davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-02
s.. Paul Men Who Suffered IN Rebel Prisons.


There is always an element of sadness
noticeable in every gathering of old sol
diers, and especially in this late day
when the ranks are so greatly depleted
Every year the procession on Memorial
day grows smaller because so many OF
the veterans have answered the last roll
call and have passed to the reward of
those who bravely and heroically de-
Tended their country and their homes.
Even those who are permitted to remain
on earth and pay honor to their dead
comrades walk with a slower and feebler
step than they did when, nearly half
a century ago. they carried arms and
freedom into the South.
At a meeting, such as the annual
reunion of the eX-prisoners of war, WHICH
will be held in Minneapolis next Wednes-
dav the element of pathos is greater
even than it is at the usual meetings
of the old veterans, for the ranks of the
eX-prisoners have suffered a greater
proportionate reduction than the other
branches of the old soldiers associations.
Many of the men were wounded or i'll
when captured, and if they were able
to Withstand the rigorous life ir rebel
nriSon. thav left with health greatly
shattered that they were not able to sur
Vive forty Years of life. Many of those
who were in good physical condition
when captured left the prison in Il
broken down state of health and have
succumbed to their ills years ago. Those
who have survived are few, and the or,
binary ravages of time and disease ara
constantly removing them to another
land.
The Minnesota Association of Union
Prisoners of War is the only Organi-
cation OF its kind in the state, and is
a branch of the national organization
which has societies in almost every state
in the Union. It was organized many
years ago for the purpose of forming
q means by which the old soldiers who
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-02
JOHN GUNTHER.

''Well, my boy, you have bad arm; I
will have to come around tomorrow morn
ing and amputate it, I understood
enough of my situation to know that am
putatiCn was my only salvation, and
thanked him. He came with an assistant
the next morning. They laid me on a
table, and as they administered ether /
thought of home and my mother [ did
not believe that l had strength enough
to rally from the operation, and so babe
gOod-by to earth, breathing a prayer to
God to receive my spirit. | was mistaken,
for in due time recovered consciousness,
and never have l ielt so much relief. That
terrible burning pain had disappeared,
sharp, but not very weakening, pain of
the cut. 1 was put back on the cot, and
from that time began to sleep. L slept
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-02

pose of locating that little wicked piece
of lead. They operated for some time,
ewing me a good deal of pain, without
removing the bullet Dr. Meyer, my reg
mental surgeon, informed me that the
bullet would work out when the wound
suppurated. But he was mistaken. 1T
did not come not. The rebels marched
all our men away, 1 think the same day,
except a few slightly wounded ones, who
were left behind to nurse the badly
wounded, and all went away except a
nor HOSPITAL steward of our army or their
own The only scare my wound received
for thirty-two long days was washing
with water and bandaging by an mex
perienced man. Within twenty-four
hours Inflammation set in and with it.
as you may readily imagine, an intense
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-02
C. J. HUMASON.

months weary waiting, and shortly aft
erward returned to his home in the
North, having been a prisoner Of the
enemy over tWenty-siX months, or from
Dec. 26, 1862 until March 4, 1865.
G. n. Lamphere's Experiences.
George N. Lamphere. private, Com
pany B, Sixteenth Connecticut, now sec
rotary soldiers home board and COM
mander of the Minnesota Association
Union eX-Prisoners Of War, was captur-
ed at Plymouth, n. c., April 20, 1864. lie
tells of his prison experience as follows:
My active service ceased with the cap
ture of Plymouth by the enemy, but I
was fated to undergo an experience many
times more trying and dangerous. \
mimic ball was lodged in my elbow. The
surgeon of my regiment, assisted by
two of the enemy's surgeons. operated
on my wound on the day of the surren-
der. The first thing that was done by
the surgeon was TO insert his forefnger
in the hole that the bullet had made
and explore around therein with the pur-
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-02

