The National tribune., 1901-02-14


getic and careful coadjutor Of those who
suffered with him the degrading position of
being imprisoned by a Government which
they despised, and by which their lives
were menaced.
The part of the Jail in which they were
confined was separated from the main
bulking, and contained four cells, two
upon the ground floor and two Immediately
above them. These cells were reached
through a corridor from the yard out
side and secured by two doors; one
heavy iron one, fastened on the in
side. and the other a stout wooden
barricade, the lock of which was placed
on the outside of the building. 1t was the
custom of the old man, who acted as the
Jaller, to allow the prisoners n half-hour's
walk in the yard during the early even
ing, and then, locking them up safely
again, he would leave them alone in the
building, while he went to his home, sew
eral blocks distant.
One Of the men had managed to sccrete
HE about his person, and with this they
succeeded in making a saw out of a knife.
These were the only implements which
they had to work with. Notwithstanding
the meagerness of their implements, but a
few days had elapsed before the bolts on
every cell door were sawed through so that
they only required u few minutes labor to
detach them from their fastenings alto
gether.
1t is impossible to detail the hours of
feVerlsh anxiety, of tircless energy, and of
momentary fear of detection, through
which these men passed while engaged in
their difficult and dangerous worll-or TO
depict their joy when at last their labor
was completed, and they awaited the time
of carrying their plans into execution.
Ihe outside door was now the only bar
rler between them and their coveted free
dom, and various plans We're suggested to
overcome this obstacle. At length one was
decided upon which promised to secure the
object of their desires. In one corner of
the yard in which they took their daily ex-
erclse there was large pile of ashes and
garbage, which had been accumulatinc for
long time. 1t was resolved that one of
their number should he buried under this
rubbish, while several of the other prison
ers engaged the old jailer i'll animated con.
versatiOn.
The man selected for this purpose was n
good, brave fellow, formerly a sailor, who
had lately been member of an artillery
company from New York. His name was
Charles Stanton, and he had come into the
South upon his own inclination, and for the
Quixotic purpose of obtaining command OF
gUnbOat Of the Confederacy, and then
attempting to run it through to the Union
lines. BE had, however, been suspected,
and remanded to prison, where he had re-
mained without trial, and without hone
Of release, for several months.
The prisoners were all turned out for
their usual exercise in the yard on the
evening which had been agreed upon. and
In accordance with their arranged plan
several of the prisoners surrounded the old
turnkey and engaged him in an earnest
discussion, while others set actively to
work to dig the grave of Stanton in the
ashes. In order that he might not be un-
bearably uncomfortable, his body only
was covered with the contents of the ash
heap, while his head and shoulders were
concealed from view by some straw.
which one of the men brought from his
cell sor that purpose.
In the Jail at this time there was n num-
Der of negroes, who had been captured
while attempting to make their way to the
North, and although these faithful blacks
were aware Of the attempted cscaDe and
knew full well that they were not Included
in the movement, their efforts were none
the less active in behalf of The white men
who were struggling for liberty.
They had been informed of the attemnt-
1 ed escape from the first, and had kent tba
matter profound secret, at the same timn
rendering such service as they were cana
bic of TO the whites.
Everything worked to their entire salts
faction. The turnkey was unsusricions.
and Stanton was carefully Concealed
few minutes afterwards the call for re.
tiring was heard, and the men, with throb-
bing hearts, rushed in a mass toward H.
door of the corridor This was done in or
der to escape the counting of their num-
Der, in case the old man should attempt 70
DO so. They passed quickly into their
cells, and were not required to be counted
Thus far. all had been done as success.
fully as could be hoped for, or expected !;
no suspicious were excited, nor was their
missing comrade called for. 1t had been
the custom OF the Odd man to make tonr