The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-06-02
A BREAK FOR LIBERTY.

In rs nearly his own language as can re-
member IT, this is the story, aud have nc
doubt the true story, that Peter Lands, a
clerk at the East St. Louis stock yards, told
TO me-
People who picture a bloodhound rs mas
til magnded about two diameters, tawny
colorcd, with muz2le like keg, and paws
the size Of small hams, have derived their
idea from Uncle Toms Cabin troupcs, and
know nothing about the real article. Blood
hounds are used in the penal institutions oil
all tho southern states, but nowhere rs exteh-
sively rs in Texas, where the raising OF them
and their sale to sheriifs and wardens forms
quite an industry. happen TO know a good
deal about the beasts, although was reveI
IA dog fancier or an officer. The truth Is
was convict
look back on il with sorrow, but without
shame, for | was convicted OF something do
not considers crime had been employed AS
a COW puncher on a ranch south of Fort
Worth, on the Rio Grande, and we were TAX
Ing "A bunch Of cattle north to the Panhandle
district. AT "a little town called HayInan
Junction sherilYs posse stopped us TO search
for some stolen horses, and one OF the depu-
ties claimed my pony. | had raised the an
llllllt from II tOlL, buL lii' htpuNJ 'h' ''"''
nate, 50 We had words, and he finally
snatchcd up a Winchester ! protest / had
no wish 10 hurt the man, but ! believed
was in danger and, to make n long story
short | shot him in the shoulder, was ar
rested, tried, and, In spite OF all my friends
could do, sentenced to the Northern peniten-
tiary for Two years The charge was assault
with intent to do great bodily harm, and
there was considerable prejudice against
cowboys in the place where was tried
had never been bad young fellow, and
this was heartbreaking To me, but had still
my self respect and determined to serve out
my sentence patiently. The pententiary
was at Huntsville, 400 miles away by rail,
and there were eighteen OF us to go. The
method used IN transporting us IL the method
still in vogue III Texas, and challenge penal
history, with the exception OF that of the
galleys Of Toulon. to furnish a parallel to it
in brutality. Iron collars, weighing at least
five pounds, were riyeted around our necRS,
we were stood in double file and then yanked,
two and two, 10 long chain that ran down
che center Imagine vertebra with eigh'
teen ribs, and one has IA fair idea OF the ar
rangement, but no words can convey the
sense Of degradation, the brutalizng horror
and shame that even the most calOus feel
upon becoLling part Of this sad and sinister
procession Handouts were snapped on
each man and, bending and stumbling under
our chains, we were driven through the jcer-
ing crowds up to smoking car side tracked
for us, and the journey began.
II was IA terrible one The central chain
was long enough TO stretch from seat TO seat
cat nj, MT and nina Inan
out if any man moved his head he would jerk
the necks of those before and behind him,
and culver would pass along the whole
line In fact, the last two men We're chained
up so short that they could barely sit on tho
extreme clgo Of their seat by craning their
necks as Gar front as possible, and in this
posture they rode the whole 400 miles To
sleep was uIL OF the question, aud when one
moved the whole clankIng, culsing, miserable
mass moved with him We got some bread
and meat once on the trip, which lasted eX.
aCtly twenty six hours.
When we finally reached Huntsville, was
trembling like a child, tears of sheer agony
were running down my face, and Iricd as
best could with my manacled hands to hold
the cruel collar away from my neck, which
1t had chdlei raw The rest of the men were
in scarcely better shape, and our joints were
SO stiff from sitting nearly molonlcss for
day and u night, that we could with diff
Guilty walk. As we were getting out Of the
car | stumbled and pulled over ano her man,
half stranglIng myself at the same time.
Instantly the nearest guard rained down u
shower OF kicks upon me.
i've noticed you shamming, =" he shouted.
wait till we get you in the walls"
The WaIls' was the slang name for the
prison and this little episode fixed my status.
] was reported rs a sly, cunning rascal, fond
of suhterfuge and in this light my conduct
was viewed, and all my little mistakes and
failures were prejudged. 1t was not long be-
fore the constant misery OF my life blotted
out every sentiment except duh determine
ton t. escape at tho first opportunity.
was put to work for while IN the stove
factory at Huntsville, but as the summer
opened II gang Of US were let out to con-
tractor to work in wood camp about fifty
miles away
''Be careful Of this man, said one of the
deputies, pointing me out to the contractor;
"he's slick conniver and apt TO make you
trouble"
an bore hole through him If he does"
So with this recommendation was intro
duced 10 tho camp 1t lay in tho midst of a
thick belt Of woods, and was guarded by a
Gordon of sentries, exactly US n military post.
The men slept in log barracks, and the work
consisted altogether of chopping and cordng.
The tasks were severe, the punishmcnts ex-
cessive, aud the food and sanitary arrange
ments of the place abominable. Although
chains and shackles were dispensed with,
there were no escapes, for not only were tho
guards instructed TO fire unhesitatingly in
such case, but in one corner OF the camp
was kennel containing twenty blood
hounds None Of the convicts were allowed
10 give these dogs food or become familiar
with them on pain of flashing, but often
saw them, and they looked very much like
settlers, dead liver colored, small in size and
sleek of hide, with rather sharp pointed
noses Thier was nothing at all formidable
about their appearance, but dreadful stories
were circulated Of their ferocity
Fall was coming on and it was getting
cold, when one evening 1 escaped 1t was
unexpected had gravitated into water
carrier. and had gone, just about dusk, to a
spring near the outskirts of the camp AS I
neared 1t the guard at that point passed me
II = IA