Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-23

anu "dNtu SuS udntS at the RuarGS on The
| high platform about the stockade. and the
poor fellows trudging through the mud TO
Keep warm. Bending nearer and sinking
| his voice to the low. soft pitch that seemed
4 SO out of keeping with his character, Walk
er said:
God knows I'm not glad to see you
prezner. old tellow. and you know it. too.
But. you see." here he shook the chain.
Il am in bad fix, and I'm here waiting for
| some man TO show up that know has the
interest i'm me to see me through.
You can count on me and my boys.
Walker" I responded. But what does this
| ball and chain mean on a prisoner of war
| and an officer?"
Sentenced to BE Shot.
THAT is just it, he FASTENED to say. II
! am not regarded as a federal soldier, as
| they call our people,
How. then, do they regard you?" 1
| asked. though. knowing much of his past.
half guessed at the truth. In his habitually
| quiet way, Walker went on to explain his
| former position in Atlanta, and how he had
| been conscripted, and then detailed to work
! in the railroad shops. After his escape to
! the Union lines, he had been set down
deserter. and as he had retained his own
| name and had become conspicuous figure
in the war, a reward was offered for his
capture.
Ten days before our meeting in the prison
pen Walker had been captured in a cav
airy fight at CamDbell's Station, in East
I Tennessee. As soon as he reached the de-
pot in Atlanta he was recognized He was
| tried the Monday before our meeting,
which was on Thursday evening, and he
was condemned to be shot for desertion
Friday morning, now about twelve hours
off.
Now the ball and chain is explained"
said the condemned man in conclusion, and
he quietly proceeded to light his pipe. The
! pen was fenced in by logs set on end in the
ground On the outside and four feet lower
than the top of the stockade there was a
platform which guards walked
ten PAGES. Inside the stockade and fifteen
feet away, there was little ditch, known
| as the dead lfne," which prisoners could
not cross under pain of death. This line
was indicated at night by rows of dim
lamps. These lamps were being lit while
/ talked with Walker. The chances for
ball and chain attached any attempt meant
! death from the guards. yet L could not help
saying:
A Plan for Escape.
IF you must die, Walker. so right up to
the dead line and fall under the rifles of
! the Home Guards; better that than to be
! led out and shot down like dog
Il can slip the ball and chain off," said
Walker, and he demonstrated that this
could be done by removing his boot and
stocking. then he Strengthened out his long
foot, and with slight effort freed himself
from the ring.
WIN tHe Hcip VI uTSelI ana Otner
friends" he went on to say Il believe !
can get over the stockade, and make my
escape. though there is a veteran brigade
in camp about the place"
Near where We sat there was Stretchcr
| the body and handles of which were .tbout
ten feet in length. A belt fastened across
the ends would make step or resting
pace fully eight feet from the ground if
the stretcher were set on end. Walker, as
mas been said, was a :ery tail man, and
without Interference he could reach the
top OF the stockade and drop TO the other
side. But there were the lgnts ON the
dead line and the watchful and ubiau,tous
guards. Walker went on to say that the
guards were old men and bows Home
Guards and easily demoralized.
II. he continued, you could get 4
dozen or so Of our friends TO load I'D with
these bricks, and at a given signal heave
them at the guards of there to the cast
the men from the south side would think
the prisoners were trying to break through
there. and they would run from their posts
ana leave me clear track FOR long enough
TO get over At the worst, l can only be
shot making break for liberty. VIII YOU
help" L gave Walker my hand in proof
or my Willingness but it Was he AMI not L
who spoke of the danger 10 the other
prisoners from the wild firing Of the guards
Great though the danger Was, every man
with whom 1 spoke about the venture was
willing to risk being shot in order 10 help
Walker.
Anxious Moments.
After 8 o'clock the guards called out the
half hours ard the number of their posts
When the man at Tost nj n:ber ID an
nounced II o'clock, the men with The bri .ks
were to attack with vigol, ami Walker
was to rush with the stretcher fo- the
southern wall. AS the hour approa -hed
the men with the bricks crawled as close
to the dead line was safe. The night
was very dark with cold driving rain
from the northeast About five rninutes be-
fore the signal, which was 10 COM, from
the enemy, Walker crept to my side,
clasped me in his arms. and whispered:
God bless you. old fellow! Another
hour and I'll be a free man or a deal nne"
In the indistinct light from the dead line
l saw the tall form bending over the
stretcher. The minutes were cruelty long
to Walkers friends; what must they have
been to him? At length the cry began
Twelve o'clock. Post number one; and
ais wellr'
The men with the bricks sat there and
their breathing came hard.
Twelve o'clock! Post number ten. and
alrs well.'
The last word had not died on the lips
of the guard when thirty men leaped from
the ground and the fusillade began.
threw one brick in wild way then turned
to watch Walker.
The Escape.
With a rapidity that cannot be described
from which, as he foresaw, the guards
had fled. In an instant the stretcher was
against the stockade and Walker had
seized the top. 1 saw his face for a mo-
ment. as with q mighty bound, he swung
himself over. There was firing into the
prison pen; and firing in the camp outside,
through which the fugitive fled. Then far
OF we heard a yell of triumph. 1t was
Walkers signal to us that he had cleared
the camp. Although fully forty shots were
fired into the prison pen a slight wound to
Captain Singer of the SD Ohio was the
only damage done.
The confederate officials made an exami-
nation at once They discovered that
Walker was gone. but they could not learn
who heaved them bricks" The last time
saw Walker was In the parade of Sher-
mans men in Washington at the close OF
the war;.
It matters little what It Is that you
want-whether a situation or a servant-a