Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-01
A NEW YEAR IN L,!SSS0 iI
How the Imprisoned Blue Goats Ushered in
1864.
Sang "Star SpnnRlcd BRnacr'' and
"Auld Lang sync" Ne the Old
Year Went Out.

Great is the contrast between today and
the Jawning OF the New Year Just thirty
four years ago for Major l.. L. Williams.
one OF the assistant clerks OF the District
Supreme Court. Major Williams was a
member of tho I'D Indiana Regiment ana
January I. 1864. he was prisoner In Libby
prison. Speaking OF his experience Major
Williams said 10 a star reporter.
The long drawn out cry of II o'clock
fost No. l-alfH we'll" 10y "a prison guard
aroused hundreds of the prisoners. who
were uncasiy slumbcrng on the floors of
Libby on the night of December ~ lNlsl
and notified them that the new year wna In
Quickly "a general shout OF Happy New
foarr went up from thai RESTLESS throng
81 more than n thousand unhappy mon.
immediately some on" started singing Tho
Star Spanrlod Hammer and vote" after
voic" Joined In tho strain. until the soul-
stirring song was rising from cv"ry room
OF that immense building. and noatcd out
Lpon ia" midnight air I'm one grand chorus
OF "nthusiaaiic ana pHirintl" voices in =
way that had not been heard In tho city of
ldchmond for many months ana years.
Then Aud Lang SYM" was sung I'm n
way that transp' rt"d many y h1mc-girk
follow back to the DAYS when he WIS a
happy ard contontod person. in - tune or
ptac" ana pl"ntN-and nwokc in him that
tender sentiment always inspired hy that
sweetest of all IsUrns' lays. After the sing
InE had died away a few boistrrous f,llu,vs
awokc tn" echoes by cheers. Wells and qtI,n
a miNiur" of uusarihly sounds IA would
have made ON" bclicv" that pand,innuium
had arrived instead of "A now lrar \
caution from the guards hollow soon ended
this babel and quiet once moro rriEupI
throughout tho prison
daylight. however brought 10 their
I''l ihlS vast crowd. who. as soon roll
can was over. began their m"ag,r prcplra-
TONS tor New Year thinner. Much srhrning
and pllEning had Leon going on Tor several
days toward this important event. Tao
Tow mis1n rations furnished w"r" hut a
poor hop" for feast. aud there was
scarcely money enough I'm the prison to
mHlI" extensive purchases. with potatocs
at so I"r hush"l. wheat bread 81 per loaf.
sugar 81 per pound. eggs q; prr dozen and
tea and coffee to bc had at no price \
poor prospect for a squaf" meal but In
some way quit" a number Of fairly good
dinners were gotten up. aud those that haf
plenty invited their u'ighbors to dine with
them. 80 that very few. II any. went
hungry.
The afternoon Mas spent In visiting
from room to room aad corner to corner.
aud CONGRATULATIONS passed AS freely as
anywhere else i'm the land. for each one was
thankful that he was alive. early In the
evening grand hail was given in tho
kit rh"n. Tie orchestra. consisting OF
violin. banjo. bones and t1mhourinr, made
fatty good music FOR the occasion. Two
young licutonants had dressed thrms' Ives
i'm Ethiopian style. one "a n female. With
ribbons and flowers. tn" other as EN'U
coI"r'd beau. aud they were tn" ATTRACTION
of the ball and opened Il in lin" style Tho
lights for the room were poor tallnw dips.
that only served 10 make II little Ices
gloomy than utter darkness. II was an or-
CHsiOu never 10 ho forgotten 10y any on"
who saw II. To gee several hundred m'n
dancing together as though they really On
Juycd II. although Il majority Of them vcr"
young ,nsn. who had on many occasions
ErHcod fashionable bah rooms and Rportci
swHllnw-tail"d coats and tho rest Of the
fun dress paraph"rnalia. Vet here they
wer" jigglug away with siaiwart mon MS
partners. on what bPsn uses "" may
even come to- II was the only real stag
dane" I oyer took part Ia. and I mover had
u disposition for another
"Wh"n III" ball was over. and tho cry 81
lights out was sounded, the noiq" and con
fusion of ia" previous night once more
roigGc1. Every conceivable noise Nna
made. Stamping. lHlloiGE ana shouiinE.
amid d"afennE CHATTER of tiuwar". aud
good imit1iionS Of all ih" Il tmnStin animals,
"a VII "a IN" druiZ"us of tho forest
through the halls Of Libby. Tho more quiet
ana s"lat" among the prisoners soon con
tr"llrl this turbulent element. aud In q r"w
minutes tho usual quiet of Tho place had
been resumed. auJ the now year fairly br-
gan i'm That dr.ary abode"