Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-12-30

tured at Helena by the federals and
taken to prison. He was paroled and
took the oath never again to serve in
the confederate army against the fed
eral troops. But his patriotism was
stronger than his consideration for the
oath which he had given under coercion,
and it was not long before he was again
in the ranks of the confederacy, ready
to fight to the last ditch. Those who
knew him say that there was none
drawer, more daring or more reckless.
One day he was recaptured, recog-
nized and sent to the old Adelphi house
ut Bonneville, which served as prison.
The building is still standing. and the
rooms fitted up for cells may still be
seen. The union soldiers were deter
mined that he should die, but his sister
was equally determined that he should
not. There were four weeks in which
to effect his release. She considered
plans innumerable, and finally adopted
one of which she had read in novel.
The jailer was civilian and a man
with no prejudices against either cause.
He gave the young lady great liberty in
her visits. She and her brother were
left alone in the cell, where they might
talk privately. One day she came Mt
tired in a dress which could be readily
unfastened, and while the iailer busted
himself with the other prisoners she
exchanged clothes with her brother.
He wore a large sunbonDet, which
concealed his face. About q, block
away he noticed some federal soldiers,
and, fearing to pass close to them,
stepped out into the street. There.was
a step-of and the dress was raised
slightly, exposing heavy boot He was
noticed by a German unionist and the
soldiers were called. Dennis was re-
captured and taken into prison He
was court-martialed and sentenced TO
death at the expiration of eight days.
He was placed in dungeon, from
which there seemed TO be no possible
means of escape. So secure was the
room considered that no extra precau-
tons were taken and the sister was per-
mitted to visit him as before by the
kind-hearted jailer, who sympathized
with the distress of the young girl.
She took delicacies to her brother
every day. After six days in the dun
geon the prisoneregave his sister a straw
bent in a peculiar shape to resemble
key.
eff you can get key like that mold
believe that 1 can get out" said the
brother.
All that night light burned in the
room of the sister. She worked from
sunset until dawn filing blade from
plane into the desired shape. Just ut
daylight, when the last touches were
being put on the key the steel snapped
asunder and the whole work went for
Eaught. There was a foundry near by
and she found piece of soft iron not SO
brittle as steel. There was a hole in the
end of it. Tired, sleepy, with torn and
bleeding fingers. she worked all day
and all Of the second night with moth
ing save the bent straw to guide her In
the task.
The seventh day had come when IL
was finished. On the next her brother
would be shot. Still without any sleep
she made pie and put the key into the
center of it That night Dennis and .
confederate lieutenant walked out Of
the prison, went to the home Of Miss
Dennis and returned to her the key
which had effected their escape They
then departed for the front. The tri-
umph of the sister was of short dura-
ton. for shortly after her brother was
killed in battle
The key is \ priceless treasure and
she has guarded it jealously ever since.
II is crude. but still an excellent piece
of workmanship for one who under,
stood nothing of mechanics and WHOSE
sole pattern was a bit Of bent straw