The National tribune., 1897-12-02

LEROY j.. KEY. The
dered if it could be possible for Provi-
dence to SO arrange it that the dogs
would pass us.
"This last thought, by some strange
fancy, had taken possession of me, and
| here frankly acknowledge that | be-
lieved it would happen. Ny excitement
was so great, indeed, that / almost lost
sight of our danger, and felt like shout
ing to the dogs myself, while / came
near losing my hold on the tree in which
was hidden. Byschance / happened
to look around at my nearest neighbor
in distress. His expression was suffi-
Gent to quell any enthusiasm | might
have had, and ], too, became respondent.
:" In very fewm minutes our suspense
was over. The dogs came within not
less than 300 yards Of us, and we could
even see one of them. God in Heaven
can only imagine what great Joy was
then brought to our aching hearts, for
almost instantly upon coming into sight,
the hounds struck off OH a different
trail, and passed us.. Their voices be-
came fainter and fainter, until finally
we could hear them no longer
about noon, however, they were
called back and taken to camp, but until
that time not one of US left our position
in the trees.
"When we we're satisfied that we were
safe for the present, We descended to the
ground to get what rest we could, in
order TO be prepared for the nights
march, having previously agreed to
travel at night and sleep in the day
time. 'Our Father, WHO art in Heaven,
etc, were the first words that escaped
my lips, and the first thoughts that came
| to my mind as landed on terra frma.
Never before, or since, had | expert
enced such profound reverence for
Almighty God, but | firmly believe
that only through some mighty invisi-
bic power were we at that time de-
livercd from untold tortures.
Had We been found we might have
been torn and mutilated by the dogs, or
taken back to AndersonvilIe, have sui
iered for days or perhaps weeks i'll The
stocks or c:aili-gang, as the humor o
Wirz might Lave dictated at the time
either Of which would have been almos
certain death.
" 1t was very fortunate for US that be
fore our escape from Andersonvillc W,
were detailed at the cook house, for b,
this means We were enabled to brin,
away enough food 10 live for severa
days wthoutthe necessity oftheft. Eacl
one Of Us had our havcrsacks full Of sue!
small deiicGcieS a it WAS possible 70
lis TO get when we started, these con
sisting Of cornbread and fat bacon
nothing less, nothing more.
Yet we managed to subsist comforta
bly, until our fourth day out, when w
happened to come upon a sweet-potat
patch, the potatoes in which had not beef
dug. In a very short space Of time w
were all well supplied with this article
ana lived on them raw during that day
and the next night,
"Just at evening, in going through
a field, we suddenly came across three
negro men, whsiat first sight of III
showed signs of running, thinking, a:
they told us anerward, that we were the
patrols. AftereXplaining to them who
We were and oure condition, they took us
to Il very quiet retreat in the woods, and
two of them went off, stating that they
would soon be back.
In very short time they returned
laden with well-cooked provisions, which
not only gave us a good supper, but sup
piled us for the next day with all that
We wanted. They then guided us on our
way for several miles, and left US, after
having refused compensation for what
they had done.
1--WE continued to travel,in this way
for nine long. weary nights, aud on the
morning Of the 10th day, rs we we're
going into the woods to hide as usual,
little before daylight, we came to a
small pond, at which there was negro
boy watering two mules before hitching
them to a cane-mill, it then being cane
grinding time in Georgia.
He saw us at the same time we did
him, and, being frightened, put whip to
the animals and ran oil. We tried
every way to stop him, but it was no
use. He had the start Of ". We were