The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-01-17
,ere listening to the lively converse

little piece of sheet-iron, which we used
as a screw driver, the lock inside of the
small door at the northern end of the
building was removed.
Then selecting a moment when the
two sentries In the rear were going to-
wards the northwestern corner, and
making sure that the man at the end had
his back turned, and was intent upon
listening to the discussion going on in
the front, one, two, or three of US would
slip out quietly around the corner, one
after the other, and would rush under the
old box-car, penetrating through the high
weeds under the end of the car.
got out through that side door. AT
the moment
WHEN I ESCAPED
our number had become much thinned
out, and / should judge that hardly
more than 10 or Is were yet in the
shed. was fortunate enough to meet
my two companions Of the previous day,
who had both escaped before me, and
who had promised to wait for me on the
border of the forest.
The history of cur adventures during
the following 10 days, when we travelled
mostly together by night, would be suffi-
cient to form whole volume of itself.
/ was recaptured in North Carolina,
some 80 miles from Marion. Finding
that we had been spied out, and that we
were hemmed in on every side by horse
men in the woods, we separated, each
one taking different direction. | sue
ceeded in slipping through, but my sue
cess was of short duration. | was re-
captured couple of miles farther on,
dying with hunger and exhaustion, at a
short distance from little village, the
name of which | have since forgotten.
This was about 9 o'clock In the morn
ing.
/ was taken to the village, where my
presence excited no small degree of Curl
osity, more especially amongst the women
and children, and conducted to log
house, where a good meal was served me.
After about half an hours rest, horse
harnessed to two-wheel cart was brought
to the door, and | was ordered to take
q place on the seat by the side of a tall,
slanky farmer, who was to take me back
to Marion. Not satisfied with the guaran-
tees which my emaciated form and the
state of exhaustion in which was would
give them, the villagers tied my hands
and feet, and then secured me to the
seat of the cart by means of strong
rope. To make surety double sure, my
companion was provided with fowling-
piece, which (no doubt with the hope of
producing a favorable impression upon
me) he took the care to load in my
presence with murderous-looking buck
shot.
About 10 o'clock we left the village
and set out for Marion. The roads
were in excellent condition and the
weather was splendid. This trip, /
must admit, was a much more agree
able one for me than the 10 days jour
neying during which had been travel
ing through woods and swamps.
My companion, though somewhat
grim-looking at first, proved much
kinder man than / had anticipated. /
persuaded him to unloosen my hands,
and we talked quite merrily together
along the road.
We arrived at Marion very late at
night ! was Immediately handed over
to the Sheriff, who lodged me in the
common Jail Of the district / found
this building crammed with recaptured
prisoners. SO much so indeed that there
was hardly room enough for us to lie
down on the bare floor.
On the next morning some military
officers came In and inquired of me
whether had been in the shed near the
Pedee River. Fearing to be subjected
to some such torture as being hanged
by the thumbs or being linked to
chain-gang, | swore by the memory of
the holy mother of Moses that | knew
absolutely nothing about that shed and
that | did not understand the meaning
Of their question. The investigation
was not pushed any further.
We were kept, my companions and
myself, for several days in the Marion
jail; and those among them who are
still living will probably remember the
young French Canadian who in order
to while away the time amused himself
by drawing pencil
PORTRAITS OF OUR LEADING GENERALS
on the whitewashed walls of the Jail.
1t was there that learned from some
of my comrades what had taken place
in the shed after my escape from it.
After you had gone," said one of
them, "several of us succeeded in es-
Gaping from the side door. Finding
that our number was now reduced to
four or FIVE, We pretended to be tired
out and in need Of sleep. We pushed
the sliding door and shut it entirely.
We leaned a heavy piece of iron
against the side door, and then watched
our opportunity at the hole in the rear
of the shed. We waited for consider
able time, but at last we got our turn
/ Il II