The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-20
BISHOP M'CABE'S TALk.
Delivers His Lecture on Libby Prison,
IN Topeka

IN Topeka
It was of the bright side of life in
Libby prison at Richmond, va, that
/ Bishop G. c. McCabe talked IN ms
Auditorium last night to a large gather
! ing of sympathetic listeners. On hrs
either hand were assembled the Few re-
naming men who had been prisoners OF
war between 1851 and 1865 whose homes
are in Topeka or Shawnee county. They
were the most appreciative of the speak
| er's audience. But to the most ignorant
of the listeners to this chapter OF the
history of the Civil war Bishop Nc
Cabe's tales carried the deepest In
| terest.
He did not tell of many of the unhap-
by things that occurred within the walls
| of that miserable military prison. He
| had chosen to tell of the happier occur
FENCES and the pastimes which whiled
the dreary hours But there was
pathos in every narrative for much of
! the joy that rose among those prisoners
was forced and held to keep away the
misery of their condition. Beginning
with his unexpected incarceration at
Richmond Bishop McCabe gave a cur
sorry review of the scenes of the prison
until his departure near the end OF the
| war.
Department Commander A. w. Smith
of the Grand Army of Kansas intro
| duced Bishop McCabe. The speaker
stepped to the piano and, accompanying
| himself. sung the words of the FAMILIAR
war song. .sOld Abe 1t had been d
/ song III WHICH the voices OF the prison.
ers of Libby daily Joined and they
sometimes sung it to great audiences of
! Richmond people gathered to hear. The
| Modoc club then gave a selection to
| which the audience gave its approval.
| Then in a brief review of his military
| experiences during the earlier part or
| his service as an army chaplain, DR..
| McCabe led up to his capture at Win
| chester and his removal to Richmond.
He had been a chaplain in the 1920
/ Ohio infantry. After the engagement
| at Winchester. the scene of the Famous
| Sheridan's ride, Chaplain McCabe had
care for the wounded and to bury the
| dead. 1t was while thus engaged that
he and his associates were captured.
The non-combatant surgeons and
| chaplains protested that they were need
ed the battle field. a plea that had
once served when taken before General
John B. Gordon. but the commander
! said:
You have been shouting, ON TO
| Richmond. On to Richmond ever since
| the war opened, and now I'm going to
send you 'on to Richmond to see how
you like it, And he kept his word.
! They were taken the $50 miles to the
| Confederate capital and were admitted
| within the prison walls; they entered
| their names in the register of the Lib
4 by Prison hotel,' and stood before the
| guards to be searched. Eighty dollars
| which the men of his regiment had
on to mothers and wives. was taken
from him. When he was liberated he
was repaid-in Confederate money. The
| ratio then stood seven to one so he re-
ceived an armful of Shin plasters,
over $780, But some of the prisoners
succeeded in getting through with their
money and afterward devoted it to the
| common comfort of their fellows, or in
effecting their own escape.
One day rebel officer inquired for
McCabe The rebel had gone to school
4 to his mother, up NORTH when BOY
/ He wanted to do something for his COM
fort, for the sake of old recollectlons-
! McCabe wanted a bath tub and event.
! ually three were installed for the use
| of the 500 prisoners. McCabe also want
ed a copy of Buffers Analogy. winch
the Confederate officer secured for him.
| This acquisition set taste for BOOKS
/ among the prisoners. They made up
list of hundreds of books they wanted
/ and asked for them. The Confederate
did not have the money to get them but
the prisoners who were daily famlshed
for food of decent quality made up
subscription of $500 which went for
| hooks There were classes in French.
German, Latin, Spanish and law. There
| were 40 lawyers in the prison. In these
| ola sses many men laid the foundation
for subsequent professional usefulness
besides Willing away many weary
hours.
There were daily concerts and
preaching and lectures Neal Dow, a
Federal general from Maine was incar-
lcerated. He introduced himself with
lecture on intemperance although not
a drop of whisky had found it's way
within the prison walls for months.
The Richmond newsoa DerS printed
stories about his lecture and about
him His fame spread throughout the
South and shortly he was released on
parole to conduct a temperance cam
paign in Georgia. He went, taking his