The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1890-03-14
MY Prison Life and Escape.
(BY Con. ]. u. GREEx.l

my story in this paper. 1t HIS taken me
ten weeks to tell my story and l have &C.
cupied Dearly two columns of the BULLE-
TIN each week during that time; and for
fear that have grown wsarisome to the
readers thereof. will hurry now to the
close. The river Chowan was i'm federal
territory, west of the ChOwan for twenty
FIVE or thirty miles was common territory.
The western end of the Sea-board and
Roanoke railroad was in hands OF the
confederates and guarded strongly, hence
the crossing of the Chowan placed US in
comparative safety, the degree of safety
increasing as We approached the railroad
| do not knowsat what point we crossed
the Oh owan. There was a large planta-
ton on the western shore. The side from
which we crossed was dense swamp.
We came to the river bank in daylight
We could see gun boat lying on the 9TH
er shore opposite farm house. 1t was the
only place where we could cross, or rath-
er where we could command a boat in
which to cross. Must we lie here in the
swamp and wait the pleasure of that
gun boat, or can she be induced to get
out OF our way at once? III will try my
hand on her." said our guide. He left
us and was gone for several hours. A
little befoae night he returned and in a
few minutes the gun boat got up
steam and moved up the river and was
soon out of sight around the bend.
The guide had sent a messenger to report
that the escaped prisoners were endearor-
ing to cross above, and the boat went in
search of them. The guide brought
back with him blind man, who he said
would put US across the river. This man
was large, robust, bushy headed, long
bearded and cid enough for his HAIR and
beard to be white as snow. We namedhim
Charon, he having all the features of his
ancient predecessor of that name, except
the flaming eye, and all the characters
tics except the charging of an Obolus
for the passage. This blind old Charon
would not have one cent, though we
showed him the money and begged him
to take it. A Iumor of this old man
reached US afterwards through the news
papers that the yankees on their return
the next day tied rope around his net k
and dragged him at the stern of the boat
until he was almost dead. To their hon.
or it was stated that they did not murder
him quite. As soon az the gun boat tur-
ned the bend, old Chanon had his cloth
es off and was in the river resurrecting
his boat and bailing her out for the pas
sage, and in a short time we were seated
in the boat and the old man, bending to
his oars, rowed us across while the guide
held the helm. We landed Just at dusk.
The owner OF the plantation was a
tory 30 our guide said. He admitted
at once that he had taken the oath to
save his property, but denied that he had
any i'll will to the south. We demanded
accommodations for the night. He re.
piled his oath forbade him doing any
thing for us voluntarily, but that he
could be forced to do IA we said. He
handed his keys to the guide, and pointed
to bis servants, said, "you can order what
you please" We ordered beds and sup
per. In few minutes the parlor Aoor and
hall was spread with bedding for US,
and we lying OH it resting and waiting
for supper. After a while the old gentle
man came and announced that supper
was nearly ready, and handing another
key to the guide remarking that he
thought it likely that demijohn with a
little good whisky in it could be found
in certain closet. The closet was open
ed and the demijohn found az he predic-
ted and we all took drink and went in
to an elegant supper, which we disposed
of as hungry men are in the habit of do
ing. Then we lay down and sleep as only
the weary sleep. The old man stood
guard fer us all night on the bank of the
river. The demijohn had removed all
faint from his character and all distrust
from our minds. At daylight the next
morning the old gentleman aroused us
from our slumber and announced break
fast on the table. He had awakened his
servants long before day and had break
fast ready tor us. We went for the demi-
john once more, and eating a hearty
breakfast with haste, we prepared for the
march. At the gate we found horse
and buggy and six carts with mules at
attached to cary us days journey. The
cavalry who had hunted us for 20 long a
time were on the other side of the river.
They might easily cross and oyer-take us,
however. We were in The open country
and no swamp to hide in. About twenty
FIVE miles of neutral territory between the
confederate and federal lines was to be
passed and we would be safe from persuit.
We put our mules at a "trot out" and
held them TO it until we reached the con-
federate outpost. The carts we're then
SEM back and we footed il again until
about Gun down, when we reached the
Seaboard and Roanark railroad. In a
few minutes train roaled up going west.
We boarded her and reached Weldon, II.
c. for late supper. The next moning we
breakfased at the Spotswood hotel in the
city of Richmond. After breakfast, hav-
ing improved our toilet as best we could