burning pain. I This never once let up
until my arm was amputated, on the ga
of May at Raleigh. AS the Inflammation
extended upward modification COM
menced and followed in It's wake, and
when the remedy of amputation was final
ly resorted to, which was undoubtedly
delayed because there was no one at
hand capable of saving my arm off, was
black from above the elbow doWnWards
and it was necessary to cut the arm off
within five inches of the shoulder in or
der to get sound flesh and skin to lap
with. BY this bime, with insufficient and
improper food and nOurishment. and the
waste of never-ceasing pain, which pre-
vented rest and sleep, l had become re-
duced to a skeleton, and was so weak
that when 1 was lifted to a sitting posi-
ton, 1 would faint. After we had laid
there at Plymouth about thirty days, the
rebels put US on a barge and lowed us to
Weldon, where we were transferred to
railroad train and carried to Raleigh,
where they had a hospital and surgeons.
We arrived there on the 21st day of
May. 1t is easy to believe me when
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-02

toned on the gulf. Fer several days he
wandered on, lodging the habitations of
man as much as possible in a vain en-
deavor to reach the friendly forces which
he knew were on the gulf. After weeks
of hiding and skulking he reached lie
gulf, only to meet a rebel guard and
once more to be captured.
Perhaps the most bitter part of his
experience while trying to escape was
to learn that while he was wandering
around in the swamps and timber south
of Jackson that the prisoners who were
confined in prison at that place had been
exchanged and permitted to return to
their homes in the North. The fact that
he had missed this opportunity while try
ing to effect his own escape proved a
bitter pang to him when he was recap
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-02

of the state and at one time colonel of
the Third Minnesota regiment which sur
rendered at Murfreesborough, tells Of the
experience of a commissioned officer in
rebel prisons The following is taken
from a paper prepared and read by Gen.
Andrews before the Minnesota Com
mandery of the Military Order of the Lee
gion of Honor:
The second day after leaving Knoxville
and when about a hundred miles south
east of Atlanta, the train pulled up; and
from various indications it seemed we
had reached our destination. l think it
was a little after noon. The weather
was clear but intensely hot and depreSs-
ing. On the left side of the railroad and
quite near, was a large three-story brick
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-02
PETER DAILY.

confined there for three and a half
months and then taken to Salisbury N.
c. He remained in the Salisbury prison
just one year, when he was removed TO
Wilmington. He was confined in the pris-
on at Wilmington, when Gen. Butler at
tackled the Rebels at Fort Fisher While
the fort was nearly twenty miles from
the prison, yet the sound of the cannon
aiding could plainly be heard ana the
scow-load of gunpowder which was ex-
ploded near the shore shook the walls
of the building used for combining pris-
oners, so that lit seemed as though the
ceiling would fall on our heads
After being kept in Wilmington one
month he was removed to Florence, S.
C., where he was paroled after one
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-02

Of railroad service. We were put in an
old wooden shed in the rear of the
Columbus city Jail, the main structure
being occupied principally by naval Of
ficers captured at Charleston. Here we
remained until October. 1 do not remem-
Der the day of the month, when some of
US, that is, cripplcs and the sick. were
started in box cars for Richmond to be
paroied. While we rejoiced greatly to
leave Columbia, that journey to Rich
mend was one of terrible torment.
We were, L think, six days on the road,
and so many men Were packed in car,
which was guarded by two soldiers with
fixed bayonets, that by no possibility of
arrar cement could we for one moment
stretch our bodies out at length on the
car floor. The result was excruciating
pains in the knees. On arrival at Rich
mnnd we were confined in Libby prison,
awaiting the parole boat. In about two
weeks the welcome opening of the door
for US arrived, we marched to the boat
and in due time arrived at City Point.
c. c. Andrews Tells His story.
Gen. C. c. Andrews, chief fire warden
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-02

tured and confined in the military prison
in Mobile, Ala.
He was kept in Mobile but one month,
and in company with group of Rebel
deserters was sent north to Richmond,
Va. When they reached the Rebel capital
he was not confined in the regular war
prison, but was left at Castle Thunder,
He remained there for over four months
trying vainly to obtain his freedom, as
ne was not a military man, but a civ
lIlan. He eXerted every influence he could
command to aid in securing his release.
but all to no avail. Then he learned that
he was held because he was suspected OF
being spy. When this fact was made
known to him he realized that it was
hopeless task TO secure a release, and
that he must either escape or abide the
pleasure Of the Confederate government.
He was removed to Libby prison ana
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-02

