San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-02-02

IL
nimself-then upon that high'stockade,
with eager-eyed sentinels pacing short
intervaled posts around it, Evans spirit
fell, and he grew sick with helplessness
He felt that the motto of the Italian
might well be reared above that strong
and guarded gate: " Neutrality-suspicious.,
roi cR eatratei"
Then, on the third morning, all was
stir and hustle betimes- Men were
well, many scarce able to stand, from
illness and starvation, some of them
but half clad and wholly shoeiess, all
,well-nigh frozen, as they shivered for
hours in that piercing air, in half a
foot of snow.
Grim, unshaven, with matted hair
and filthy shreds of clothing, a grew
.eome, hideous parade of misery they
made; for the rare exception was he
who had one decent garment, and did
not share that with nauseous vermin,
bred of uncleanliness and want OF
change.
But now the prison-inspecting officer
had come; for the better manhood and
independence of the press, learning the
hidden facts of some of the worst pris-
-ons, had not failed to turn the strong
est light upon their abuses. And so
grave and circumstantial had grown
the repetition of press demand for re-
form, that Mr.. Lincoln himself took
note of 1T.
Then, as was ever the case when
that strong, quaint humanity in the
president was reused by wrong, the
war department ordered inspection,
close investigation and report. And
Gen. Baldwin-en route to this special
duty when the prisoners had halted in
Baltimore streets the previous Sunday
now entered the Camp Morton stock
ade, followed by a small staff.
The obsequions major in command,
gorgeous in new uniform, moved by
his side with an exaggerated Difference
all the more notable from his usual
self-importance. But very grave and
stern were the veterans set lips, as he
turned often to the aid beside him, in
structing entries in the book he bore.
But out of the grave, firm face the
eyes CLEANED pityingly and surprised
along that long and hideous line; and
more than once they fingered long
and painfully upon some object more
pleading than its neighbor, in the suf-
fering stamped upon bent frame and
worn face. Once the veteran turned
abruptly to the aid, cutting in mid
flow some unheard comment of the
prison commandant, with the quick,
impulsive speech:
"My God! captain, we have both been
somewhat in the front; l have heard of
the horrors of war but never have l
seen them until now!''
Behind the general strobe tall, SOL
dierly man, wrapped in a long cloak,
but wearing neither plume nor rank
marks on his hat As the inspection
halted in front of Evans squad, this
man moved nearer, and, saluting, said
loud and clearly:
''The McHenry prisoners we saw in
Baltimore Sunday, Sir"
Then, fixing his gaze full upon Evans,
he forced his attention, and, opening
his cloak as though to readjust it, dis
played his full figure. A hot flush rose
to the young scouts face, and the prison
languor, already beginning to creepinto
his eyes, was burned out of them by the
glow of angry contempt that met the
others stare. With one quick step in
front of his line, he folded his arms and
cried:
$50, tits you come to taunt US, Peyton
Fitzhugh! Here, boysw He turned to
the line, pointing straight at the tall
spy. BE men once morel Give one
groan for that Virginia deserterr'
Electrified by his voice and mien,
catching the full force of his taunt,