The National tribune., 1897-06-03

100000. The presence of this guam
tity of circulating medium Immediately
started a lively commerce. All sorts of
devices were resorted to by the other
prisoners to get little of this wealth.
Rude chuck-a-luck boards were con-
etructed out of such material as was at
tainable and put in operation. Dice
and cards were brought out by those
akilled in such matters.
As those of us already in the stockade
occupied all the ground, there was no
disposition on the part of many to sur.
render a portion of their space without
exacting a pecuniary compensation.
Messes having ground in good loca-
ton would frequently demand and get
$40 for permission for two or three to
quarter with them. Then there was
great demand for poles to stretch blan-
kets over to make tents. The rebels,
with their usual stupid cruelty, would
not supply these, nor allow the prisoners
to 60 out and get them themselves. Many
of the older prisoners had poles to spare,
which they were saving up for fuel.
They sold these to the Plymouth folks
at the rate of SO for three-enough to
put up blanket.
The most considerable trading was
done through the gates The rebel
guards were found quite as keen to bar
ter as they had been in Richmond.
Though the laws against their dealing in
the money of the enemy" were still as
stringent as ever, their thirst for green
backs was not abated one whit, and they
were ready to sell anything they had for
the coveted currency.
The rate of exchange was 81 or SS In
Confederate money for 81 in greenbacks.
Wood, tobacco, meat, -four, beans, molas-
ses onions and villainous kind of whls-
XIV, made from sorghum, were the staple
articles of trade. A whole race Of little
trafickers in these articles sprang up,
and finally Selden, the rebel Quarter
master, established a sutler shop in the
center of the North Side, which he put
in charge of Ira Beverly, of the Tooth
OHIO, and Charlie Huckleby, of the Sth
Tenn. 1t was fine illustration of the
development of the commercial instinct
In some men. No more unlikely place
: for making money could be imagined.
Yet starting in without a cent, they
!. contriyed to turn and twist and trade
Until ney had transferred to their pock-
cts a PARTON of the funds which were in
someone else's. The rebels, of course,
got. aine out of every ten dollars there
was in the prison, but these middlemen
contriyed to have little of it stick to
their fingers.
g1trwas only the very few who were
ahle--lo do this. Nine hundred and
ninetysnine out of every thousand were,
ike myself, either wholly destitute of
money and unable to get it from any,
body else, or they paid out what money
they had to the middlemen in exorbitant
prices for articles of food.
RAIDING THE sUTLER SHOP.
OF course the main sutler shop did not
escape the attention Of the Raiders, who
made two or three noted forays upon it.
But the suffers were brawny, fighting
men, who swung terrible clubs, and were
always on the lookout for rush upon
them, and prepared for it, SO that the
Raiders became discouraged.
The Raiders had still another method
for getting food, money, blankets, and
clothing. They formed little bands,
under the leadership Of a chief villain.
One of these bands would select as their
victim man who had good blankets,
clothes, watch. or greenbacks. Fre-
quently he would be one Of the little
traders, with sack of beans, piece of
meat, or something of that kind. Pounc-
ing upon him at night they would snatch
away his possessions, knock down his
friends who came to his assistance, and
scurry awav into the darkness.