The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-10-19
4 ROMANTIC STORY
Soldier and Benefactress
Meet After 50 Years.
New York Business, Man Visits r. d, II 10 see
the Woman Who Helped him When
in Dire Need.
(Statesville Landmark.)

| parently between so and 65 years of age
stopped at Hotel Ireden and registered
as August Kissell, Theresa, Jefferson
| county, n. Y Immediately after dinner
| MT. kssell ordered a team and an
nounced that he was going to the north
| eru part of this county to visit a lady
VINO had given him assistance when he
| escaped from the Confederate prison at
| SALISBURY So years ago. This statement
| attracted attention and yesterday when
| Mr.. Kissell returned from his visit to
| north lredell a Landmark man found
him at Hotel Iredell and was given the
| following interesting story:
Mr.. kissel who is native of Ger
many, was a Union soldier, a member
| of Co. Il, Gath New York Infantry. He
| was captured on the Weldon Railroad
| near petersburg, Va, August 18th, 1864.
| he was sent first to Libby prison, then
| to Belle Island and then to Salisbury on
| the 18th of October, 1864. He stayed
there until January 9th, 1866, when he
escaped with six other prisoners by
brlbing the guard. His six companions
| belonged to the navy. The seven wandered
around the country for several days TO
get their bearings and finally came in
| this direction, passing to the north of
Statesville. The party became separated
and on the night of 18th of February
| in bitter cold weather. Mr.. Kissell and
one of the party, George Everett, who
had been a cabin boy in the navy, found
| themselves in the northern part of this
county While sitting on a rail fence
discussing what to do they saw the
| smoke from q cabin. Kissell told Ever
EFT TO go to the corn crib near the cabin
and get some corn for them to eat Ohe
only food Obtainable) while he (kisselD
reconnoitered the cabin. Everett went
to the crib and after tying his pants at
his shoes filled his pant legs with shelled
corn. Kissel Went to the cabin door and
| listened. but heard no sound but the
cracking of the fire within. Finally he
Knocked and a womans voice asked who
was there. He answered, "a man" She
asked if he was guard and he answered
again, "a man" She opened the door
and KisSell asked the direction to the
Jonesville road. The woman said she
could not tell him but thought her old
man could. Kissell wasn't looking for
men but he waited. The woman stirred
the fire and made a light, and Ktssel
stepped within. He looked first for a
gun with a view TO capturing it, but
saw none There were two beds in the
room and in one was a man and in the
other young woman The old man got
up and dressed and asked Kisse who he
was. Che latter frankly told him he
was a Yankee soldier and had escaped
from Salisbury prison. The old man
wanted proof of his identity and KisselI
unbuttoned the Confederate gray over
coat he wore, turned down the belt OF
his pants and showed the Yankee blue
uniform underneath. The old man was
satisfied and remarked that as the times
were gloomy one scarcely knew who to
trust
The young woman in bed then got up
and dressed and began preparing a meal
of hoe cake, fried meat and rye coffee.
Asked if he was alone, Kissell told the
family that he had a friend with him
who was then engaged in stealing their
corn. They laughed and told him TO
call his friend in, which he did. When
Everett came in he was so near frozen
that he almost fell at the fire. After
being thoroughly warmed the soldiers
ate heartily of the meal prepared for
them. While at supper the old man
and the two women asked the soldiers
many question The old man told them
his name was Ezekiel Myers; the elder
woman was his wife and the younger
his daughter, Sina Myers. In regard to
the Jonesville road he told them if they
could follow footpath four miles they
would save distance OF eight miles.
After the meal Kissel went out to look
for the path, but there was two inches
of snow on the ground and his search
was unavailing. He returned to the
house and told them. Thereupon the
young woman, Sina Myers, proposed to
go with Kissell and his companion to
show them the road. Her father con-
sented. The soldiers told the old couple
goodbye and the young woman put a
shawl over her head and started out in
the darkness to pilot the two strangers.
That was after ~ o'clock at night. Soon
they came TO a house and their guide
told the soldiers to make no noise; that
if they had stopped at that house they
would have been captured or killed.
Then they came to another house and
the young woman told the soldiers to
stop while she went to it. There she en-
gagged in conversation with a woman
and pretty soon the guide returned,
leading horse. The horse was, to help
tnGu over I1uullHS AiNSh, "hiNh w do
flooded The young woman was helped
to mount and Everett got up behind her.
They rode into the creek, the water al
most covering horse and riders, but they
got safely 20 the other shore. Then
Miss Myers returned for Kissel and he
was taken over. The horse was then
turned back across the creek, the woman
who loaned the animal waiting for it on
the other shore. The three were Grenched
with water and the cold was terrible.
Sina remarked, This is awful but it is
TO save you'ns lives The three then
went on and when they got to the Jones'
Vile road Sina babe them goodbye and
turned back. In parting she said to
Kissell while holding his hand: Soldier,
there are 1000 chances against one for
YOU to get through. If you should be
surrounded and taken prisoner fight as
lore as you have a drop of blood. "
That was the last Kissel saw of Sina
Myers until Sunday.
Kissel and his companion, after many
hardships and privations, got through
20 Knoxville, Tenn, reaching there on