The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-02-16

o>SSAD
AIMING THz GUARD.
ment hesitate, though the guards were,
unfortunately, not near the door. Knight
darted on the nearest, who was by the
fence, and as he was bringing the gun
down to q charge, Knight seized it with
his left hand and struck its owner so pow
erfully with his right that the gun was
instantly released. Brown had dealt with
another in an effective manner, and re-en-
forcements for the prisoners were now
coming; but two other guards, who were
close to the gate. instead of standing their
ground, ran out and raised great outcry.
Wilson, Dorsey and others threw some
loose bricks, which happened to be handy,
after them, and prepared to charge out
through the gate, when Knight heard the
running Of the reserve guard mp the road,
and dinging away his musket, gave the
word, "Boys, we've got to get out Of
this;" then, hurrying through the hall
and down to the lower corner Of the yard,
was in . moment to the top OF the fence,
being the first over, but was closely fol-
lowed by the others. The fence was nine
or ten feet high and was no slight obsta-
Gle, but 1t was soon passed and then fol-
lowed q most desperate and exciting
chase.
All of this took but q moment. The
looking ON the proceedings with the great
est interest, and only beginning to scream
when the noise outside convinced them
that they might as well contribute their
share. Buffum had just succeeded in
opening the last door, and finging it wide
with an impatient "'There, now" when
the thrilling outcry from below warned
him that his own departure must be no
longer delayed. Fry and myself had been
engaged in securing the jailer, who, though
old, was powerful, and fought vigorously,
but had not finished wheLl we were warned
by the uproar that all thought of quiet
departure was at an end, and that there
was no longer motive in holding on to
Turner. We all rushed down stairs as best
we could, well knowing that we would
now be last In the fight, which was not
the post Of safety. The deserter passed
Us all like tiger on the leap-I never saw
such speed in a narrow place-and getting
| to the back door found two guards await
| ing him with bayonets at the charge. He
seized one in each hand, cutting himself
severely, but hinging them aside 50 forci-
bly, that the men were very nearly over
thrown, and then with the same swiftness
continued over the fence and on to the
woods, soon being In advance of all the
fugitives. l learned that he escaped to
Washington, but months after returning
south secretly to visit his family, was cap
Buffum followed after him and got over
the fence with difficulty, but though a
very brave man and q hard fighter, he
was q poor runner. One Confederate
who was quite swift footed, kept right
l after him, gaining considerably, and
threatening to shoot him If he did not
| stop. To this Buffum paid no attention,
| for a running man has an unsteady hand
and no certain aim, but he soon stopped
because Of exhaustion, just as the man
| overlook him. Now Buffum thought it
the right time to try his Yankee wit;'
/ 30 he threw himself down and said: t'I
am 30 done out that can go no further;
you run on and catch that fellow" point
ing to fugitive running short distance
ahead. But the man saw the design, and
i with great oath declared that he had
him now and meant to keep him. Poor
Buffum was allowed very brief time to
i rest, and then was marched back again to
the prison. have scarcely doubt that
1 II he had not waited to unlock the doors
| he would have made good his own escape.
Capt. Fry and myself were close to-
| gether In going down the stairs he being
/ little in advance. At glance he saw
there was no chance in the front yard
the way we had intended to lakeland at
| once turned to the back door, which was
left open by the passage Of the rebel de-
serter. He got over the wall with little
effort, but finding himself chased as Buff
FUN had been, he used little strategy.
A good many shots were being fired in all
directions, and he suddenly threw up his
hands and fell fiat. Those who were fol-
lowing him passed on after unwounded
game, and when the way was clear he
arose and resumed his course. He was
seen again and had most desperate
chase, but reached the shelter of the
friendly woods.
At no time in all my southern expe-
rience did find defective vision to be
such q dreadful misfortune as just now.
My eyes were easily dazzIed by sudden
increase OF light, and as came out of the
obscurity into the broad light, for some
seconds could scarcely see at all. In
this interval was parted from Fry by
running TO the front door according to
our original plan. There were two
frightened guards in the gate tossing their
| guns about and seeming not to know what
they should do. These were not danger
Gus looking and / ran up to them-for now
the power of seeing had come back; but
just - was about darting out OF the
| gate saw the stream of guards outside.
| They called on me to surrender, but ]
was not ready for that and hurried back
into the yard. A sentinel tried to shoot
me at point blank range, but, fortu-
nAtely, his gun failed to go of. ]
got back into the Jail and now started
out the back way-the course
should have taken at first. There were q
number OF guards in the back yard by
this time, but in the confusion got
through them and 20 the top of the fence.
What was my dismay to see a consider
able number Of self possessed soldiers
outside waiting with lifted guns to shoot
any one whose head might appear above
the fence. I jumped very quickly down
on the inside. One hope yet remained.
ran into the building and out at the front
door, thinking that now the front gait
might not be guarded, and that in this
J least likely way I might slip through
But It was vain; q large number of sol
diers were ON the ground and they were
being carefully posted. i saw that the
first panic and all the advantages of sur
prise were over. ran hack into the jai
to try the back door once more, but
7 sentinel was now standing at it and
| several soldiers followed me into tn,
building / did not care whether the,
; fired or not, for now utterly despaired
went up the stairway, the guards no
} moIesting me, and looked ont at the chas'
which was continuing over the adjacen
: hills.
. It was wild and exciting spectacle
Company after company OF soldiers cam
up. The bells OF the city were ringing
and shots were being fired rapidly, Will
: loud commands and screams were min
: gled. feared that many OF our nUmbe
were or soon would be killed. Then 1 lef
I the window and went to the front roon
: where the prisoners Of war were, and {
my indispensable surprise found that the
had not gone out OF their room at al
2 They said that there was too much ris
3 IN tt-that It would not be possible fo
! any one 70 get on.
Parrott and Reddiek were captured in
side the prison yard and Buffum outside
! Bensinger, who had been so gallant in III
!. struggle IN the jailyard, had fearful e,
y peEtence afterward. After the first raS