The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1888-03-14
Thunder would form the associations

Thunder would form the associations
that were wont to greet our eyes when
inmates of far-famed Libby. Ihe
prison without it's associate surroundings
would not be Libby to the boys IN
blue who were from time to time COZ
fined within it's walls. It might serve to
collect dimes and dollars as ghastly
circus exhibition to fill the pockets OF
sharp, unprincipled speculators--nlen
that have conceived the selfish and de-
spicable idea of violating the sanctlty OF
the soldiers suferings and to many the
very spot OF their death. "
A UNION VETERANS OPINION.
The Oldest ex-prisoner of war in
Chicago is Mr.. Lee Mayer, of L. Simon
& Co., Monroe street. MIR. Mayer has
been for the last four years vlce-presl-
dent of the Veteran Union League. He
is one of the very few Union officers now
residing in Chicago who were imprlson-
ed in Libby, and his incarceration IN
that prison was one of the longest
namely, eleven months. he spent twen-
ty months, all told, in various prisons.
He belonged to the Twelfth Pennsyl-
vania Cavalry. was wounded and cap.
tured at the battle of Winchester, and
during his stay at Libby escaped twice,
but was recaptured both times, once by
bloodhounds. He was one of the famous
100 who made the tunnel escape, but
belonged to the unlucky tifty-fve who
were recaptured. He finally escaped at
Columbia, S. c., just prior to Sherman's
capture of the city.
Said Mr.. Mayer yesterday to a Daily
News reporter: 81 am opposed to any
such scheme as bringing Libby prison
to Chicago, and I should suppose any
ex-prisoner of war would be. This mat
ter was talked over among the veterans
last Sunday, and the sentiment seemed
to be unanimous that it was an unwise
step. No ex-prisoner OF war would care
to have the horrors of twenty-five years
ago revived, as would be the case IN this
instance. Although they might not have
been in Libby, still an ex-prisoner who
has suffered at Andersonville or Belle
Isle would have his own imprisonment
wildly brought to remembrance.
Speaking as one who endured imprison-
ment in Libby, 1 never care to go into
the details of those horrible times. The
actual starvation, suffering and filth en-
dured are not pleasant to recall, but they
can hardly be exaggerated. What, then,
is the use OF bringing the old building
bore to serve as perpetual reminder OF
these things?"
The shade OF pain in the speakers
eyes softened, and he continued, with a
smile:
GAS commercial enterprise, should
expect it to be failure. After being
taken to pieces and re-erected IN Chicago
it will be practically q new building.
There will have to be new mortar used,
and suppose it will receive fresh coat
of paint. This will not be the Libby
prison of history. If they turn it into e
museum and charge an admission fee
there will have to be something inside
beside the bare walls. Why not get
some ex-soldiers who have passed
through Andersonyille, or other prisons,
some without arms or legs, and show
them as curios? But, seriously, the effect
of making show of Libby prison and
pointing out to visitors the particular
rooms, etc., where our officers endured
their greatest hardships, will be injurl-
Gus, and not calculated to make the two
participants in the great strife mutually
forgive and forget. "