Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-10-09

opening passed over 10 me the two cor
ners of what felt like a blanket, and
whispered: STEADY; keep it up slow
and steady"
did not need to be told what was
to do nor why it was to be done. Tho
duty of myself and of the man who held
the other side of the blanket was 10
move our arms so as TO force air into the
tunnel, for on this depended the life of
the brave fellow working like a mole
within.
The man in the tunnel drew in after
him c square wooden box, such as had
been used in the prison for spittoon.
At opposite sides this box had cords
fastened to it. which served to drag it
in and out, and also as means of sig
mailing, by the man working within,
when it was full.
The dirt taken from the tunnel was
scattered over the floor, from which the
loose fodder was first removed-it was
always placed back when the nights
work was finished.
found the Tanning very hard work,
the man digging inside. The sensation
of working in the dark with those in
tensely silent, earnest men | can never
forget, while the time was regulated by
the 'all's we'll" Of the guards, under
whose feet a pathway to liberty and
Gods land" was being cut,
WANTED Il take my turn inside, but
Howard would not hear TO it until lie
had had a chance TO post me as TO the
work.
About one o'clock we were relieved by
another gang, and with my friend, |
crept back, as had come, to the Upper
Chickamauga.
Hitherto | had been living in daily
dread of summons from the prison
officials, to answer for the death Of
Frank Brent, but now that | bad some
thing to do and prospect Of escaping,
my feelings underwear, q radical change
and / became positively cheerful.
Through Howard Scott | met Colonel
Ross and all my fellow-workers, some
of whom were old friends. There were
less than thirty in all engaged in this
wonderful work, and the secrecy with
which they succeeded in keeping their
scheme from all the other prisoners was
not the least amazing part Of the under
taking.
/ soon got to know the tunnel as well
as II / had been its originator. Its
course was due cast under roadway
that ran down from Carey street to the
canal and at right angles To the prison
front. On he other side Of this short
street there was n high-board fence that
shut out the space from beyond view Of
the guards This space was 4 sort Of
court yard for another warehouse 70 the
east. and in this warehouse great guam
Titles OF boxes were stored; these boxes
had been received under flag Of truce
for the prisoners. but. about January l,
1894, the delivery OF them ceased and
they were nightly looted by our guards.
As the tunnel neared completion my
own anxiety became so great that rest
during the day became impossible, for
an intense impulse was on me TO be at
work all the time. found another
Kentuckian who was possessed in the
same way. This was Captain Johnston,
who could work harder and 90 longer
without food or sleep than any man l
ever met
At length, in early February, the tun-
mel was nearly completed, aad Cap
tain Johnston was missing from roll call.
The prison was searched for him, and
the tunnellers, who knew where hewas,
feltc and nervous till Ross told them
that Johnston must have escaped by
bribing one OF the guards, as Captain
Shelton had done short time before.