The National tribune., 1902-02-13

nation revealed the fact and method Of
escape, and then the hubbub broke out
afresh.
I'm the midst of the wild connection
Capt. Bennett called out, We'll gentle
men, | like a moderate stir, but you are
going it too brash,' an expression of Opin-
ion which. Judging from the unanimous
shout of approval from the prisoners and
the laughter they could no longer restrain,
met with their cordial Endorsement.
1T was generally feared that Col. Dick
Morgan would be severely punished, and
he expected a long term in the dungeon;
but to the surprise and qualification of bis
comrades, it was announced that he was
thought no more guilty than the others
and should be punished no more harshly.
"The first step taken was 10 remove all
of the first range of men to the third
range Then a general and thorough
search was instituted. Every cell was
carefully examined, every man was
stripped and inspected and every effort
made, after the birds had flown, to make
| the cage secure.
1T would be difficult to enumerate the
restrictions now imposed upon the re-
maining prisoners. However, after some
| three weeks of close confinement they
were Dermitted to exercise in the hall four
hours curing the day, but were locked in
the rest of the time. Everything that
had previously been allowed in the way
Of Injuries was forbidden, except books
They were not permitted to speak while
at the breakfast or dinner table. to talk
aloud in the cells after the gas was turned
on, to address one OF the convicts. even
those who frequented the hall in which
the prisoners of war were confined. Evi
dcntly the officials we've determined that
no more guilty men should escape.
"The nervous irritahlity induced by thu
guf1V
showed itself in a manner that woulC
have amused n man whose mind was il
healthy condition. Just as soon as thns'
Confederate officers-now 'penitentiarl
hirds'-left their cells in the morn
ling and met in the hall, the mos
: animated discussions upon all sorts Of top
ios would begin. These would occasonall!
? degenerate into clamorous and angry de
bates The dsputants would become n
earnest and excited over subjects in whicl
2 perhaps they had never felt the least in
.crest before as If they had been cOnsid
= ering matters of vital and immediate i'm
{ pOrtance.
] "A most heated and finally acrimoniou
: dispute once arose regarding Gen. JosenI
[ T. Tohnston's hight. One party asserte
r positively that his stature WAS just fiv
r feet nine inches and Puarter-no more
r no less. The other officer, with n cor
u stancy that nothing could shake, that h
e was no taller than FIVE feet eight inche
and a half. Numerous assertions weT
Q made by as many men, that they ha
4 frequently stood near him, and that h
@ was about their hight. If these declare
t tions were all true as they were dogmati'
+. Gen. Johnston's stature must have varie
r in q remarkable manner, and his taio
b could have had little peace of mind. War;
p friendships of long standing were intei
n rupted by this issue for entire days, unit
# happily, a new question was sprung an
# parties were reorganiZed.
o "A grave and radical difference of opiI
e ion arose as to whether Selma was on tn
n east or the west bank Of the Alabam
e River. Two intimate friends got into a
d argument regarding the relative excellenc
d of the ancients and moderns in materif
civilization and the mechanical arts. TIL
n discussion lasted three weeks, each cor
Y troversialist alludiDg. in support of his pt
e sition, to architectural and engineerin