The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-31

HOLSTERS could not pear IL tfeil dily VI
them was under an obligation to a
Brewster. The Brewsters could not
endure It that Hollister a Brewster
had done a kindness. Truly, they hat
ed one another bitterly.
II.
The sun beat down remorselessly
upon the dried and trodden field of the
great inclosure. The stream of dirty
water that ran through the grounds
seemed more sluggish, more unwhole-
some, even, than was usual with 1T.
Along the elevated platform that ran
along the outer side of the stockade,
around all the pen, the sentnels paced
their beats restlessly. There was little
for them to do--no reason was appar-
ent why they should even keep their
eyes open. Few of the prisoners were
energetic enough to make any attempt
at escape, or were disposed to break
any of the rigid rules adopted for their
government.
Once in n while there could be heard
the voice of an officer giving an order
without the inclosure, or sentry chal-
longing passer-by. Many of the pris-
cners, to escape the burning of the
sum- had crawled into the burrows they
had dug, here and there to protect
them from the chilly winds of wintry
nights. The few shanties in the place
were filed with men who, lying down,
slept If they could or tossed about in
discomfort.
They were sorry-looking lot The
newcomers were yet reasonably
strong, and mary Of them were de-
Gently clad; but some of them had
been so overcome with horror as they
| first looked at their fellows who had
| been imprisoned longer, that they suf-
| fered, in anticipation, all that men
| could suffer, and were already demor-
allied. Others among them would not
| be discouraged, and it was these who
| planned escape, or did whatever could
| be done to effect 1t. 1t was upon these
| that others. crushed and utterly hope
| less otherwise, relied.
| Henry Hollster did not share the
| general lassitude and apathy. He
| walked about the Enclosure, looking
with horror and wonder at the men he
saw about him. He could not under
stand how men could be so beateE,
whatever their sufferings. He had
| been captured only a few days before
He was stalwart and hopeful; the heat
| was not oVerpowering to him. Not
| withstanding the rather severe cam
paign he had been through, his uni
form was in fair condition, and, alto
gether, he was q strong contrast to the
men who had been so long in horrible
confinement. In the hOmely, straight
forward way characteristic of him hi
questioned those he met. Some ht
found apathetic. He found some, per
haps too weak to work, intent upor
some gambling game invented in des
peration. He found some unwilling t.
think OF home or those they had lef
behind them.
See here, stranger" said one o
these, in reply to his questions, "yol
! had better not ask too many question
! You may hurt too much. My wife?
} dare not think ever had one. Though
} of her would drive me crazy"
. Others he found who sustained them
selves through all their weakness an,
suffering by continued thought of wive
! and children, and by the blessed hop
that they would live to see them agair
He was not much Of a student of hu
man nature, or of anything else; bu
, even he could not fail to see that her
: | was an exhibition of character not t
: | be observed often.
! So Henry HOLSTER went around tn
5 prson-pen asking questions of this on
= or that, or merely looking at the me
l ne met. Presently he entered shant,
1 1t was the one nearest the entrane
= through the stockade. There, 1t har
/ pened, he found men who had bee
= captured many months earlier. All {
: them were deplorebly weak, all of thel
;. were ragged and unkempt; some
e them had each only pair of sadl!
h worn trousers. These seemed to Ho
e lister the worst-condtioned OF all ths
e he had met, and the unhappiest. H
d was angry and indignant
e "Why haven't you fellows ever mad
d a break to get away?" he asked, cur
|. ly.
It I'VE have made breaks enough" OF
r. of them answered. indifferently.
d Put we could never break hal
y enough" another interjected.
e Then why didn't you go on al
e break again?" Hollister persiste
d Anything would be better than this
n Yes" answered the one who had +
it piled first, anything would be bett
Is than this. But you tell him, Simpson
It he added, turning to another of the u
Le fortunates.
"Of the last attempt?" Simps'
st asked.
l. Yes"
If "Well," Simpson drawled. "You ;
n | know about that, well enough"
"Yes; but tell him."
e. I'VE made a tunnel" Simpson we
is on, turning to Holistcr. THAT soun
is easy. But If you every try It you W
ut know what it means of work and p
ne tienCe. I'll show you sometime whe
it began. The other end of it, que
Of no one will ever see again. We mark
d. the direction with great care. '
IS We're very careful. But l guess sol
one must have told the guard. '
st have had men of that kind here. An
Oh | way, we dug away for weeks a
a weeks. IT was slow work. Only o
to man could be in there at one time, /
nd we took turns, day and night. Y
re carried the dirt away by little handfr
rk at q time. No one ever dropped q
OF dirt before the entrance. We we