ex-
element the engineer pulled out toward st.
Louis, leaving behind many citizens, who
seemed in despair when told we could take no
more load.
The prisoners were placed on q fat used for
drawing coal with a bOx-car ct either end, and
your correspondent sat on top Of the rear end
o. the box-car, just ahead Of the prisoners and
facing toward them.
Instead Of going 30 miles an hour, the train
AS SO heavily loaded that men were obliged TO
jump Oh and push up the steep grades.
When we arrived It Big River Bridge, SIX
miles below DE Soto. the train was stopped t.
ois-mhaEk some infantry.
While stopping here Cole stealthily and
without the least warning and under cover Of
fgeL- fad
VITA the borrowed knife, at the man sitting as
guard a. his right; this man WIS Serg't Treat
Of the 9th Iowa, and his throat was cut 50 eff
1ectual!y that he died almost instantly. He
COlc-then attempted 10 jump from the car
ana seyeral Of the guard cried cut, 'ShoOt
HIM but il was 50 dark thar knew If shoot
lue }egan cur own men were as likely 10 %
kii.cd IS Cole and as ] occupied a very com.
Malo5ng position SO near them, cried out very
energetic. 81, ID 0n'tEh00t. You viii kill cacI
other" Ags Shot was fired; bat another
man csinc4ea the old villain, and received
cut that destroyed bis right eye and caused
ham 10 release his hold, when Cole lcaped froH
tie car. but the third mau--a Sergeant Of th,
27th IoEa-loilowed, aud clinehcd him they
1el 10 the ground, with the Sergeant on top
Cole stlll held the knife, and piled il vigOr
Oualy 10 the Sergeauts back, who thought Tor
moment he would have 10 let Cole 60. sud
denly be rlougAt q his bayonet and, draw iny
= 4gOLh lIc sc4bDa1G- app4GQ Inc shank u 4
Justify 10 Coles head TIL be ceased 10 resist
a. was then tied bands and feet and throw
back Ou the car. when tie train. with the re
naincer Of our force, moved toward De Soto
We had gone but short distance when, Whil
pa4s.ug through q tunnel, a scrambiiug wa
heard where Cole lay, and several guard
thrust their bayOHetE into that locality whei
silence relgued about the prisoner till we ar
TIFed ~ DE soto Here Cole was thrown from
shc car, coat.e5s and apparently dead, where l.
Ia tIl morning,
Soon attes daylight, while the supposed dea
nan Fas being scrutiaized by some OF Smitht
pryiuE guerrilla" slgus Of life were noticed
sad o. being spoken to, Cole soon BEGAN r
alk-ansHeF-uc questions ID regard 10 bis pas
life. during which. Ike said lie had since 81
Waf began killed - men and one w0.lan a.l
WIS mol soEry for it. Int wolld xii SOC.
more ri us if we would lct him lyase' 5
Once spontaneous and simultaneous sell q
Hang aim wenl up irOm Hundreds 81 thsoat
a COW piCkcLed on the common near by 81.
turned loose and Tie rope used 10 hang Cole
TIE lsilb VI q tree, where Ae hung lIIl uooi
WAel Ae was cut down and buried face dOwI
without a coffin OF winding sheet"
During ali Ass struggles 10 escape. instead ,
cu-lug 10 loud voice, be was G0cEc3Iy so
lei ald silent lie died game, apparently i
Aalrcnt 70 bodily pain aud destitute Of ID
lelse 81 tear.-E. II. RIDDLE d lad. Batter
Blue Rapids Kan.