had suffered together in prisons and be,
cause Of that suffering and atfliction
We're bound more closely than are those
who fought side by side; might have
formal tie which should keep them as,
ISOLATED in the after years of their lives
The present association numbers about
125 men, scattered all over the state
Maj. George II. Lamphere, secretary of
the soldiers home board, is the com
mander, and Capt. Charles w. Fisher,
Of the adiutant generals Office, is adj
jUtant and quartermaster
Twenty-FOur in st. Paul.
The association has twenty-four MEM
bers in st. Paul. Many Of these men
are among the most prominent citizens
Of the city, but all of them are entitled
to honor and recognition by the people,
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-02
DAVID KRIBS.

If for no other reason, simply because
they are members Of an association which
Jestilies that they have been confined
in a C0nferedate prison.
Some of these men have interesting ex-
periences TO tell Of the times when they
were prisoners, while the experiences of
many of them are similar to the usual
story of all men who have been SO I'M
fortunate as to have been captured by
the rebels. All Of them suffered in an
untold degree and their observation on
prison life is but the retelling Of the
stories printed in any history of Ander-
sonviile. Libby or any of the Southern
prisons.
Frank B. Doran, formerly mayor Of ST.
Paul has The distinction. If it may be
called a distinction. of having been g
prisoner Of war longer than ANY man in
the United States. Twenty six months is
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-02

building, surrounded with an unpainted
board fence about twelve feet high Ev-
cry window was full of Union prisoners,
who greeted US with various loud, good
humored expressions. The scene. how
ever, was anything but pleasant, yet in
obedience to orders We alighted and were
soon inside the prison yard, which was
about an acre in extent. We had ar
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-02

bread was made was apparently Of good
quality; but i'll was baked in spiders M
thin TOund cakes about three-Quarters Of
an inch thick, and 50 hastily as TO De
little better than 50 much dough The
beef was boiled but a very short tImC,
and being served without salt or other
seasoning was not particularly apDetiz-
ing.
A little -four was stirred into the water
in which it was boiled, and that without
being sailed, was served as soup. The
fresh meat was usually cooked Son
after the animal had been slaughtered
and the natural animal or slaughter
house taste or odOr was strong both in
meat and soup. In respect to the bacon,
much that was Of a lively character.
However, the most palatable food which
| found was a sandwich made with u bit
of cold corn bread and a thin slice Of
fat bacon. / used to save portion Of
corn bread and bacon to make such
sandwich to eat early In the morning.
with my Shakspere open before me, and
seated with scores of fellow prisoners on
a narrow bank Of earth in the shade Ut
the high prison fence.
DeIicncies of Prison Mess.
The mess to which belonged uumbrr-
ed about eight. There was a small table
around which we stood to eat. Out
plates and water cups were Of tin and
we took turns in washing the dishes
and putting things to rights During the
last weeks we were there We had at
our own expense, the luxury Of sweet
potato coffee. 1t was found that sW 5er
potatoes sliced and roasted the same as
coffee, would when boiled, make a bev-
erage having the color and sometime. OF
the taste Of coffee. Not a few OF the
prisoners. and especially those on the
third floor were well supplied with
money, and purchased their meals from
private houses in the vicinity at the eX-
pense sometimes of 81 a day per person.
Baskets Of fried chickens. hot rolls and
other luxIlries fresh and sdVOrV thus
prepared to order, We're carried through
our room daily. Many watermelons and
peaches were purchased and cOnSum d
in the prison.
Trip in a Cattle Train.
We We're sent from Madison to Rich
mond in order to complete the arrange
ments for our parole. The trip was made
to Columbia, S. c., in cattle cars the
Continued nm 1r=EIr.sf PIC
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-02

