The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-04-28

ceaHn8 oeserterS were ingenious ana
unique.
One plan became 50 common that 1t
became wholly useless. The desert
er would shave clean, put on q night
gown and nightcap and retire to the
bed OF some woman or girl of the
household. relying upon the delicacy
Of the soldiers to prevent discovery.
There was one young man at Jer-
myn for whom search was made al
most daily for weeks, as there was
positive information of his presence in
the house. Every search was fruitless.
save as each renewed effort afforded
the women of the house opportunity
to ridicule the soldiers. One night q
soldier thrust his sabre into what had
always been mistaken for a hogshead
OF bran. The blade penetrated si1
inches OF bran and stuck upright
In board. Cleats had been nailed to
the inside of the vessel, upon those .
lid was placed; below the lid, scores
Of very small holes were bored from
within--a work of tremendous and to-
dious labor! These holes, impercep-
tible from without, in the darkness OF
the cellar, afforded ventilation for the
| deserter, who, upon alarm, jumped
into the hogshead, when a member OF
the family would adjust the lid and
empty upon 1t bag of bran which
was kept there for that purpose, ready
for instant use, and the emptied bag
was concealed In the bran as the de-
| serter was concealed beneath 1t.
At Archibald the middle shelf OF an
old-fashioned corner cupboard was re-
| moved and the compartment thus en-
larged was utilized as place of con-
cealment which proved effectual for
q long time. No one ever thought OF
searching a small corner cupboard for
a man. Indeed, so small did 1t look
that II they had been looking for
a truant boy they probably would
have considered 1t useless to
search there for him. After many
visits to the house soldier
CHANGED to observe that the door press
ed hard against the wooden button by
which 1t was secured, and with some
effort he succeeded in opening it.
| There drawn up in a cramped and con-
strained position was the object of
their search! Crawling out, the de-
serter sarcastically inquired!
| Are you hungry, that you rummags
. woman's cupboard?"
| At Minersvais a man was rolled in a
big carpet and evaded discovery for
| nearly a month, though search was
! made three or four times every week.
| At Minersvale another deserter sue
cessfully escaped for long time by
being buried under a lot of onions kept
In garnet and was discovered at last
only because one foot was exposed by
his own movement.
Troops frequently secured the hills
and searched the wood and brush for
| delinquents.
| On the day that the adjutant had
that startling interview with Mrs. Ze-
NTH and Miss Stella. detachment was
among the hills. About five miles
from town they came upon an odd
structure which at once interested
them. 1t was long. low hut; its
thick walls and arched roof all built
| Of heavy stones. There was no win
dow. The door was clad in a promis-
cuous patchwork oc iron that had the
appearance of having been gathered
from different scrap heaps at different
periods.
THAT looks like a promising hiding
place for skulkers," the lieutenant in
command said.
mo danger of a deserter finding
quarters there; l have heard of the
place." said the gossip of the company;
| a man who always acquired the COM
| plete local history and traditions of a
place at which the troops camped for
q week.
why not?"
(which Prophet"
John the Baptist"
81 thought that his head was struck
of, some centuries since, by order Of
General Herod, to please pretty bal
let girl the tyrant was struck on"
THAT was the real, original and
genuine prophet"
who is this?"
"He is a crazy old fellow who be-
lieves himself to be John the Baptist.
He goes about preaching and is fed
by the charitable. Everybody knows
him hereabouts, from Kingston to
Honesdale.
"He hasn't got an attractive home!
I'd as soon dwell in a sarcophagus."
The troops having reached the sar-
cophagus, as they now called it, halted
at the door and the commandant or
dered a search within.
A trooper struck repeated heavy
blows upon the mailed door with his
sabre without eliciting response. No
latch, knob, lock or hinge was visible;
therefore, il they secured entrance
they must first break down the door.
1t was determined to do that, for
experience had taught them to suspect
every habitation, house. hut and other
structure as a place which was liable
| to be used to conceal deserter. II "
| Afforded space into which man NIGH
crawl.
A heavy log was found and six file,
of soldiers were dismounted and or
dered to take the log upon their shout
der and assault the door. Having hii
men in place the lieutenant command
ed:
Squad, attention; forward, double
quick, charge."
| The living machine dashed its imam
innate head at the mailed door which
at that instant opened inward and al.
lowed egress to an old man who
stepped to the threshold-too late ia
avoid the catapult; too late for the liv-
ing machine to halt-and was struck
violently and hurled to the ground
within his dark abode.
1--WE have killed the Prophet"
Garry him to the open air!"