Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1898-04-16
GOOD USE OF SAND.

when we were stationed nj Port Con-
way, below fredericksburg, scouting
party Of our people had what might he
sailed n very narrow cscapo from an invol.
untnry trip 10 Richmond M prisoners, " 70.
marked sergeant Of tho Fifth Ponnsyl.
vanla cavalry, who, with other enlisted
men. was relating his experiences. you
AGO, said he, I'VE had been sent out by
General Bnyard to 500 what eho enemy
were doing. Everything went right until
about o'clock. We hadn't seen any OF
the enemy and were marching to camp
again, when the lieutenant thought he'd
SEQ what was In n house over on our right.
When we arrived at tho house., we found
no one at home but an old woman, two
young girls and half dozen female slaves.
We dismounted and asked for something
TO eat. There wasn't n mouthful of any.
thing In the house; the women were fed
by son-in.law over by Port Conway.
There wasn't horse or other animal to be
seen about the whole place.
Are there no men aboutY' asked the
Lieutenant.
Not one, replied the lady, with dig.
nifty. They are all in the Confederate
army. IL you are after them, you'll have
to 90 where they are to find them.
Thanks, laughingly replied the lieu
tenant. we have no particular wish to
20 on the other side of the river at pres
ent.'
i" Perhaps you may go, said the lady,
without any desire.
ave mounted and wero soon on our way
to Port Conway. distant about six miles.
As we rode along thought over what
the lady had said. Did she mean threat,
or was 1t only woman's talki rode up to
the lieutenant and was just about to men
ton the thing to him when from clump
of bushes there sounded such shout as
had never heard before. Our mon were scat
tered over about half milo OF road, and
there was no chance to get them together.
As it was, l don't believe any effort was
made, for each man seemed to be taking
care of himself. As 1 pulled up saw
about dozen Johnnies making toward
me. Surrender, you Yankee -, or
Wen fill you full Of bolesl' l could do
nothing SO thought discretion the better
part of valor and pulled up where stood.
'Dismountp cried a big fellow, aiming his
gun at me. dsmounted and was led
into the woods, where found a number
Of our men who had been previously cap.
tured. There was another sergeant be-
there were Of us. He told me that nine
had been captured with him. We did not
halt long in the woods, but were soon TAX
on over by the river, there to wait until
the others came in. Only three men were
left to guard us, but as we were without
arms that was quite enough While we
were sitting on the river bank bemoaning
our fate noticed little piece of new spa.
per floating on the surface of the water /
played with it awhile, then drew it forth.
Glad to do anything TO pass the time, 1
sat down and looked ID over. Down In one
corner read the story If a woman throw
ing vitriol into another's eyes.
when you have given up in despair
when nothing but a rebel prison stands
before you, your thoughts are somewhat
lively. Mine were at any rate, and /
prayed for an ounce of vitriol at that mo-
inent. But the prayer was In vain. / had
no vitriol, and nothing to take its place.
We were sitting In the sand, and the
guards were talking to us like old friends
All mt once ! started up. ] had an idea
that looked feasible. What's the matter
with sand? ! asked myself II we could
manage to get "a handful of sand In each
guard s eyes, we might escape 1t was an
inspiration. The more l thought Of 1t the
more feasible Ii became, and got SO nery-
still. / SAT down and got N, y.aiLoJ nv
far as dared and sat down again. We
prisoners were all together, and / Thought
of some plan by which might communi-
cate with the Others. The guard surround.
ed us, and 1t looked to DO impossible.
81 made sly motions 70 the other ser
geant, but he was SO much taken up with his
and 7 gave mn IN. ;Saa ~ a., uSo'hI !
attention Right not w. ,"a ,raS ii, liz
York conntv Dntcbnan ia ~" h;,, 1
wbispered that n ,yo could oas, hnna,,,
Of sand into eacb suard's onas ,.a A" r,iau,
escane He was n cnnn,r,, Iit,Io d,,o his 81
Instantly grnsned tho ideo and siona %d
a.. a. - -" ,'Sn"iou