The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1896-01-28
A REMlNlSCENCE.
How Two Prisoners Jsed Their Brains TO
Save Their II .ads.
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Save Their II sads.
The following is an incident of TO-
construction days Captain Rube
Clark and his lieutenant, Reynolds,
guerrillas, were cast into prison,
sentenced to be shot. Clark had
powerful friends, who were conf
don't of his release, but Reynolds,
from Memphis, was without hope of
Buccor. The prison at Knoxville
was a strong iron cago in big
room, whose window had no sign of
n glass, and through the long winter
Clark and Reynolds wero confined
there. For several months they suf-
fored the agonies of the damned. At
last. as the time for Reynolds exc
cution approached, it was noticed
that he was going crazy. Clark de-
clnrcs to this day that Reynolds did
not touch q norscl of food for three
weeks. Ho would moan and sigh
and twirl his thumbs after the man.
ner of crazy person, recognize 10
one and laugh insanoly in Clark's
face Whenever he tried TO console
him. Clark was sure of his insanity.
Army surgeons and local physicians
passed upon the case, and Reynolds
was finally discharged as lunat:c.
Clark friends finally secured his
release and hurried him ont of
Knoxville. Two entered carriage
with him-two of his old soldiers
and drove toward the mountains os
hard as possible in the dead of night.
Reaching house in u dense forest,
thoy stopped and asked him to fol.
low them to n back room. Tho halls
were darkened, and in tho room
there was only tho light of n candle.
On tho bed in tho corner lay man,
moaning, sighipc, twirling his
thumbs and giving othor evidences
of insanity. Clark recognized Reyn-
olds.
Poor, poor fellow" Tho said lean
ing ovor the lieutenant to stroke his
forehead. A tear came in his eye as
he looked at the wrook of his faith
full officer.
One of tho soldiers shut the door,
locked it and approached the bed
side.
"It's all right, Reynolds; this is
tho captain, he whispered.
Reynolds tore off tho blanket,
sprang up with glad cry, and
threw his arms around Clark's neck.
Great God, captain, didn't / do
it well?" he said.
They made all possible haste and
soon reached New Orleans, whore
Clark felt that Reynolds would be
comparatively safe, One night as
they left the opera md had reached
n lamp in the street m officer
touched Clark on tho shoulder,
" want YOU, he said, Make 10
fuss about 1t, but come quietly"
Clark pinchcd Reynolds arm and
signiGcd that ho must n.y. Tho
lieutenant needed no second warn.
Ing. Then Clark asked tho officer
what ho was wanted for,
Hanging, said tho latter VI
have hccn on your trail for three
weeks.
But maybe you have tho wrong
man. My name is Reuben Clark.
The officer took from his hip pock.
ct a photograph of Rcynolds and
examined it and Clark under the
lamp, Instantly he saw his mistake
and began to swear,
THAT is n likeness of my friend
who has just left us, y caid Clark
coolly. His name is
"Reynolds!" shouted tho officer.
I've got the wrong manH
We'll, Reynolds was never caught.
He is living in Memphis today, bo-
lieve, and has grown rich. Clark Is
rich, too, hut that long term in tho
iron cage affected his mind, and ho
is tho most absentminded man in
America, Now York Press.