Dodge City times., 1891-01-02

pockets and very few bundles. Tho
thoroughness with which this work had
been accomplished was shown BY the
fact that on the whole twenty prisoners
present not one contraband article was
found.
As the men were examined they passed
up a rough wooden stairway to the Sec
ond story, from which came an uproar
which could not comprehend till had
taken the same way.
can not think it was design, but
certain it is l was the last man exam
ined. After had been searched and
answered the usual questions, Major
Turner read over two sheets of letter
papcr-they had evidently accompanied
the report of the officer who had turned
over tho prisoners, and referred to me,
for still holding them in his slender,
white hands, he asked:
"Ain't you KentuckianT"
81 am," replied.
'eYou know ono Captain Frank Brent
Of the Partisan Rangers?"
do"
''And you know that he is now a pris-
oner in the hands Of your people?"
II know all that"
''And that he is condemned to dcath?"
''Yes."
"You should know the latter, for you
are responsible for it. have full ac-
count Of your connection with that case
here. Tomorrow I shall call the at
tention Of General Winder and the
Government to it. You may as we'll
know now, sir, that if . hair Of Captain
Brents head is injured. you'll die like a
dog. That's all. Ross, send this man
up"
The closing sentence Of Turner's
speech was addressed to tho little man,
who at once took ne in tow and he'd me
up the rough, Th4te-washed sssEa
whittier all the other prisoners had pre-
ceded me, to the accompaniment Q: ever
increasing shouts, yells and stamping
from above.
CHAPTER N
II asked to recall the scene in nv mast
life, tho scene that will cling most
vividly to my memory while conscious
ness lasts. should say, without hesita-
ton, it WAS the picture presented by my
fellow prisoners ON my first introduc-
ton to the ''Tower West Room of
Libby prison This was the room into
which the stairs from Turner'S Office
I'D.
It was long, wide, dismal section of
the warehouse, with low ceiling sup
ported BY heavy uprights. Fastened to
these uprights were . few lean tallow
candles from which came enough light
to reveal mass Of ragged, pale-faced
men who stood packed upon the floor
like nsh In . basket.
soon learned the cause Of tho noise
and uproar that had preceded me. Tho
instant came to view at the head of
the stairs the ghastly Hooking throng
surged toward me with such . series Of
fierce yells - / never before heard,
though afterward became . partaker
in these Undesirable orgies.
'Ffesh fish! Fresh fish! Fresh fshr'
was the salusation Of the ragged mob,
and every man. not only Of this section
but all over the prison seemed to be
swelling tho inexplicable chorus of
'sEfeah hshT I soon learned that this
was the name applied to prisoners just
in from the 'front.' and that every yaan
had TO undergo the samo form Of ir-
itiation.
"Where's Jour bagsagc?" "rm tho
porter; give mo your checksr ''Let mo
show you to your room-the best in this
hotel!~ Keep Jour hands out of that
fresh-ash's pocket; the Johnnies have
left him nothingr' ''Have . bath be-
foro supper, sire" 'sHot whisky punch
and oigaxs for two!" Breed or bloodr'
With theee cries ringing in my cars, to
the accompaniment Of shrieks Of laugh
tef that had in them nothing of merri-
ment ] was pulled about, and would
have fallen had not one of the men
seissa ny arm and Whispered:
"Doa't Get mad ut the poor fellows.
Hau1. but come With me-"