davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-04-16
BREAK FOR LIBERTY
Al Interesting and Instructive
Account Of tho Experience
Of an Old Veteran.
Michael no6man Tells Of HE Attempts
10 Escape land His Final Success
...From I Rebel Prison Dur.
Ing The Civil War.

Some time ago the editor Of THE
COURIER secured . promise from NJ.
Hoffman TO write an account OF his ex.
perience during the late war In his at
tempt TO gain his liberty from impris-
onment In the the rebel prisons. The
Arst installment appears below, and |,
10 certainly worthy Of perusal. Mr.,
Hoffman states the facts plainly using
no varnish, nor allowing his imagina'
ton to run, riot a. 10 too often the case
Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-04-16

81 ~ begun . tatkagaiu. When
n ~ sing their last song and the
nnns lsAyes begin y lall Debs will
\ ll III faliing.
Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-04-16

sboroug poor fellow.
Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-04-16

age dgsrton = improving IN
& 4 naatesr d news III viii re-
Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-04-16

no varnish, nor allowing his imagine
ton to run, riot a. ID too often the case.
CHAPTER I.
Some thirteen years ago, through the
columns Of The COURIER, We gave IN
account Of our five months experience
In Libby prison, at which time we stat
ed that ct some future day We would
write with regard to other prisons, In
our escape. In doing this We
think best to 20 back to where We were
FIRST taken prisoner, In order to make
our story plain. We shall only refer
70 Libby and the other prison, and
write the most shout our escape. II
the story II not interesting, the reader
may rest assured that 1t will be- correct
for Ne copy largely from q diary that
We carried all through the prison and
the war, In fact
We, with about three hundred other
Union soldiers, we're taken prisoners at
the battle Of Missionary Ridge, near
Chattanooga, Tenn, on Nov. Is, 1853,
and after riding through rebellion in
box and cattle CARE for thirteen days We
were landed il Richmond, Va. Here
Ne wore divided, the men put on Belle
Island, and the officers, thirteen In
number, were put into Libby prison.
Their were already In the prison near
IL one thousand officers from all parts
81 the Union army, who had been cap
turvd during the summer, the most OF
them ct the battles Of Gettysburg and
Chicamauoua.
h ID the spring Of 1854 Gen. Grant was
EcrOwding onto Richmond pretty strong,
and for safer keeping they sent the
men from Belle Island to Anderson
ville, Ga, while the Libbyites were
hauled 70 Macon, CO. Here we we're
kept for two and one half months, when
Gen. Grant crowded us again close. 60
they removed the officers from Macon
- Charleston. s. c., where We were
kept for two and 0ne-half months, and
then taken 70 Columbus, s. G. or this
prison ne will give : brief description,
beCause from here We made our exit
for escape. The prison was located
two miles ND the river, northwest OF
the CITY. It was prison without any
previous preparation OF any kind-only
: patch OF ground OF about three acres,
covered with small pine trees, Between
this and the river the pine timber was
quite thick. No shelter Of any kind.
The ground for floor The sky for !
roof. The prison patch was guarded
by 8 line 81 rebel soldiers ct q distance
Of twenty-five feet apart, or, cay seyen-
ty-flve guards In the entire circle.
This constituted the prison In which
they nut about one thousand OF 10 on
Got. !. 1884. The only shelter We had
was Of our own making. Some had ex
cAvati0ns In the ground. over which
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-10-15
CAMPAIGN NOTES.