1 say that the iolting of travel increased
my pain very much and when I arrived
at Raleigh l was in state bordering on
final collapse. The hospital was in the
old fair buildings at Raleigh. Those who
have seen Union army hospitals, with
their comfortable quarters, clean beds
and linen and sumptuous fare, should
not for a moment suppose that this So
called hospital at Raleigh bore any re-
semblance thereto.
Equipment of Poorest Kind.
The only equipment of it was rough
cots with coarse ticks stuffed with straw
and a cheap blanket for covering, table
or two, a few rough chairs, and a room
where the surgeons kept their meager
supplies. The building was like a barn,
with bare floors and was set up on posts
probably three or three and one-haIf
feet from the ground. On the evening OF
our arrival a rebel surgeon named Hey
wood, kindly faced and pleasant spoken
man Qor I shall always remember him
with gratitude), came in and examined
the new arrivals. When he came to my
cot, after looking at my arm, he said:
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-02

Continued on Twenty-First PAGE.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-02
Mn in a Cattle Trnin.

We We're sent from Madison to Rich
mond in order to complete the arrange
ments for our parole. The trip was made
to Columbia, S. c., in cattle cars, the
Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1901-190?, 1902-04-11
y" E0"

that he carries a full line of postage
stamps and postal cards, that his di-
rectory is always at the service of the
public, and that, incidentally, he COM
pounds prescriptions carefully.
One enterprising druggist on the
North Side has introduced novel fea-
ture in his postage stamp business.
He keeps the stamps in compartments
which have been favored in various
ways. and when customer asks for
stamp he inquiries: What flavor will
you have: lemon. vanilla. wintergreen
or peppermint" The customer usual
ly looks mystified, but soon discovers
that the stamps are really favored,
and the druggist thinks he has hit
upon way to retain his stamp busi-
ness.
Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1901-190?, 1902-04-11

eral times, but not with enough force
to pull it down. After 160 seconds of
such activity, it happened to claw the
loop hard enough, and so escaped.
After it had eaten the food outside it
was put into the box again. There
was a repetition of the same activities,
but the successful movement came this
time in thirty seconds. On the next
trial, general activity for ninety sec
onds was required before the kitten
escaped. With repeated trials the as
sociation between the interior of the
box and the act of clawing at the loop
became fixed. so that finally the kitten
would do it in a few secOnds-that is,
as1soon as put into the box This
progress is shown in the times taken
in the different trials. They were 100,
80, 80, co. 10, 2S, 20, &c. %, II, Is, 20,
II, 10, IA, 10. s, 8, 5. 10. s. sc, and Z
seconds.-Prof E. l.. Thorndike in In
ternational Monthly.
Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1901-190?, 1902-04-11

In a modest house on South State
street Syracuse. n. V. lives an aged
widow. who was born within sight of
the windows of Kensington palace, ON
the same day and almost at the same
hour that Queen Victoria first saw the
light She is Mrs. Charlotte Pddgham,
and by her survival of England's
queen her lifelong wish has been graft
ihed
Mrs. Padgham's maiden name was
Charlotte Carpenter. and she was born
in the parish Of st. Margaret's. West
Minister May "A. 1919. Her father was
a well-to-do farmer According TO
English law all births are required TO
be recorded i'm the parish register.
whether the children De the highest in
the land or the luwliest The Duke
and Duchess OF Kent followed this GUS
tom and Princess Nictorias name was
inscribed, and directly after was placed
the signature OF the humble farmer,
Carpenter announcing the birth of u
daughter Charlotte.
drs Padgham recalls many interest
Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1901-190?, 1902-04-11
BIRDS FROZEN TO DEATH.
Remarkable Case of Mudhens That
Became Embedded in lee.

Became Embedded in Ice.
A very singular incident was noted
in the neighborhood of Loomis Wash,
as a result of the recent and sud
den cold snap. Some four miles above
Eoomis is a large beautiful mountain
lake and among the native fowl that
collect on the lake are many mudhens,
a homely and useless member of the
web-foot family so common all over
the country as to be well-known 70
every sportsman. The nature of the
bird when flusned is to fly, or flop
along the surface of the water.
For the first time that it has even
been noticed the mudhens have re-
mained upon the lake this late in the
season. Last week the cold weather
was inaugurated with stiff and bit
ter gale. churning the lake into many
waves. AS the birds flew along the
surface striking the water the ice
formed upon them so rapidly that they
lost the power of locomotion and 200
or 300 them were caught in the rapidly
forming ice and frozen to death. This
may not be an uncommon circum-
stance. says Loomis special to the
Seattle Times, but it is the first time
it has ever been seen by the residents
of this locality.
Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1901-190?, 1902-04-11
BOER IN A BOX.
Attempted Escape of Prisoner of
War from st. Helena.

