Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-18

nrst, so I laid quiet and breathed heavy.
About midnight I surmised that Powell
was soundly sleeping. I raised myself
slowly to a sitting posture. moving eau
tiously to determine II he would discover
my actions. Taking my clothing, reached
the window and raised Il cautiously. h
moon shone between some clouds iust at
that moment and had Powell awakened 1
would have made an excellent target as I
elambered through the window. Once out
side I escaped for the woods.
! had noticed a road running In a west
erly direction and this / chose, intending
to reach the Blue Ridge, which 1 could fol-
low to Harper's Ferry and friends. l
reached a river, filed with floating Ice.
The wind blew cold from the northwest.
It was Christmas day. 1854. No other
alternative left but to remove my clothing.
l did 50, Eaded into the chilling stream.
battling with the ice to- prevent being car
ried down stream Every bone in my BODY
aehed / became numb and half blind 1
thought that / would perish but finally
was able, half parAyBed, to reach the Cd
posite shore, where I revived myself by
brisk rubbing I dressed and ran as hard
as 1 could 70 starr my blood circulating.
About daylight a group Of horsemen passed
on the road. while I sought concealmant
behind a tree A dense fog prevailed, which
aided me in my tramp across the field and
through woods The weather cleared At
noon and l discovered the Blue Ridge lust
before me- AT the time I was in an open
country.
Terrible Suffering Follows E-capa.
While pondering over my situation four
troopers hove in sight. They discovered
me as quickly as / did Them. I Jumped
over a rail fence and greeted them with a
Good morning." They nodded, then ques-
toned me to ascertain IL there were any
Yanks around, and finally rode away.
strawstaek near by proved a shelter and
bed for me until 8 o'clock in the evening.
A snow storm had set In while I slumbered
and l was cold. stiff and sore in every
muscle. I travelled north to gain the Ridge
and its wooded shelter. Through the snow
storm l travelled, while l saw an occa,
sional preparation for merry Christmas
celebration. I gradually grew weak and
hungry. Seeing a large, well Lighted house.
ABOUT midnight, / urmised that the in.
mates were dancing, and approached the
residence. Seeking out the barn 1 found
shelter there, and the only bed afforded
me was a pile of chaf. When I awoke
my boots were frozen solidly to nv feet
1t was nearly impossible for me to walk.
Upon looking out l saw smoke arisine
from the chimney of one Of the negroes.
shanties. l had hoped for this. an.
preached 1t and raped upon the dor. II
was opened by a big negro woman. With
teeth chattering / pleaded for admittance
and warmth. l sat before the big log fire
on the hearth and actually burned those
Doots' l was closely questioned by the
negress' when l requested food, and with
much doubt, was served with a scauty re.
past. She told me when she handed me
the food to set out for the woods. as there
were soldiers in the house. 1 obeyed.
Last Stage of the Journey.
About two hours later met a mounted
rebel oficer In the woods. After searching
me l was permitted to resume my tourney
MY rect, feverish and sore, made walking
almost impossible. / was sick at heart
and about to approach a house and throw |
myself upon the mercy Of the occupants in
my appeal for aid, when looked down
from the brow OF a hill and there. wavipe
IN the sun, was Old Glory, near Harper's
Ferry huttering over Bolivar Heights. So
near friends l was instilled with new
Vlgor, ana once more buried myself in the
security Oh the woods Dizziness often
he' ouI 4 Vallantly pushed for. l
ward Darkness soon came with the twi-
light. Under the cover of it I continued
IN my hight, until about 10 o'clock. when 7
neard the long expected challenge of our
picket out in Lewray valley. was taken 10
the picket's tent, where my boots were emf
rom my feet. An ambulance from Harper's
Ferry removed me to the hospital, where I
was a patient for three months before NV
returned and my feet were cured.
Fhis is the true story, as Colonel Mosbv
who visits our state occasionally these
lays must acknowledge; at least so much
1t as came to his notice.
Lewis Powell. alias Payne, when on trial
Tor his life in Washington, brought the old
couple, Mr.. and Mrs. Grant. from War.
and they testified that ON Decemhor
%. 1864 Powell saved the lives of two
Union prisoners in front OF their house.
recognized his picture, after the assassina-
lion OF President Lincoln, in the illus
Lrated papers. In his last statement he
related the passages here mentioned IN his
career. which vouches for the truth and
Veraeity of my story. A. LOCKNER
Company H.. 21st N. Y. Cavalry.