The National tribune., 1899-09-28

bers. or bad boys. believe she now holds
Il Government position in Washington
City. %.a,.-i,,---- 80.
1t was assumed by many persons in
Richmond at that period that the escaDed
prisoners were aided by a certain man con-
nected with the management of the prison.
and that it cost coed round sum OF money,
but be that as it may shall let the matter
go; but shall now refer to an incident Of
that period which will be new TO the older
citizens of Richmond.
TIE FLAG INCIDENT.
1t will be remembered by many that a
gentleman and his family by the name of
Weber resided few doors from Sadler's
Hotel, near the Old Market, and kept a
variety store, and manufactured very
pretty baskets, cradles, etc. There was
Mr.. Webber, his wife, and his pretty little
girl, some II or - years of age, who COM
prised the family, and were English, it was
understood.
Soon after they came there might he seen
small flag waving from n staff on the end
Of the house directly opposite the western
end of Libby Prison, which was about 100
yards distant. The knowing ones knew
its import, and several months after its first
appearance it was noticed by the Confed-
crate detectives, although it could only be
seen from the opposite side Of the street
from the building.
The flag was particularly noted because
it occupied different positions on the flag
staff at different times; sometimes being at
about half-mast, then below, then again
directly at the top of the staff, and then it
4 Tnr l,,.
| While the flag business was going on it
was noticed that n certain Federal prisoner
in Libby Prison would stand at and about
the window at the west end of the prison.
Being repeatedly warned against putting
his head out of the window, he was finally
shot and instantly killed by a Confederate
sentinel from the outside of the building,
the sentinel claiming that lie had orders
| from Il superior officer 10 commit the act.
From information had of the flag have
no doubt that the poor fellow lost his life
through his eager desire TO watch WebEer's
flag for news, which its different positions
indicated plainly enough to him.
could write much more OF interest about
that affair if thought proper. / could tell
about the little boy who sold cakes and pies
TO the prisoners in Libby, and the clerk OF
| the prison, who bought articles of food for
the prisoners with their greenbacks, bring
ing them So worth at Confederate prices, he
pocketing about three-fourths of the money,
which he sold to Broker Foster, below the
st. Charles Hotel knew Brother Foster
better by far than his neighbors did
AT CUMBERLAND.
!. | met at Cumberland Nd, a Federal spy
who visited Richmond repeatedly, and WAS
not captured either. After my arrival at
Cumberland in the Summer Of 1864, as
mentioned elsewhere, with letter of intro.
duction to Mai.-Gen. Kelly, was duly
! introduced TO Capt. Purdy, Chief Scout OF
, the Department of West Virginia. He
was an interesting man, surely, and we be.
, came exceedingly intimate, for many rea-
sons, and he was in my room at the hotel
, daily-Mahoney's Hotel.
Capt. Purdy had been to Richmond three
times when l saw him first at Cumberland
: He always played the part Of Il secessionisI
? from Maryland Ny Maryland" and came
over TO sympathize with and aid the Con
federafes in fighting back the hated yam.
) kee" from the sacred soil of the Grand Old
Dominion" the Mother Of Presidents" and
| so forth and so on.
He related TO me many incidents Of his
visits to Richmond, and I will give one.
He reached Richmond by the way of Cor
J louisville, and boarded at the house of a
lady | knew near the Old Market, where
many Marylanders had rooms. No one
. suspected him, as lie was a good "seccsh,' ~