Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-05-03
HE CARRIED HIS POINT
AND DID WHAT MANY AN OLDER
MAN WOULD NOT Do.

of herOlSm " DlCD IN ndIu W UdtOu
in this age: While IN Dakota !
formed the friendship of the
bravest young man ever met. He
was hardly %, slight, bOylsh fel-
low with a world of will In his fine
and flashing eyes. When 20 years
of age he entered journalism In
one of our Western States. The
yirlle way in which he wrote of
robber ring that held control of
the county offices led it to resolve
upon revenge. Matters culminst'
ed IN the arrest, trial and con-
viction of the frank and fearless
boy for criminal libel, and he was
fenced to the penitentiary for
one year. After the usual pre-
Iiminaries to which prisoners are
subjected he was ordered to work
by the officer having him in charge
"a rude, stalwart, heartless
ruflian, by the way.
Hal, as l will call the prisoner,
folded his arms, looked the fellow
square in the eyes and said:
81 shall not work, sir. l was
convicted by packed jury, per
iured witnesses and a purchased
Judge, and l shall not work"
He was condemned forthwith to
solitary confinement in damp,
dark cell and fed on bread and
water.
Every morning the officer in his
rounds would roar out:
"Will you work ?"
"Never by the thunders of God,
neverw was the unfailing answer
AS the days lapsed into weeks
the responses came in lower and
lower tones, but always the same
always firm, intense, unwaveriDg
At last they brought him ont
and placed him in a continuance
where he must pump water OF
drown in the constantly rising
flood.
"Pump " commanded the officer
'Neveri and If you permit me
to perish my blood shall stain your
soul forever p
The water rose higher and
higher, but he stood unmoved-
higher and higher till it was over
his head. The warden was notified.
He rushed to the scene, and my
friend was dragged out limp and
seemingly liteless, being resusci-
tated with much difficulty.
"Send him to the hospital" cried
the warden, "and when we have
him back in hearty health | rather
think will find a way to reduce
his will"
SO a week later Hal was brought
before the warden.
"WilI you workw
"Never, sir : | am no criminal.
You may kill me, but, by Heaven,
you shall not conquer me~
"Strip him, tie him by the
thumbs and bring he cat.O'.tails !"
hOwled the warden.
1t was done. The poor, daring
boy was strung up till his whole
weight rested on his toes aud he
was dashed on the bare back till his
blood formed in horrible pools on
the floor. But not a cry, not an
appeal, not tear.
About this time the plaintiff in
the libel suit fed to Canada with
$50, 900 Ofthe public money, and ey-
erything that my friend had said
concerning him and his comrades
IN crime was proven to be true.
Post.haste the Governor of the
State sent him a full, tree pardon.
On receiving it Hal drew himself
proudly up and said
"Never! | have done nothing
Tor which to be pardoned. l must
be released and the Jaw must
apologize to me for the awful crime
1t has committed in my CASE
The Governor was thunderstruck
at the answer. He called to see
Hal, and was so pleased vita the
boy that he ordered the warden to
turn him out of prison. "Kick
him out if he won't leave" we're
his words, "and tell him to call on
me.
Hal was thereupon elected un.
tremendously from the penlten.
tiary. lie called on the Governor,
who said :
"a great wrong has been COM
mitted in your case. If I cen do
anything to undo it, command me-"
Hal thanked him, and they were
great friends from that time on
He returned home, and was the
hero OF the hour; but the sting
ranked, and lie went TO Dakota to
forget it, if possible, IN that Won
derful country where no man knows
or cares or questions aught con-
corning the previous history of Il
fellow citizen.
The Value Of SaWdust.