There is not so much fanaticism and
foolishness in the country ms was sup
posed when Bryan captured the Chicago
convention with his "crOwn of thorns"
and "cross of gold" harangue. The
observation-disclosures of the masses is still
to be counted upon as safeguard against
Socialism and anarchy.
Powderly hits the nail squarely on the
head when he tells the workingman that
his motto with regard to money should
be, "The best is none too good for
me-"
A man is said to have injured his ankle
in n silver debate. That's what comes
of letting people with comparatively lit
tie strength juggle with these heavy ar
guments.
Mr.. Powderly, who says the Bryan
free-silver panic would be worse for Ia
Dor than all the strikes ever known, will
Come in for the abuse of the Debsites,
who want strikes galore. free silver,
free rum and general breakup.
A government. like an individual must
have reputation for honesty and have
good backing IL il does business with
the great world outside of its own lin
its.
Mark Hanna il firmly of the belief
that the only effective confidence restora-
tive is put up at Canton.
Bryan says that "the present dollar has
too great purchasing power" Ask some
one who sweats through eight hours to
earn one whether this is true.
Spain wants more money. She should
send for Bryan.
An honest dollar is the noblest work Of
politics.
Even the Democrats Of Michigan,
Wisconsin and Ohio are hocking to the
standard of Mckinley. The same thing
aff1icts Mr.. Bryan, it seems, that led the
parrot of story into serious trouble. He
talks too much.
Neither free silver nor any other cheap
money device can bring prosperity to a
nation burdened with tariff which op-
crates adversely to the interests of its
own people.
Bryan appears TO be one of those men
who think they know ii all. and an in
telligent and observing public does not
need to he informed what usually hap
pens to them.
To put money into circulation is the
need of the time. and that can be done
only by q protective tariff that will re-
vive industry.
Bryan's campaign speeches are like a
minstrel show. You hear one, you hear
them all.
Scared capital runs faster than light
ming.
1t is bad enough to give away our
markets to other countries, without Civ
ing them our minis also
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-10-15

and the insurance money may thus be-
come the sole resource of the widow and
orphans. Surely, a fund such as this
ought to be sacred against robbery
through depreciation of the value of the
money in which it is paid. Free silver,
on the basis of the present value OF the
two metals, would rob every widow OF
half the money value coming TO her
from the insurance carried by her hus-
band.
And this would be a stupendous rob
berry indeed. The FIVE Massachusetts
life insurance companies of which sta
tiSNcs are given in the commissioner
report, paid $4,637 1888 in death claims
q women. fof wn1se peff ~
tlW insurance money was paid, regard
with cquanimity the loss of S33, 000,000
in one year? There are millions of wom-
en- dependent upon the payment of such
policies. The Massachusetts, companies
had 1926 policies in force last year,
calling for $500, S74 500 in case of death.
The grand total, including all companies,
was 1,143,350 policies. amounting to the
enormous sum Of $4,795, 0S3.S6 Right
here in Massachusetts, there is $2S7 ,910,-
469 at stake in this way.
In addition to all these there are the
assessment life insurance companies,
with 39,329 certificates in force repre-
senting $93,522,457; the fraternal bene-
tciary associations. with a membership
of SD, $50 which paid out $19,063, 656
for 10000 death claims last year; the
casualty companies, which paid out
S30O,3O1. All these, which are primari-
ly for the relief of widows and orphans,
would have to pay in deprecated money
under free silver.
But the money in which the premiums
on these policies have been paid is
money as good as gold, worth 100 cents
on the dollar. In Massachusetts alone
last year S10,740,SG7 was thus paid. Do
not the women want, and is it not their
right, 10 receive from the insurance com
panies as good money rs their husbands
paid for the surance?-Boston Post.
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-10-15
DEEDS NOT WORDS.
What Mckinley Did for Destitute Miners
Less than Two Years Ago.

