Arizona republican., 1891-04-24

WlIu DdlSS. EtlNCt a sehhioAS the expedition passed five miles of batteries and was "within ten minutes of safety" when it suddenly came to grief. "In the confusion caused by our evolutions in the eddies," says Richardson, Il had quite lost the points of the compass, and asked, In which direction Is Vicksburgp There re- piled Junius, pointing to the lurid smoke, "I think it must be on the other shore
 "'Oh. no: wait moment and you'll see the flash of the guns Just then l did see the flash of more guns than I coveted, and four or five shots came shrieking to- ward us. Colburn and myself instinctively dropped behind the nearest hay bales. A moment after we were amused to observe that we had sought shelter on the wrong side of the bales--the side facing the Con federate guns.
 "'I suppose we can surrender cried a poor scalded fellow.
 Surrender the devilp replied Colburn, T suppose we will fight theml'
 It was very creditable to the determina- tion of our companion, but, to put it mild. ly, our fighting facilities just then were somewhat limited.
 "My comrades assisted nearly all the wounded and scalded men down the sides of the barge to the waters edge, and placed them carefully upon hay bales. Remaining there we had nothing to lose and nothing to gain, and urged:
 "'Iet us take to the water
 "'Oh, yes. my friends replied; we will after a while
 Soon repeated the suggestion and they repeated the answer. It was no time to stand upon forms. jumped into the river, ten or fifteen feet below our barge They rolled over hay bale for me. I climbed upon 1t and found. it very comfortable means of navigation. At last, free from the instinctive dread of mutilation by splnters which had constantly haunted me, now felt that if wounded at all it must at least be by clean shot. The thought was great relief.
 With dim suspicion-not the ripe and perfect knowledge afterward obtained that clothing was scarce in the southern Confectionery, I removed my boots, tied them together with Ay watch guard and fastened them to one of the hoops of the bale Taking of my coat l secured it in the same manner"
 Settling himself securely on his floating bale Richardson determined to escape down the river, but the enemy ceased firing and sent out a yawl and captured the whole party The three correspondents gave the usual parole and went to Richmond for exchange, but the Confederate commis. sioner refused to release The Tribune men, and they lay in Libby prison and Castle Thunder several months. After employ ing counsel and trying every honorable means to secure justice the unfortunate men began to plot for escape.
 Once they had everything planned to brbe the guards, but an accident revealed the scheme, and they were put in dun geOn for punishment, and were shortly afterward sent to Salisbury, N. c. About this time correspondent of the Cincinnati Gazette, w. T. Davis, united his fortunes with The Tribune men, A friendly guard bargained to pass the trio over his beat on certain night. Richardson and Browne were on hand, but an accident delayed Davis until the guard was relieved, and tue others refused to proceed without him.
 Again and again hopes of escape were frustrated by some trille, Now and then desperation led to some mors daring efforts. but these, too, failed One day body of prisoners rushed upon guard relief, seized their muskets, and attacked the sentinels on their posts. In their haste all hands rushed to one point and attempted to pass the fence, but a couple of field pieces and the muskets of the reserve guard turned upon that one point, quelled the insurrectiop in three minutes. scheme of tunneling was pushed far toward success, but the prison commandant took alarm and posted a second line of guards 100 feet outside the stockade, and that rendered egress by tunnels out of tho question.