Omaha daily bee., 1895-03-18
HID IN HER CABIN WALL.
How Julia Pritcbard, the Confederate Spy,
EIuded Pnrsncrs In Arkansns.

Eluded Fursucrs In Arkansas.
There is two-story log house about eight
miles from Batesville. Ark. on White river.
which has a history. The house is now
SEALED" so that the rough log exterior is
hidden behind very ordinary looking weather
boarding This is the home OF Julia
Pritchard. who was famous during the war
as a female confederate spy. She did val
liable service for the confederacy, and was
long and often sought by federal troops. She
was never captured. When l passed through
Batesville, says a writer In the Philadelphia
Item, l heard of Mrs. Pritchard, and de-
termined to visit her. The door was opened
to me by a tall, angular woman, with black
hair and a pair OF eyes to match. She was
so quiet in her demeanor that | was sur
prised when she told me that she was Julia
Pritchard She took me through the house
and talked entertainingly Of her work as a
spy. In an upper room she showed me the
secret that kept her from being captured
during the whole Of the war She pointed
out what to all appearances was log in the
wall like all the rest. When she touched a
spring concealed ingenously in the back of
the log, the log moved out and showed a
snug opening just large enough for a person
TO lie in and move about enough to keep
from becoming cramped.
81 remember well one time in particular
when this saved me from the federal troops,
said she. IL had been down to the spring
yonder getting a pail of water when | saw
a troop OF blue-coated soldiers galloping
toward me from across the river I knew
they were after me, so l dropped my pail
and broke for the house. l ran and climb
ing upstairs got into this hiding place and
pulled the log shut. l lay there quietly and
soon heard the heavy clanking step of the
soldiers as they stamped about down stairs
searching for me. They turned the furniture
over and broke everything in sight. / could
hear them swear as they yainly sought for
me. Then they came upstairs, and as they
looked in every conceivable place they made
the air blue with their curses. She is here,
| know said one who must have been the
captain. 4 saw her come in There was no
doubt about this. as all testified to seeing
me come into the house / heard one sug-
gest that the house be burned down. They
were sure that would bring me out Of my
hiding place. I felt a chill pass over me,
but lay quiet, feeling that some means of es-
cape would be thrown in my way. The sug-
| gestion seemed to be a good one, for all hur-
| ried out of the house to get fire brands
| While they were out l hastily got out OF
| this place and climbed up the big chimney
| there.
IL came out on the roof all right. The
| soldiers were by this time in the house
again but seemed loath to set the house afire
| All this gained me time. l hastily scram-
| bled down the side OF the house and, going
to the stable. saddled and brdled my horse
/ got on him as quick as | could and dashed
out of the stable and toward the river
knew l was safe, for there wasn't horse
| in the south that could catch Nero. Just
as reached the bank of the river one of the
soldiers looked out of the window and saw
me. He yelled, but it was joke to m,
| them. | threw up my hand and told their
| to follow il they wanted to. Nero plunged
| into the river and carried me safely across
The soldiers mounted their horses without
| delay. but they had ridden all day and were
| no match for Nero. He carried me tC
| friends and a place Of safety, else l Nigh
| not be here today to tell you this"