Less than Two Years Ago.
While Candidate Bryan is going about
the country telling fairy tales of what
he and his policy will do for the poor,
the question naturally arises: What
has he ever done for the working poor2
Is Il his habit or nature to feel for and
try 10 relieve the suffering of those less
fortunate in life than himself?"
His most loyal supporters make no
claims that he has ever shown this feel
ing for his fcllowman until now. In
fac, no has no record of ever having
gone out of his way to do anything for
what he calls the masses" On the
other hand, Maj. Mckinley, while not
nosinp as one who "weeps for the
masses" has record. he says nothing
about the occurrence which gave the
world nm insight into the heart of the
Ian an occurrence which demonstrated
that he was the friend of those who are
moor and hungry, but great multitude
rromombers ii. Such acts live in the
memory of those who earn their bread
Inv the sweat of their face"
Tn spcaking of Maj. Mckinley, the
Grand Rapids Herald says:
aNn account of McKinley's connec.
tion with labor problems would be COM
nIota without some mention of the tire
inss energy which he displayed in secur-
10 reliof for the 1000 miners in the
IIockine valley mining district who early
IN 1907 were reported out of work and
destitute. The news first came to the
governor at midnight, but before 8
O'clock in the morning he had upon his
own responsibility dispatched to th: af-
f;cted district car containing $1,000
worth of provisions. Later he made APP
neals for assistance and finally distrib-
uted among the 2723 families in the
district clothing and provisions TO the
amount of $50, 1865"
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-10-15

class to become farmers or producers of |
farm products.
The year 1892 shows record of mar
vclc2s activity in the direction of secur-
ing a larger division of labor by en-
ploying more in our mechanical indus
tries. Our shops were filing up, new
enterprises were started, labor was In
demand at good prices in mechanical in
dustries, reciprocity was enlarglng ana
extending our markets and we seemed
in every way to be realizing for the
American farmer and artisan the full
value of that law of political economy
and creating wealth by division OF Ia
bor."
In 1892 the policy of protection was re-
versed and thus the laborers from the
shops and factories were forced from
sheer necessity to go out upon the lands
and become producers instead of consum-
ers. 1t has been estimated that over a
million laborers have since the election OF
| 1892 when compelled to seek employ
| ment in farming in order to obtain sub
sistence for themselves and families;
many of these have converted parcels
| of ground near and around their homes
| into corn and potato patches, thereby
| enormously decreasing the demand for
| the products of the regular farm. 1t
is easy to understand when the full effect
of this shifting of labor from tn mechan-
| ical industries to the farm is considered,
| what the effect must be upon prices
of farm products.
| In view of these facts, all of which can
be verified in the past history of our
| country, it is plain that our farmers are
directly interested in the employment OF
| labor and that their prosperity depends
largely upon whether that labor is en-
ployed as competitors in the production
of farm products, or as consumers EN-
ployed in the mechanical industries OF
the country. We are certainly. learning
from a severe practical experience the
truth and value of the economic principle
already referred to that ''the greatest
creator of wealth is the greatest possible
division of labor" We are also learning
that this division of labor may bG
brought about by wise policy of protec
ton.
The effect of production upon the
products of the farm can be summed vi
in few words First, will it increase
or diminish the number engaged in pro
ducing the products of the. farmf Sec
ond, will it increase or diminish the mum
Der of consumers of farm products
{ When you have answered these two
plain propositions you will be master o
the entire argument of protection ant
free trade, so far as the farmer IS con
; cerned. You need be concerned IN N
way about the free coinage of silve
I, as this cannot in any way possible in
crease or diminish the consumption o
3 your products. It's adoption, however
t would have the effect, as Mr.. Bryal
0 admits, of producing a panic and con
e tinued depression in our mechanical in
n dustries, forcing more labor to the farr
i and thereby add to the number alread
e producing farm products.
The employment of labor in our me
e chanical industries and not the fire
$ coinage of silver is the thing that intel
j ests the farmer and is to secure for hlI
e the prosperity he so much desires.-H
y A. Willard, Chattanooga, Tenn.
Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-10-15

IF the New York World wants to
hiring either of the current Democratic
parties into a tariff fight the Republican
party is ready. The Democrats will be
defeated all the more emphatically. A
tariff for revenue only, which both Dem
ocratic parties demand, this country will
not haye.-Minneapolis Journal.
The San Francisco call., 1896-03-15
OLD FAITHS AND NEW FACTS.

