The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-02-02
Immediately some one started singin

The Star Spangled Banner and voice
after voice joined in the strain, until
the soul-stirring song was rising from
every room of that immense building
and floated out upon the midnight air
in one chorus of enthusiastic and pa
triotic voices i'll a way that had not
been heard in the city of Richmond for
many months and years.
"Then 'Auld Lang Syne' was sung,
in way that transported many home
sick fellow back to the days when he
was happy and contented person, in
a time of peace and plenty, and awoke
in him that tender sentiment always in
spired by that sweetest of all Burns
lays. After the singing had died away
few boisterous fellows awole the
echoes by cheers, yells and such mix
ture of unearthly sounds as would have
made one believe that pandemonium
had arrived instead of a new year. A
caution from the guards below soon
ended this babel and quiet once more
reigned throughout the prison.
daylight, however, brought to their
feet this vast crowd, who as soon as roll
call was over began their meager prepa-
ration for New Years dinner. Much
scheming and planning has been going
on for several days toward this impor-
tant event. The few prison rations fur
nished were but poor hope for feast,
and there was scarcely money enough
in the prison to make extensive pur-
chases, with potatoes at $50 per bushel,
wheat bread one dollar per loaf, sugar
six dollars per pound, eggs six dollars
per dozen, and tea and coffee to be had
at no price. A poor prospect for a
square meal. But in some way quite II
number of fairly good dinners were
gotten up. and those that had plenty in
vited their neighbors to dine with them,
so that very few, If any, went hungry.
"The afternoon was spent in visit
| ing from room to room and corner to
corner, and congratulations passed
as freely as anywhere else in
the land. for each one was thankful
that he was alive. Early in the even
ing a grand ball was given in the
kitchen. The orchestra. consisting of a
violin, banjo, bones and tambourine,
made fairly good music for the occa-
sion. Two young lieutenants had
dressed themselves in Ethiopian style,
one as female. with ribbons and flow
ers, the other as swell colored beau,
and they were the attraction of the
ball and opened it in fine style. The
lights for the room were poor tallow
dips that only served to make it little
less gloomy than utter darkness. 1t
was an occasion never to be forgotten
by anyone who saw ito see severa
hundred men dancing together as
though they really enjoyed it, although
a majority of them were young men
who had on many occasions gracet
fashionable bathrooms and sported swal
low tailed coats and the rest of the
full dress parapherEalip. Yet here they
were iigging away with stalwart mel
as partners! Oh! what base uses we
may even come to! 1t was the only rea
stag dance / ever took part in, and
never had a disposition for another.
"When the ball was over, and th'
cry of lights out was sounded, th'
noise and confusion of the previou!
night once more reigned. Every con
ceivable noise was made. Stamping, hal
loing and shouting, amid deafenint
clatter of tinware, and good limitations
of all the domestic animals, as well a
denizenR of the forest, rang through tn
halls of Libby. The more quiet and sc
date among the prisoners soon con
trolled this turbulent element, and in
few minutes the usual quiet of the plac
had been resumed and the new yea
fairly began in that dreary abode
Washington Star.