The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1888-09-06
A SPY'S EXPERIENCE.
BY EWING GIBSON.


business some time ago, and, miss ny my
train, was detained several hours with
nothing to do. While Idling abound the
little hotel my eye was caught by the
striking appearance Of an old man sit.
ting on bench outside. H. was tall
and powerfully built, but his long gray
HAIR proved hlm To bc no longer young.
] asked the clerk of the hotel who he
was. This individual was busy, but
managed 10 answer me as well as he
could. That old man. why, that's
Jack awton. lie was u brave soldier in
the lat war and played the spy two or
three times. Get him to tell you some
of his experiences They are right good,
and those who know ,ay they are true
escaped ana made my way 30 the old
veteran. He was smoking q short clay
pipe and refused my offer of cigar IN
its place. After a lew well directed uues-
tons got him talking and ! asked him
to give ne au account OF VIVA he cousid.
cr,d the toughest ,crapr hc Wa, ever IN.
tn, old fellow loOhc az mr calmly rs he
rctiIcd and liz hi pipe, while made my.
self comfortable and waited for HIM to
beg II. lie had short, strong way Of
ta!AlLg. and Twill try To tell his story in
a. nearly his own word, ~ possible.
Pictu,c To yourself a strong old man Of
slNty or thcryaOoUts, with n rough face
tUl, of character and determination, and
you lave "a fair idea OF him.
"NcIl, stranger, about the worst liX
was ever in, and I've been in Il good
many, was somewhat ir this way: was
with my company in NcutucN in ~ and
the enemy were not faroll getting ready,
we kncw,to make an attack on US at any
time. We were cucampcd in small
| town and the time passed slowly with
nothing to do but 10 he on In lookout
| for surprise. But the enemy seemed
TO be in no hurry aud | got tired of wait
| ing. ! had been thinking over a hcme
! for some time and at a-t suggested to
my Captain that should goa asa spy into
the cncmy's camp. lie jun. ed at the
| idea and proceeded u get ready. There
were several prisoners in camp and
took my choice Of their uniforms. In
! the town there lived an old chap who
ke i fancy pigeons, and among them he
! had some trained carriers. The laptain
suggested that should carry a couple o.
these with me aud hide them in the
/ woods near the encmy's line Then if |
| found out anything that needed immc-
| dii,c action | should send a message by
one OF these birds, which would carry it
| far quicker than could. I didn't take
| much to the idea of the p gcOns, but the
| Captain was set on il and got two for me
/ in small basket. The ncNt morning |
/ had hid my birds ana boldly walked into
! the cncmy's line. | WAS cllr eel 10 head.
! quarter, at once. My story was straight
/ one ana no suspicion was aroused. We
/ had taken a prisoner not long before
/ who had belonged To "a regiment in Mis-
/ souri,, and passed myself oil for him.
/ giving his name and company and a few
/ other points / had take caIc to obtain.
/ a. soon rs could went around picking
/ UP information. 1t won Il not do for me
/ l. seem too ingu,itiyr. and was in
/ doubt what to do next when noticed
an old Building with the door part V
/ open. looked in. The place seemed
J empty at fist sight. Look NJ nearer,
however ! saw the figure OF man living
On some straw in corner. thought he
was sleeping, but hc seemed strangely
quiet. went in and looked c.o.c.
and saw that he was dead \
/ glance around showed me "a collin with
the id resting on il in another corner OF
the room. q Il not much like 20 have
Il dead body for "a companion, but /
wanted To rest awhile, and under the cir
CumStanCc | thought dead soldier
would be less likely to give me trouble
than live one, who might ask trouble
some questions, so ! made up my mind
to stay here awhile. Lying down on
some straw in the furthest corner | was
soon asleep. How long slept | am not
sure, but | was aroused by noise out
side of shouting and of galloping OF
horses, mixed with the command, of of,
iiccrs given in loud, hastY tones. What
cUu IT all mean | was not long in
doubt. soon heard passing steps and q
voice asking what was the matter Mat
ter enough, colonel was the reply
there was fellow come here to day pre-,
tending to he one Of our men from Mis-
souri, He had hardly disappeared be
fore the real man turns up and ThelI
voices faded away as they walked past
but had heard enough to convince M
of the scrape | was in. What hard lucR
that the prisoner | was representing
should have escaped on this day of al
Others. had no time for idle regrets
however, for by the noise outside knew
an active search was being made for me
heard voice shout: Look inside th
dead houscp Quick a. thought | raj
TO the coffin and got inside. As well a
could pulled the lid over and waited
In second the door was pulled open anC
a half dozen men ran in. They paused
moment till their eyes got accustomed t.
the darkness Hay in silence, expecting
instant discovery, but the idea OF look
ing in the colin never seemed 10 occu
10 them. heard one say lie isn't il
here and they left as quickly a the
had entered. | tell you "a dead house i
good place for a man TO hide when ii
is in fix like mine. The bravest me
have some superstition about the presenc
Of the dead aud like TO get away as quic
as they can. was in areguar trap nov
and did not know what to do. Any at
tempt at escape in the present excite
state OF the camp would mean deaf
cure and certain. My only chanc