William W. Kinsley, in preparing this
religious work, has recognized the fact, so
he declares, that there is public, rapidly
enlarging, made up of vigorous, progress
sive inquirers, eager after truth and will
ing to follow it wherever it may lead, to
which the old proofs of the Christian faith
appear wholly inadequate, and conse-
quently the old beliefs to be shrouded in
the gravest doubt. ''It is not enough for
them to be shown merely what the Scrip.
lures teach and the canons of the church
authoritatively affirm. They call for facts
facts incontrovertibly established with
scientific accuracy, with cool judicial pre-
cision, in the various departments of
physics and metaphysics, biology and
psychology. history and biography, of the
many different branches of modern re-.
search. They call for an orderly, logical
grouping and Interpretation of these facts
and clear demonstration of the underly-
ing principles and laws that witness to the
active presence of an organizing. over
ruling mind" 1t is to such inquirers that
he addresses his work, "Old Faiths and
New Facts" and he aims to carry on his
discussions from their standpoint while
endeavoring to answer, to the satisfaction
of the scientific Investigator, such vital
questions as these: Does prayer avail
Was Christ divine? Is man immortal
The volume is elegantly bound in dee D
blue cloth covers. New York: D. Apple.
ton & Co. For sale by William Doxey
priZe 81 so
The San Francisco call., 1896-03-15
EDITOR VERSUS POET.

Meth Boyce, in the Philistine, complains
that some magazine editors mischievously
meddle with the songs or sonnets of con-
tributors, who naturally wax wroth when
thlir verses are accepted land in the course
of years published" to find the trail of the
editors blue pencil over all the printed
lines. One might opine that r. W. Glider
is suspected of editing" some of Meth s
poetry in the manner hinted at. Meth
pleads her cause and goes after offending
editors in this capital style:
If the editor knows to comma how he wants
his poetry written let him write 1t himself, as
Mr. Glider mostly does. If he thinks he can
improve on the poetical style OF his contributor
and wants to put in his time that way let him
write and propose collaboration, or at least
submit to the poor mortal OF an author a plan
of the contemplated improvements But TO go
ahead on his own hook and change the whole
complexion of the thing perhaps, and then
send it out over the original signature? 1t is
not honest.
The author relinquishes for time the child
of his brain, fondly expecting 10 get it back
again in beautiful new clothes of type. What
he does get is a changeling with dyed hair
and clothespin on its nose. Is he grateful?
Hardly.
When the editor accepts a drawing for his
magazine, does he proceed to work 1t over,
put in a few more shadows, touch up the high
the models back hair? Not as rule.
A magazine is not school for drawing, nor
is il a literary kindergarten. An editor is not
pedagogue.
let him print it honestly as it was made; If not,
let him return it with thanks and encourage
the author to send it somewhere else. That
author, if he is worth his Attic salt, would
rather have his verses printed in the Podunk
Thinker as he wrote them than in the Century
with r. w. elders emendations.
The San Francisco call., 1896-03-15
THE RETURN OF THE NATIVE.

This is reprint of one of Thomas
Hardy's works which was first issued in
1873. The hero of the story is described as
one who takes ennoblement rather than
repentance for his text. He has a convic-
tion that the want of most men is knowl-
edge of a sort that brings wisdom rather
than affluence. He lives in a rural world
that is not ripe for him and the author
remarks: "a man should be only par
TALLY before his time; to be completely to
the vanward in aspirations is fatal to
fame. In the interests of renown the
forwardness should lie chiefly in the
capacity to manipulate. Successful pro-
pagandists have succeeded because the
doctrine they bring into form is that
which their listeners have for Some time
felt without being able to shape" The
hero throws up his business to benefit his
fellow creatures and does not receive the
blessings which, Hardy says. "come to the
well-proportioned mind'-happiness and
commonplace. He finds his vocation at
least in the career of an itinerant open
air preacher and lecturer on morally un-
Improbable subjects, and of course there
were many in the old home who were
ready to say that sit was well enough for
a man to take to preaching who could not
see TO do anything else. New York:
Lowell, Coryell & Co. For sale by Will
liam Doxey; price 80 cents.
The San Francisco call., 1896-03-15
A RICH MANS DAUGHTER.