war from 81. Helena.
A most remarkable story has been
furnished to an Express representative
by the second officer of the r. Nj. 5.
Goth, which has just arrived from the
Cape.
On the Goth's arrival on Christmas
morning at Ascension island, on the
homeward voyage, a Boer command
ant was discovered on board in a large
wooden case forming part of the cargo,
The Consignment" had been receiv-
ed on board the st. Helena. and ship
ped as a box of Boer curios for Eng
land. The measurements of the case
were: Length, feet. inches;
breadth, 2 feet inches and height, 2
feet.
When the box was opened the con-
tents proved to be live Boer COM
mandant, who gave his name as
Smonerburg, and owned that he was
a prisoner of war on parole.
Standing over six feet in height, he
was helped out of his cramped room
in a weak and exhausted state. He
had there been cribbed, cabined and
confined for five days.
Enough food was stored to last him
for his voyage to England, but in be-
ing slowed away in the hold his water
bottles had been broken.
He was eventually landed at Ascen-
sion under an escort, to await reship-
ping on a man-ofwar for st. Helena,
where he will join his brother Beers in
captivity.
The box in which the prisoner was
found was a most clever contrivanee,
apparently of Boer carpentership. with
sliding panels. 1t contained clothing,
biscuis, potted meats, books and a
candle and matches.
Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1901-190?, 1902-04-11
QUAINT SAYINGS OF A JUDGE.
Some Philosophical Comments Made b,
n British ,JurIst

n British JurIst.
Judge Bacon, who presides in the
London (England) county court, is one
of the wits of the English judiciary.
He has to deal with all races and all
classes, and has become famous for
terse decisions and quaint sayings.
Here are some of the utterances that
he recently delivered from the bench:
On the veracity of woman-"Women
tell stories so much more easily than
men"
Concerning interpreters People
who translate a language they do not
understand into one they know less"
When the evidence was contradic
tory-"There is nothing astonishing in
perjury. 1t has long ceased to sur
prise me; it only saddens me now"
About money lenders-"My own inn
preston is that the lender is about as
honest as the borrower. AS a rule
there is no misrepresentation that a
man will not make when he wishes to
borrow money. and when he does not
want to pay it back he will repeat the
operation"
To a defendant who declared she
couldn't stay there and listen to such
lies"-"Think of me; l have to listen
to them every day of my life
A woman pleaded inability to pay a
debt on account of illness Four doc
tors had attended her-Judge Bacon:
-Four doctors! And you have sur
vlved? Wonderful"
Suggested by solicitors unde-
cipherable signature-It must have
take him a good deal of time and
trouble to hit upon such a signature
as that, with dots and scrawls all over
the place. suppose he considers IL
legibility sign of intellect"
At Whitechapel county court-"The
morality of the Hebrew ought to be
as high as that of the Christian. 1t
is derived from the same source, and
the rabbis ineulcate a standard of just
dealing of the purest and highest char
acter"
Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1901-190?, 1902-04-11
Sweden's Population.

In 1900 Sweden had population OF
.,350,0 600 and at the present time, in
spite Of the large emigration which
has given 100000 people to the Unit
ed States, the population is 5,15O0 900
The kingdom has progressed along
with the other European states. In
the cities of Sweden in 1900 there were
100000 people and now there are ,1O0,-
600. Stockholm in 1900 had a popula-
tion of $4,000. Now 1t has 10000;
Gothenburg had 1900 and now has
10000 The death rate has consider
ably declined during the last century
The figures indicate a falling off from
26 per 1000 to 16 per 1000. People
live better, enjoy more comforts, have
better educational advantages, and
get more out of life than they did 100
years ago The consumption of wheat
and rye and their fiours has risen from
80 kilos (l60 pounds) to 175 kilos 1850
pounds) per nhabitant-Charles San.
ders, in Chicago Record.