Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-05-07

Among those in the city during the
present week. coincident with the meet
ing of the State Encampment of the u
A. R., was James Conoway, of Barracks
Vile. Marion county, who was Major
in the Confederate army, and later a
business man and somewhat prominent
in politics in Marion county. Mr.. Con-
oway has been a Republican for good
many years. but during the war he was
an ardent champion of the cause of the
South. and enlisted in the Confederate
army soon after the outbreak OF hostll-
tiles. raising a number of men for the
Confederate army from the Marion
county section. He was captured about
the end of 1862 and was brought to this
city and was confined in the old Athen-
cum. at the corner of Sixteenth and Mar
ket streets, which before the war was
one of the largest and best places OF
amusement in the western country. Yes
terday Mr.. Conoway detailed some inter
esting experiences of his confinement IN
this prison and his subsequent incarcer-
alton in Jail, on the charge of treason.
Among other things he said:
Soon after was placed in the prison
I was made a captain of the prisoners
in my department, which was in'the rear
of the building, opening out on vacant
lot. not far from a foundry. As such, l
was in something of position of trust,
and had considerable liberties. | re-
member the night Hank Mattinglee, OF
Parkersburg, made his escape. He oc-
cupied the bunk right over me, and 1t
was the plan for him to tie his blankets
together and get out CT the window
There was a guardian old crippled up
fellow from the neighborhood of Barnes
vile. O., on duty in that part of the
building, pacing back and forward from
the kitchen. Mattinglee had to escape
from the kitchen and it was part of the
plan to engage the attention of the guard
while he got out. One Of the men at
tempted to raise a dispute with the
guard and engage his attention, but he
could not provoke a quarrel. My only
hope was TO keep him out of the kitch-
en-, and after the first mans fail
ure | went TO the guard, and
we talked about whatever it was for a
time. and finally | said there was some
thing the matter with the gas light and
get him over by it. In foCling around it
accidentlly put it out, and then we had
a terrible time finding matches and get
ting it to burn again. All this time Mat
tingee and his friends were busy at the
window with the blankets, and by the
time the gas jet was in order and the
old Il. p. D. had resumed his beat Mat
tinglee had escaped and his blankets
were back in the bunk. The next morn
ing Mattinglee was missed at roll call.
and there was a row, and | was pulled
up as a witness, but | testified that as
far IS | could remember Mattinglee went
to bed when I did, and nothing could
be asceTtained. The late George Wick
ham was sent there while | was in pris-
no for following for jeff Davis, one
night. and several other Wheeling men
were in there at the same time. Finally
the authorities hauled me up, with an
other prisoner, to sign our names TO
paper pledging our honor not to attempt
to escape or to cOnnive at others escep-
ing. The other man signed, but | re-
fused, and was handcuffed, and the first
night | wore the cuffs was the most
tiresOme I ever put in. The next morn
ing struck an officer in the mouth for
insulting me while I was handcuffed,
and brought blood. They took me away
under guard after that and l was sent
to Jail. l offered to give my parole, if
given the liberty Of the city, TO report
every day. but said that as long as was
guarded | would not give up my right
TO escape if could l remained in Jail
for eighteen months. The late Lewis
Jones was deputy in charge of the Jail.
under Sheriff Alonzo Loring. l had
considerable liberties there. l went to
jail from the Atheneum the day they
took Poole out to be hanged. | was fin
ally released under $4,000 bonds, and
that was the end of it,"
Mr.. Conowey gave many details Of his
imprisonment. mentioning many names
and incidents which have long since
been forgotten. and his "reminiscences
were very interesting.
ANHEUSER-BUSCH BREWING AS
ISOLATION
recommends the use of the greatest Of