Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1890-09-04

M. s -=-W8
sHALT WHERE ARE YoU GOING as
tive, but Til take my chances in at
tempting to escape. There's gully
out there, through brier- patch. New
light; escape by way of burial.
Plan matured; trusty comrade-offi-
GERS assist. Tin-cup, muscles, will,
calculating ingenuity, friendly sugges-
tions, briers cut to stick in the earth
conosaiing the writer and present un-
inviting appearance to pedestrians, and
cautious work were brought into re-
QUESTION and the grave digging was
completed. During the labor the cap
tive's thoughts dweit, with some mis-
givings, upon the imperative orders of
the Major, issued the day before in the
presence of the prisoners: Shoot
stragglers without warning. If you
catch man hiding, bayonet him with
out word. No nonsense" Intended
for intimidation, Ell? Well, it's safer
to consider it as dead earnest. He
thought also of the immature plan to
disarm our guard; how they were to
be set upon simultaneously; how in
formation of three companies behind
deferred us, and how disappointed
some were when wiser counsel dis
couraged the attempt. But the
"grave" COL Warren Shedd, Thir-
tieth Illinois Infantry, now rendered
his assistance. Boughs and grass were
gathered; the adventurer fitted in;
satisfaction. "All right, cover up. /"
First came grass and boughs, then
"Oh, here, Lieutenant, here are some
things you'll need" Col. r.. X. Scott,
Sixty-eighth Ohio Infantry, presented
some maps Qinen) of the country,
rolled up in which was small pocket
compass, the gift of Col. Shedd. A
canteen was also handed in and served
as pillow. A hurried Misunderstanding,
hasty good-by, and the burial pro-
ceeded. Earth came down upon him,
pressing heavier and heavier; old grass
concealed fresh earth, and, pursuant to
programme, stalks of blackberry were
cut and placed on the "new made
grave" in the hope that they would
repel all Investigators and better con-
ceal the concealment.
Daylight approaches. Now the
morning gray streams in one little
ray through the small aperture in
geniously constructed at the head of
the grave, to admit air to its occu-
pant.
Lieutenant" Ca voice from above),
here are some rations for you, at your
head, just under the surface"
"Oh, thank you'll" was the mufied
response; "but don't stop up the
hole"
An hour passed slowly another,
seeming like three. The pressure from
above increased more and more; the
weight grew ton a minute. The right
side and arm were now without feel
ing -paralyzed; whole body in pain,
pressure terrible. The suffering body
suggested reconsideration ruled
"out of order, as Andersonville came
in view.
A death-like chill now seemed to
penetrate the body of the buried cap
tive, as if threatening to freeze the
vitals. To move would be such de-
licious luxury, but motion of the
foundation" would certainly demolish
or disturb the upper stories.
July 81, 1s64-Broad daylight. Dis
tant view of sunlight. Ny acquaint-
ance entirely cut. Are their motives
actuated by prudence or fear? Is
there any fresh earth visible? Do the
briers stand up properly? Considera-
BILE risk, this, Foolish risk, perhaps.
But what can I do now but lie per-
fectly still? Unusual connection
above. Footsteps hastily approach the
brier patch. A voice, "All right, Lieu
tenant, lay low; good-by." Retreating
steps, Encouragement and consola-
ton The forsaken one distinctly
heard, Hurry up your breakfasts"
(breakfast) Sand fall in. The line ex-
tended in close proximity to the miss
ing captive. "Column, right face
forward-march! !" and the column was
in motion. How distinctly can be
heard the regular tread. A sudden
heavy, extra pressure, another; twice
stepped upon, but by captives or cap.
tors remains a mystery. A mounted
Confederate rode at the rear of the
column, and the sound of the horses
feet beating on the hardened path is
distinctly heard by the hidden prisoner;
nearer and nearer approaching, now
alarmingly close, and then q welcome
passage by. The loose earth ratified
down through the narrow window, and
the danger was gone by. The road
reached by the column. A halt. "All
right" rang along the line and the
tramp was taken up southwark.
Glorious relief! The forsaken had
chatted freely with Confederate
officer the day before, and entertained