The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-24

$50 in cash. each a good blanket and A full
uniform, and We We're thus enabled "a live
IN far greater comfort than the great ma
jority. We rad r choice of ground on which
10 pitch our tent, and having an eye 20 A
tunnei We got as near the dead line and
the fence as possible. The distance 10 tho
dead Nne was six feet and 10 the fence
about twenjy-three.
Up 10 this time a score Of prisoners had
escaped by means Of tunnels. and dozens
of tunnels had been discovered while being
dug. The Confederates entered the pen al
most daily through the months Of June.
July. August and September. ana made 4
close search for diggers. Such vigilance
acted 10 discourage the prisoners. and /
believe our tunnel was the only one begun
in the month of October. our tent was a
roomy one. and We began operations. shit
ing a shaft I'VE feet deep and large enough
10 allow a man 10 work in. This hole was
in the middle Of our tent. and when nor
in use was covered with four sticks and a
blanket. All the dirt was carried away IN
our pockets and flung into aba sdoned wells
or scattered over the ground. a SPOON. the
two halves Of a canieen and the handles
or q skillet were our tools for digging.
As We had noticed that every visit of the
sedrrhers was made in the afternoon ar
evening. We began and prosecuted our
work IN the forenoon. After A couple or
weeks some digging was made after 70
O'Clock at night, bat We never fell safe
while thus engaged. when ihe tunnel
proper was begun. two men were working
a. the same time below ground. a thir1
stood watch a. the door. and the fourth
and hf:h carried away the dirt.
The tunnel was three feet below the sur
face and but a trHe larger than a mans
body. The digger had 20 pull himself in by
using his elbows, and he drew after him a
tn basin and a string. The dirt was placed
IN the basin and drawn out by the man in
the shaft, Crawling into a hollow log is
fun compared to wriggling IN and o1t Of
such a tunnel The body shuts out all the
air. the place IS sitting hot. and after half
An hour work the strongest man rs used
up.
when our tunnel had reached the fence
We had 20 go down four feet 20 work under
the ends Of the logs, ard the air became so
foul that we made bar SLOW Roadway. and
some DAYS did not work at all. We had
planned TO run the tunnel close ~ the dis
pensary. and after passing the fence the
digging became easier, bs delay from one
cause or another prevented the completion
Of our enterprise until the H1th Of NoVcm-
ber. Al noon OF that date we had dug our
full distance and had only 10 break
through a foot OF crust 10 DO IN the open
air outside the fence. We must wait for
the night, OF course. TIE weather WAS
nre. with a promise or a starlight night.
hsf during the afternoon We made all orr
arrangements 10 70. Twice during tho
afternoon alarms were given that search
ing parties were coming ia. but they
proved to be false Night finally came
with our plan undetected. and about :
o'clock the FIRST ~ the FIVE entered the
tunnel. c~ept TO me far end and broke
through the crust. We had dug within
twelve inches Of the wall % the dispen-
s4~v. The building vas used as sleeping
quarters for two or three men connected
with the hospital department. and as we
nassed o1s OF the tunnel in tnrn each of
as heard them talking and moving about.
zach man crept away 70 the left. climbed
over q fence and followed n FOR twenty
roIs and then made for d certain tree
which could be seen from the stockade.
and which had been agreed upon as the
rendezvous. We encountered no guards
anf raised no alarm. and within half an
holr from the time the first man entered
ne tunnel the five Of Us were gathered
under the tree
We Travelled all night. Tith only BRIEF
gtsos FOR rest. ana when daylight came
a. Judged that we had made a good twen-
fv-ave mites. We had followed the hig1-
Wav au ard or. bgt Without e-ncounrering
arv one. and a. fae day broke we sought
,he cover 81 a th.cket. ard las down 70
resf and sleep. X aas afternoon before
arr ore aNoke. aaf shea the first move
aas 70 Iook for HaleE. We sooa found