The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-09-29
those who resort toit. The writer can
rScall hut one notable instance In

WHICH the tTiCk pIOscu euSScooAuAs
That was the famous ''white aprons"
affair during Bacon's revolt against
Gov. Berkley. In 1915. This noted "Vir-
ginia rebel" true antelope Of the
revolutionary patriots who took the
field century later, was in momen-
tary expectation Of an attack, and
sorely needed time to complete his
earthworks and mount his guns for de-
Tense. The case was urgent; success
or failure turned upon securing few
hours of delay. So the resourceful
leader, though he we'll knew the taunts
to which he would be exposed, threw
aside all scruples, and having made
captives of the wives Of several OF
Berkley's officers. he conspicuously
paraded in front OF his entrenchments
these and other ladies closely related
to the enemy. Naturally the gov.
ernor's troops didn't shoot. The play
was q very dubious one, but 1t proved
a checkmate. The Notifications were
completed without interference, and
Bacon was presently enabled to drive
his opponents from the field. He
burned Jamestown; and but for his
sudden death shortly after, the history
of Virginia might have been changed
in very notable manner.
Bacon was an old Indian fighter, and
quite probably It was from the savages
that he got the hint he used 80
cleverly. To interpose captiyes be-
tween themselves and their pursuers
was a favorite Indian stratagem when
retreating after a raid, but these pee.
formances were on n small scale and
hardly rise to the dignity of acts OF
war. The commonest case was where
a prowling brave who had surprised
farmhouse, seized some screaming girl,
and bore her away on his shoulders
utilizing her form as screen against
the bullets of her friends as he fed
to the forest.
During the civil war few instances
OF exposure of prisoners to the fire OF
their own batteries arose from the ex.
treme bitterness of feeling excited by
the use of negro troops. For example
captured negroes were sometimes com
PEELED to work on Notifications while
u bombarlment was in progress. This
practice, however was speedily
checked by retaliatory measures; nnt
it is not strictly n case in point, any
how, us there was probably no inten
ton of using as a screen the prisoner.
thus exposed.
And just here word in regard to the
usual effect of threats and nets OF re
taliation seems not out of place. Thes'
are usually as efiicacious ms the
unprovoked exposures which we have
been discussing are futile. When II II
proposed TO shoot or hang n numbe
Of innocent prisoners, selected, perhaps
by lot, in case their friends persist IL
certain outrnges, people are apt to ex
claim: "How horrible! How cold
biooded and unjust" In point Of fact
such action is ordinarily merciful. Th
mere threat is sufficient, and instead o
resulting in a double tragedy the up
shot of the matter 10 that nobody i
hurt on either side. In this connec
ton II is now interesting to recall tina
Gen. Fitzhugh Lee was for time he'll
as hostage IN this manner during tn
civil war, but happily was exchange
little later without having been sui
jected to any extreme rigors.
A very unexpected use of this expe
dent was that recently practiced b.
Admiral Dewey ut Manila, when by
threat of retaliation he actually save
an unfortunate Spanish officer fror
the hands OF his own countrymen.
Apart from the holding OF hostage
under forfeit of their lives-which wa
very common-instances Of the use G
prisoners as shield are scarcel
more frequent in ancient times tha
nowadays. At Thermopylae Leonids
had with him 400 terrified and most III
willing Thebans, who were PRACTICAL
prisoners, for they were there unde
compulsion, Thebes having conclude
an alliance with the Persians. Br
these men took no active part In tn
fght, and got off without injury. II
remarkable case Of Regulus, thoug
scarcely german TO our theme, well
lustrates the utter fntility Of most a
tempts TO Influence an enemy by pla.
ing upon the fears Of captives. III
bluff did not work. The old Roman I
Carthage and our own cambridge {
Tripoli show precisely the same hero
spirit-the same self-sacrificing patrio
ism. 1t is impossible 10 make tools I
men of this tyr
A celebrate medieval episode stl
further illust1Ates hopelessness
these methods when employed again
sturdy and seasoned soldiers. 1t o
Cured at the time Of the Third Cr
SADIE, when Conrad OF Montferrat Wi
defending Tyre against a great arm
Of Saracens. Saladin, who wished
avoid tbe loss and delay Of protrne
ed siege, offered in exchange for Il
immediate surrender Of the city Co
RAIDS aged fnther, who had been MAJ
prisoner; but this was refused. Th'
Saladin threatened to expose the o