In ga Rich Mans Daughter" Mrs. ]. III.
Riddell has furnished peculiar story that
is, nevertheless, put together in no un-
attractive manner. A young London ply
sician, who has been pursued by i'll luck
from childhood is practicing IN the poorest
quarter of the great city, when he chances
to meet the daughter of rich man. They
fall in love and marry in secret. Luck
doesn't change, however. The daughter
fears her fathers rage if he should learn
the secret, and refuses to disclose it in
spite of the urging of the young medico,
who has keen eye to his possible fnan-
cial betterment as well as the society of
his wife. Time flies. The father favors
the suit of a wealthy and ardent
admirer. To this man the doctors
wife confesses, but the information is
still withheld from the old man. At
length the husband departs for the East.
Then the father fails, and, to add to his
despair, discovers that his daughter has
become mother. He is about to end
both lives with revolver when the old
time wealthy admirer appears and ex-
plains matters. Then dispatch comes to
say that the doctor has fallen victim to
the cholera, the wealthy suitor helps out
the old man financially, marries the
young physicians widow, and the secret
marriage is never mentioned. New York: +:
international News Company. For sale
by Doxey; price so cents.
The San Francisco call., 1896-03-15
THE LOST sTRADIvARIUs.

In this weirdly attractive story ]. Mead
Faulkner enlarges on the idea that the
mind may be directed on the one hand to
ascetic abnegation by the systematic use
of certain music, or on the other, to illicit
and dangerous pleasures by melodies of an
opposite tendency. 1t is contended, how
ever, that after comparatively advanced
standard of culture has been once
attained, music is the readiest if
not the only Key which admits to the
narrow circle of the highest imaginative
thought Briefly outlined, the story is
that in the year 173S, wherein the world 8
greatest violin-maker, Antonius Stradi-
varius, died, an Englishman of culture,
travelling in CremOna, attended an auction
sale of the stock of Stradivarius fiddles.
Having a remarkable ear for music. and
being yiolinist as we'll, he purchased the
instrument which most appealed TO his
fancy. A history attached to that instru
ment. Though it was of the masters
golden period, and probably the finest
violin he ever made. Stradiyarius would
never sell it and it had hung in his shop
for an age. AS he lay dying it was said,
he gave orders that it should be buried,
but his instructions were neglected and it
came under the hammer. The original
possessor became victim, mentally and
physically, to the Influence of the peculiar
music to which the instrument was par
ticularly responsive. He kept the fiddle in
secret spot. and after his tragic death
the Stradivarius was lost for years, until
John Maltravers discovered the hiding
place through the violin's responsiveness
to certain strains, which also seemed to
eoniu iure up the ghost of the dead owner.
Maltravers, IN turn, becomes a victim of
mental degradation. The music which
enchained him had an unwholesome effect
on his impressionable nature and dragged
him to his ruin. AT the death of NAL
travers the curse which seemed to attend
the possession of the instrument is got
rid OF in summary manner. The guar
dian of Maltravers' son burns the Strad-
ivarius fiddle and the book with the mind
conqhering evil music. New York: D.
Appleton & Co. For sale by Doxey; price,
paper so cents
The San Francisco call., 1896-03-15

appearances in the van of the procession
of nations for some time to come. The
author calls the American Republic the
''Greater Britain of the Western World, .
and he wants Brother Jonathan to
initiate commercial and defensive
federation of amity among English speak
ing people for the maintenance OF interna-
tional peace and the furtherance of racial
and international prosperity. This is ex-
pected to lead to the federation of the
world. Meantime, let US observe our cous-
ins across the ocean are continually
adding to their navy and Brother Jonathan
is preparing to preserve peace, so far as he
is concerned, by showing well-wishing rel
atives that they will find him ready to kick
if they tread on his corns. New York:
The Health Culture Company. Books is
Sued quarterly 81 per year.