The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1896-11-05
SOLDIERS AT HOME.
THEY TELL SOME INTERESTING
ANECDOTES OF THE WAR.
How the Boys of Both Armies whiIed
Away Life i'll Cemp-Foraging Ex-
periences, Tiresome Mnrches-Thril-
ling Scenes On the Battlefield.
\ Strange Story.

\ Strange Story.
The cX-baTgage-maSt2r was in a
reminiscent mood the other night, aul
he reeled off several first-class yarns.
says a southern writer in the Chicago
Times-Herald. One of his stories has
been running in my head ever since
he told it, and the only way for me tG
get rid if it is to jot it down on paper.
| will let the baggage mastSr tell the
story in his own words.
''Just after the war; said the old
man, Il was running on one of the
roads leading out of Montgomery.
Several eX-Confederates were on the
train and quite number of Federal
officers and soldiers. Our rules were
not very strict in those days and as
the other cars We're crowded let two
of the passengers ride in the baggage
car with me- They were young men--
one Il Federal soldier and the other an
eX-Confederate, Il mere boy of II. Al
that time many of the Southerners had
to wear their old uniforms. as they
hti'i iOthiii- DSltNi. W iS lio Ob-
lection to this, but it was Il common
thing for the Federals to halt the boys
in gray and cut off their buttons when
they bore the letters &C. S. A
''Well, this boy wore his gray jacket
and was in a very bad humor. He
and talked reckiessly. Among other
things he said that he had left the
other car because an officer had cut
off his buttons, all except one. which
had been overlooked. The yOungSter
pointed TO this with pride. and said
that he intended to keep it at any cost.
The man in blue, who was five or six
years older than the other. listened
attentively and finally pulled out his
pocket-knife. Before the other real
lied what was going on his button
was severed from his jacket and
thrown out of the open door.
'The lad glared at his enemy for
moment, and there was the look of
hunted tiger in his eyes. 1 made up
my mind that there would be trouble,
and was ready to step between them,
when the boy relieved me by laugh
ing and saying something about the
fortune of war. Then he paced up and
down the car whistling tune after
tune. The Federal sat down on a box
by the door where L was seated and
explained his conduct He said that he
had nothing against the men who had
fought him ON the other side, but he
drew the line at Confederate flags and
buttons. He did not think that they
should be displayed in public. With
the gray uniform it was different, be-
cause many of the wearers had no
other garments.
at was growing pretty dark by this
time. and the train was crossing deep
ravine on a trestle 100 feet high. |
was looking out into the darkness and
thinking about what had just occur
red, when my companion suddenly
shot headforemost into the black IA
vine. | looked around, and behind the
box on which the man had been sit
ting stood the boy. with a peculiar
smile on his pale face. asked him
what lie had done. but he would give
me no satisfaction. He said very
quietly that could not say that /
had seen him push the soldier from his
seat, and this was true, as I had my
head bent down at the time and turned
in the opposite direction.
81 told him what l thought about it.
hrlt ha h,- .
case of suicide or fits. Finally he grew
serious and asked me if 1 proposed
to give him away. OF course l told
him that it was my duty to report the
facts. This seemed to disturb him
and just as the train cross
ed the trestle I'll be hanged if he didn't
leap through the door like young
panther. He landed on his feet and
was out of sight in Il momenr.
you may be sure that L was badly
bothered, but no questions were asked
1t the end Of my run, so l held my
tongue. Nobody ever said word to
ne about the affair and 1 thought it
best to remain silent. But there is no
lOubt in my mind. That boy threw
he soldier out as sure as we are sit
ing here, and he did it to revenge him
self for the loss of that button.''
The baggage-master filled his pipe
Ind puffed away thoughtfuuy.
Did you ever hear of the murderer |
lgain?' | asked
The old man smiled. and then laugh |
ID in quiet way.
Eyes, saw him two years ago." he |
'eplied.
You saw him-where?'
"In a State in the far West. l pre-
er not to be more definite"
Had he drifted into a life of crime?'
"No. oh no-nothing of the sort"
My curiosity was excited and 1 ask
d for further particulars. After con-
siderable urging. the aggage-master
inished his story.
"When | saw him." said he, still |
miling, che was bishop and l heard |
lin preach an excellent sermon"
Did he look like a man who had |
Not bit of it. He was fair. fat !
md jolly, and his face did not show
line of care or Il wrinkle. while his /
lair did not have Il touch of gray.
After the sermon l met him face to |
ace. His eyes met mine, but he show
ii no sign of recognition"
Tho story w0rried me, and L suS-
,ested that possibly the man was inno-
the Federal soldier had
allen from the car without being push
d out.
NO" said my friend, Il was there,
nd l have thought it all over. The
elbow was in perfect health and it
ook powerful push to hurl him from
he car. Somebody threw him out,
nd as 1 did not it follows that the
bishop is the guilty party"
"You have never made this public
nd given the murderer's Manner
aid ].
"No. 1t all happened thirty-one
ear ago. | know the bishops name.
,ut do not know WI It name he bore
When l met him in the car. Let the
natter drop The bishop seems to be
Ioing Il good work. If the gallows
vas the loser the pulpit was the gain
r."