Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1894-05-31
A REPRIEVE.

The other day Dan Ludwig, Jesse NJ.
Sarvis, and Cincinnati Enquirer writ
er were chatting together in the lobby
of Willard's Hotel, in Washington.
Ludwig and Sarvis are old time tele-
graphers. Ludwig is now connected
with the Western Company in New
York City. Sarvis works in Washing
ton. He furnishes from that point
financial news to Wall Street, occasion
ly turning 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
sort of chill" Sarvis asked how it
was. Ludwig told:
In 1861 was stationed at Harper's
Ferry, in West Virginia. 1 was in
charge of the United States telegraph
Office there. There had been a number
of deserters from the Union forces.
The military authorities determined to
stop them. They decided to make an
example of the next one who deserted
and was caught. Two men, Shea and
Doane, were taken after they had desert
ed. They were taken before 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, o
Catholic priest, came in. He wanted to
send directly to president Lincoln a
message iInploring mercy for the con-
demned. | told him to secure the in
dOrsement of the commanding General
This he did, and / sent the message di-
rectly to the War Department at Wash
ington and waited for an answer. AS
general thing we closed the office at
9 O'Clock. That night remained until
after 10 O'Clock. talking with the chap
lain, 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 nit
igated. Nothing 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 min
utes for circuit, but got none. The
chaplain called early, but went away
with 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
heard the band coming down Shenando-
ah Street. The prisoners were sitting
on their collins in the ambulance and a
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 near
ly two miles from the office, out on Boil
ivar Heights, and up hill all the way.
l grew very nervous, and made renewed
efforts to get wire through, but in
vain. I ran down stairs and called up
my orderly, little Dutchman named
Frank, who was a member of a Pennsyl-
vania regiment which, by the way, al
ways had the good luck to he where the
enemy was not. l made him get out
his horse and make all ready to carry a
message to the general, should one
come. went upstairs again, and tax
ing up pen, addressed an envelope to
the general, and prepared blank for re-
ceiving the message. Just as 1 finished |
there came upon my waiting ear the
click of my relay. l heard Baltimore
calling Fredrick City, Md.
1 tried to break in and ask if he had |
not something for me, but Baltimore
oOntended for the circuit and L had to |
give away. AS soon as he got the |
chance he Il think it was Billy Gentry
said over the wire: "For Gods sake let |
me get Harper's Ferry and save those
mems lives 1 opened the key like
lightning and said, sc. A. H. F." mean
ing "gO ahead Harper's Ferry" ii
'broke" and he rushed the message,
"uiCu Wdo d IopIlcfo lOT DOdu6 anu |
Shea, in fine shape. Without giving
the usual 30. K" l 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 1890 o'clock, and the execution
was to take place between II and l.
Frank had nearly two miles of uphill
country before him. He darted off,
using his whip and both spurs. His
horse, bit iron gray, responded nobly,
and the two were soon out of sight. l
went back to the office. l stayed there
but a short time, being too much excit-
ed over the possibility of Frank arriving
too late. set out afoot up High Street
toward Bolivar Heights. 1 had not
gone more than half mile before met
the general and his staff returning. By
,he smiles on their faces l knew that
Frank had got there in time. He ran
MS horse up hill at his utmost speed
Until he was within about half mile