Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-01-19
VAR "REMINISCENCES.
HANGED FOR A SPY.
A SAD Taie Of oae Of the Many Tragedies
of the y. mr..

1t is l.. o'clock on "A winters night,
and eavalryman on picket hears
suspicious sound ia the leafiess bushes
on his right. He had hardly spoken
when the echo comes back to him from
the post below.
''Halt! Who goes there2
The figure of man suddenly rises
above the low bushes A quick dash TO
the south might save him. but he hesi-
tates, AMI it Is too late. He is in federal
Uniform lie has passed the camp
sentinels he is skulking through the
woods-he has planned to desert to the
enemy Five minutes after his capture
he is at tire reserve and ten minutes
later ne is on his ways back to camp.
And why should he seek to desert his
fiag-to cover his memory for all time
with a stain worse than murderp He
is growing in years but evidently a
veteran in war. They question him,
hoping he may eXculpate himself but
he refuses TO answer. He is left in care
of the provost guard, and ii is not until
daylight comes again that other ques-
tions are put to him. lie maintains
silence Then they charge him with
being spy. His face pales at the word,
but he has nothing to say. lie refuses
to give ais name or name his command.
lie is still obstinate when taken to
headquarters He is pale and anxious,
but refuses to open his lips. Later on,
when pat on trial for his life before
court-martial, he still pursued policy
he had decided on from the first As
would-be deserter he might bring for
Tense The verdict might be imprison-
ment but it would not be death As
spy he viii surely suffer the fate Of
spies Then why not speak name his
captain, indentfy himself, and ask the
court to be merciful
Never word from him throughout
the trial. Every captain in the division
was called up to identify him, but none
could place him. The charge had to be
that of spying and the verdict had to be
death. In the field, convicted by drum
head eourt-martial. he would have been
shot within few hours. Here in vim
ter quarters there was plenty of time
to prepare a gallows When informed
of the verdict he caught his breath like
one seized with sudden gain, and there
was twitching OF the muscles around
the mouth. Thirty seconds later he
had regained control OF himself
1t was a week before he was led out
70 die After the findings Of courts
martial had been returned approved
they gave him two days to prepare him
self for eternity, The moelSery Of il
was cruel Men who know that their
houre on earth are nnmbercl eau not
absolve their souls OF sin. The spy felt
that It was mocllery, and he waved the
chaplains away.
All hangings under military law are
at sunrise A company had been de-
tailed to see the order carried out;
sergeant's guard to act as escort It
was clear, frosty morning, and day
light seemed to come slowly. The con-
demned man was up and dressed and
waiting. He was pale faced. but there
was a look Of resolution in his eye
which was glad to see. lie would die
game. \ chaplain had come in with
me. The spy waved him out and turned
his back. that his elbows might be
bound
He saw the gallows long before we
reached it, but his face betrayed no
emotion. March! march! march. Only
soldier could have marched 10 the
beat of the muhied drum going to his
death We reach the foot OF the gallows
at last The spy looks up and calmly
surveys the structure and the dangling
moose. He is assisted up the rude
ladder To the trap. A chaplain lne-ls
on the rough boards and offers pray.
and then hush falls upon the assem-
blage Thank God that my orders were
fully crrried out when | had delivered
my prisoner on the sea ffoldl The hang
man awaits Us. He is "a volunteer from
some guard house and viii be paid a
few dollars in money at headquarters.
''lou have message for some one,
and will deliver it, | whispered in the
prisoners ear as his ankles were being
tied.
ayes. message to Col -, of the
--th, --- infantry lie will tell my
friends. Get word to him that died in
the line OF duty Thank you-good-
by
From the hour OF his capture to the
moment of his death these were the
only words lac uttered. lie had scarcely
spoken them when the hangman pulled
the black cap over his face. stepped to
the lever. aud two seconds later the
trap fell with crash and the body was
dangling in the air. II was only after
peace came that / could deliver the
message
''Ah, poor Dick. sighed the colonel
when had finished. Hung for spy
aad yet he was not spy. lie entered
your lines TO try to find brother Of his
who had deserted and bring him back
to duty. That and nothing more. The
brother came back 10 uspoor Dick
died on the gallows.''-Chicago Times.
LEES FLAG OF TRUCE
ItrIeNed Ia Have lice, Part of an Article