The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-11-26
By Ward Pies
COPYRIGHTED BY THE C. P. A.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
CONTINUED.
THE SARCOPHAGUS.


The term deserter was applied by
law alike to volunteers who fled from
the front in violation of their enlist
ment obligations, and to such drafted
men as refused to report to the pro-
vCst marshal in obedience to his or
ders.
1t was not always an easy matter to
effect the capture of determined de-
linquents of either class. Facilities
for escape and concea!paent were am
plified by popular inulsposition to
afford information to the troops, while
on the contrary all possible aid, in
food, shelter and conceal
ment were given to the deserters.
Here and there was found loyal
man; but detestation of the provost
marshal was too nearly universal to
make it safe for such as might be in
clined to aid that officer or the forces
assisting him to do them any SER
vice.
co,,-n 80 tho o->+r;va-ces FOR con-
cealing deserters were ingenious and
unique.
One plan became so common that it
became wholly useless. The desert
er would shave clean, put on a night
gown and nightcap and retire to the
bed of some woman or girl of the
household, relying upon the delicacy
OF the soldiers to prevent discovery.
There was one young man at Jer-
myn for whom search was made al
most daily for weeks, as there was
positive information of his presence in
the house. Every search was fruitless,
IaI
the women of the house opportunity
to ridicule the soldiers. One night a
soldier thrust his sabre into what had
always been mistaken for a hogshead
of bran. The blade penetrated six
inches of bran and stuck upright
in board. Cleats had been nailed to
the inside of the vessel, upon those a
lid was placed; below the lid, scores
of very small holes were bored from
wlthin-a work of tremendous and te-
dious labor! These holes, impercep-
tible from without, in the darkness of
the cellar, afforded ventilation for the
deserter, who, upon alarm, jumped
into the hogshead, when a member of
the family would adjust the lid and
empty upon it a bag of bran which
was kept there for that purpose, ready
for instant use, and the emptied bag
was concealed in the bran as the de-
serter was concealed beneath it.
AT Archibald the middle shelf of an
old-fashioned corner cupboard was re-
moved and the compartment thus en-
larged was utilized as place of con-
cealment which proved effectual for
long time. No one ever thought of
searching small corner cupboard for
a man. Indeed, so small did it look
that if they had been looking for
truant boy they probably would
have considered it useless to
search there for him. After many
chanoed to observe that the door press
ed hard against the wooden button by
which it was secured, and with some
effort he succeeded in opening it.
There drawn I'D in cramped and con-
strained position was the object of
their search! Crawling out, the de-
serter sarcastically inquired!
Are you hungry, that you rummage
a woman's cupboard?"
At Minersvale man was rolled in
big carpet and evaded discovery for
nearly month, though search was
made three or four times every week.
AT Minersvale another deserter sue
cessfully escaped for long time by
being buried under lot of onions kept
in a garret and was discovered at last
only because one foot was exposed by
his own movement.
Troops frequently secured the hills
and searched the wood and brush for
delinquents.
On the day that the adjutant had
that startling interview with Mrs. Ze-
NTH and Miss Stella, detachment was
among the hills. About five miles
from town they came upon an odd
structure which at once interested
them. 1t was a long, low hut; it's
thick walls and arched roof all built
of heavy stones. There was no win
dow. The door was clad in a promis-
cuous patchwork of iron that had the
appearance of having been gathered
from different scrap heaps at different
periods.
THAT looks like promising hiding
place for skulkers," the lieutenant in
command said.
mo danger of a deserter finding
quarters there; l have heard of the
place" said the gossip of the company;
a man who always acquired the COM
plete local history and traditions of
place at which the troops camped for
a week.
why not?"
(which Prophet"
John the Baptist"
81 thought that his head was struck
off, some centuries since, by order of
General Herod, to please a pretty bal
let girl the tyrant was struck on"
THAT was the real, original and
genuine prophet"
who is this?"
He is a crazy old fellow who be-
lieves himself to be John the Baptist.
He goes about preaching and is fed
by the charitable. Everybody knows
him hereabouts, from Kingston to
Honesdale."
HE hasn't got au attractive home!
I'd as soon dwell in a sarcophagus."
The troops having reached the sar-
cophagus, as they now called it, halted
at the door and the commandant Or
dered a search within,
A trOODer struck repeated heavy