Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-12-19
WAITING FOR SUNRISE.
The Story OF n Spy who Cheated the Gal
lows.

The story OF n spy Who Cheated the Gall
lows
We had been in winter quarters since
tho LIST of December. and April had come
with its showers and sunshine and bud.
ding leaves. A campaign had been
planned; rc-cnforcements were coming
down; the quartermasters were working
day and night Every soldier In the army
knew that marching and fighting could
not long be delayed One day n grim old
veteran of tho Fifth corps was accosted by
a soldier who was not Of his regiment
Something was let drop which aroused his
suspicious, and he communicated them to
an officer. The result was the arrest Of
the stranger. The arrest meant nothing
IL he was all right-a great deal II he was
what the old veteran suspected
Your names' asked the general
Charles Walters" was the prompt re-
ply.
Your rcgImentf"
TIL Ohio
"Your captains''
Captain Bliss"
what arc you doing herc'''
Looking for a cousin whom I heard
had enlisted In the Fifty-eIghth New
York"
So far all was well. Tho prisoner was
u "
eral looked mt him he felt pity for the dear
old mother In some faraway home, whose
hours were full of anxiety for the lad who
had marched away TO war. He was on the
point of dismissing the prisoner when an
aid entered with q note from division
headquarters 1t was to the effect that
spies had been reported In the camps and
that orders had been issuR from corps
headquarters to keep more vigilant look
out for such persons Here before him
was a soldier arrcstcd on suspicion. He
had been questioned and appeared to be all
right, but to make sure that he was the
general would prolong the examination
so you belong TO the tn Ohios'
Yes, sir"
What Is the name Of its colonelp"
Colonel BloOdgood.'
where was your company raisedF
"In-in-in Cincinnati
The soldier had hesitated to answer the
question. and the general believed his an
swer to be false. In half an hour he had
proved IL so. Company II of that rcgi-
ment was raised at Akron. Further than
that the captain declared that Charles
Walters was not a member Of his company.
II will send you TO division hcadquar.
tiers under guard, said the general when
these facts came to light
Very well. sir. - replied the prisoner rs
no saluted and turned away. From divi-
sion he was passed to corps headquarters.
The commander was hurried for time and
brusque in his inquiries.
Young man, you have lied to US You
must have an object. IL you cannot iden-
tify yourself as n soldier of this army, you
will be considered a spy and treated rs
such. Now, then, your regiment"
The -th Ohio
ssThat Il false Won are m bnf as
nothing has been found on you, and you
were not caught coming or going. am in.
clincd to mercy. You must tell me the
truth, however What general do you
serve,'
The same one you do"
DO you wish to make n statement OF
who you are and why you arc in our
campsi'
II am Charles Walters Of the til
Ohio" was the calm reply.
You are n spy, convicted of being a
spy, and yoS will be hung tomorrow morn
ing at sunrise. Remove the prisoner.
Major, see that my orders are carried out -
was the sergeant detailed to guard the
tent in which the prisoner was confined
that night. At shutdown / carried him In
his supper, but he would not eat. Ar
hour later handed him writing materials
but when looked in on him ut O'Clock
he had made no use of them.
You have friends who will be anziou.
to hear from you," said. IF you wish
to write n letter, promise to take charge
| of IL and forward 10 as soon as possible.
DO you think they will hang me'' he
asked after a long silence.
Certainly. Men have already been de.
tailed to erect the gallows-"
Did you ever see a man hanged'"
Yes -
WAS he afraid of DEATH"
Yea. He trcmbled and wept and
begged for his life. 1t is a terrible sigh,
to see n man standing on the trap with a
moose about his neck
II am not afraid. No one will see me
tremble or weep. Isn't there n chance that
they will wait for moro evidence or that
the commanding general will interfere'"
Not the slightest. Write your letter.
and will forward it
At midnight looked into the tent and
found him sleeping. again at ., and at
4 called him to tell him that death was
near Mt hand. He seemed to sleep sound.
ly, and shook him. My hand touched
his, and 80 seconds later knew he was
dead.
Poison said the surgeon whom !
brought to the tent. He knew the risk
he ran and was prepared to cheat the gal.
| lows"
I'm sorry for him, for he was but a
boy"
BOY Boy! Well, wellr'
what is it''
1T Is n girl Of COZ Too bad! She was
q spy, but they would have sent her 70
Fort Lafayette instead Of hanging her"
NJ. QUAD.
Why Old yioiins Are Best