Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-05-10

" IN i I@dSis IS 2 2ST
the Western Company in New York
City. Saryis works in Washington.
He furnishes from that point financial
news to WallStreet; oceasionally'turn-
ing that thoroughfare upside down by
the startling stuff which he puts on the
wires.
A military funeral passed in front Of
the hotel. The band was playing the
"Dead March in Saul"
"That tune" said Ludwig, "gives me
a sort of chill" Sarvis asked how
that was. Ludwig told:
"In 1861" he said, IL was stationed
at Harper's Ferry, in West Virginia. l
was in charge of the United States tel
egraph Office there. There had been u
number Of deserters from the Union
forces. The military authorities de-
termined to stop them. They decided
to make an example Of the next who
deserted and was caught. Two men,
Shea and Doane, were taken after they
had deserted. They were taken before
q court martial and sentenced to be
shot. The evening before the day
named for the execution l was sitting
in my Office at headquarters. The post
chaplain, n Catholic priest, came in.
He wanted to send directly to Presi-
dent Lincoln message imploring
mercy for the condemned. 1 told him
to secure the indorsel ent of the COM
handing General. This he did, and l
sent the message directly to the War
Department at Washington and waited
for an answer. AS a general thing we
closed the office at 8 o'clock. That
night | remained until after 10 o'clock
talking with the chaplain, the General,
and several members of his staff, who
had dropped in, all anxious to hear
from Washington, and hoping that the
sentence would be mitigated Moth
ing was heard. Bright and early the
next morning was again at the office
and found, to my dismay, that had
not single wire working. All were
open. | tested every few minutes for
a circuit, but got none. The chaplain
called early, but went away with q sad
heart. The General came in and,
after urging extra vigilance on my
part. left to make the final preparation
for the execution. In few minutes l
heard the band coming down Shenan-
doah Street. The prisoners were sit
ting on their coflins in the ambulance
and company Of the Fifth New York
Heavy Artillery was the guard. The
band was playing the Dead March in
Saul" The General and his staff were
in front of the ambulance. AS they
passed the office he looked up at me
inquiringly. 1 shook my head-there
were no wires yet.
The execution was to take place
nearly two miles from the Office, out on
Bolivar Heights, and up hill all the
way. l grew very nervous, and made
renewed efforts to get wire through,
but in vain. / ran down stairs and
called up my orderly, little Dutch
man named Frank, who was O member
of Pennsylvania regiment which, by
the way, always had the good luck to
be where the enemy was not. l made
him get out his horse and make all
ready to carry message to the gen
eral, should one come. went up
stairs again, and taking up pen, ad-
dressed an envelope to the general,
and prepared blank for receiving
message. Just as I finished there
came upon my waiting ear the click of
my relay. l heard Baltimore calling
Frederick City, Nd.
tried to break in and ask if he had
not something for me, but Baltimore
contended for the circuit and 1 had to
give away. AS soon as he got the
chance he Il think it was Billy Gent
ry) said over the wire: "For Gods
sake let me get Harper's Ferry and
save those mems lives" l opened the
key like lightning and said, "G. A. H.
f., meaning ego ahead Harpers Fer
ry." 1 broke" and he rushed the
message, which was q reprieve for
Doane and Shea, in fine shape. With
out giving the usual 20. K" 1 ran
for the stairs, folding and sealing the
message, and yelling for Frank at the
top of my voice. Frank heard me and
comprehended the situation. When 1
reached the foot of the stairs he was
in the saddle and ready for his ride for
two lives. 1t was 1908 o'clock, and
the execution was to take place be-
tween II and l.
Frank had nearly two miles of up
hill country before him. He dar ed
off, using his whip and both spurs.
His horse, big iron gray, responded
nobly, and the two were soon out of
sight. 1 went back to the Office. l
stayed there but a short time, being
too much excited over the possibility
of Frank arriving too late. 1 set out
afoot up High Street toward Bolivar
Heights. 1 had not gone more than
half mile before l met the general
and his staff returning. By the
smiles on their faces 1 knew that
Frank had got there in time. He ran
his horse up hill at his utmost speed
until he was within about half mile
of his destination. Then the gallant
iron gray gave out; stumbled and fell.
As 1t happened, a lieutenant of
Coles Maryland Cavalry had just dis
mounted from his horse at the door of
the Bolivar Hotel, directly in front of
which the iron-gray fell. With the
veil, Headquarters Orderlyp Frank
seized the bride of the lieutenant's