The National tribune., 1904-03-17

Il
have never seen him since that day can't
say with Rbs0fute certainty.
We were marched up Main street half
a dozen backs. "See that brick building
on the c0ther2" said my guard. pointing
4 across the; street. A second-story room
until you are shipped south with the 9th
ers." 9. T.
| l had aegood view of the building from
the opposite corner. 1t was simply a fat
rooted two-story brick; the lower floor
was occupied by notion and dry goods
row, extending back to an alley on the
side street The buildings alongside were
all one-stofy affairs, except the two on the
other end fof the block.
The guard Aas stationed at the foot of
stairway Leading up from the side street.
We were turned over to him, and together
Jones and / in front, assembled the stairs.
He unlocked and opened the heavy door.
Inside, clear to the front OF the long, un-
| obstructed room, were eight men-six
Union officers and two civilians. judged by
! their clothes. They were all playing
cards. l offered to be pleasant and make
their acquaintance. They shifted at my
eards-far less civil than the rebel
guards had been.
! Seeing that our company was not desir-
| ed Plain John Jones and l went to the
rear Of the room. The peer boy had had
/ little sleep since we We're captured. /
pulled off my coat and made him bed.
He was soon sleeping soundly. | picked
up Richmond paper and glanced over it.
Early had burned Chambersburg. and had
| raided Washington. More rebel lies, l
thought. L locked ont through the heavy
| irons that cross-barred the windows facing
| the alley. | could see down the side stree.
| for two blocks, because across the alley
| was a private residence with large yard
| in front People came and went, with
baskets; apparently q market was near;
it was Saturday evening.
| 1t was growing dark; the street lamps
were being lighted heard a clock chime
| the hour of eight. had been thinking
sounded on the stairs. A colered man, ac-
| companied by three guards. entered, with
large tray-our supper.
There was break in the games which
had progressed steadily in the front Of the
| room. / took what food was allowed me
yet sleeping. 1 concluded sleep was bet
| ter than food for him, and let him sleep.
l ate. saving a portion in a newspaper for
] him.
After supper the officers Lit candles,
pulled off their coats, and were at it
i again. The guards looked around, watched
] the games awhile, and retired.
1 looked out of the alley windows: a
| guard passed up and returned; counted
slowly 800 each trip for three trips l
| was determined to escape-had it planned
| TO nicely and was sure.
The long, upholstered side wall was
solid brick, no openings whatever, but it
was only two bricks thick-that was
| easily seen at the alley windows. Midway
Of this side wall | got down on the floor
| and worked like beaver. In half an
hour / had, with my knife, dug out
enough bricks to permit my egress. l was
trembling with excitement and very JOY.
Sticking my head and shoulders out,
saw fortune had favored me in two mat
ters. The roof of the adjoining building
| which ended right there, was not more
than two feet lower than the hole, and the
| lights from the opposite side OF the street
| did not reich me by 10 feet, leaving nearly
| the whole side wall in deep shadow. /
put the bricks back carefully, and arousing
Jones, told him to eat quickly and put the
| balance ia his pockets.
| l strolled np and down the room, with
my coat under my arm. The men were
| more thai ever absorbed in their cards
Heated Disputes were many, but they
smoked and played on. Their coats and
| hats hung IN row on nails in the side
wall Taking one, q long-taied black
| The next trip, / found SLOUGH hat that
| fitted me pretty well, and / took that.
| Jones had abeen. Informed Of my plan
He watched for the guard, while l took
! out the Aricks. - was nov about half
past mined The guard passed up. 1 crept
cut ON the root helped Jones through
Stpre-boxes3 piled on top OF each other in
the yard back of the store; reached nearly
to the roof, and descent to the ground was
| an easy matter. A coalshed and gate
occupied the end OF this lot next the al
| ley: l could see some people in the store:
| light went out, then another--they were
| closing for the night. We entered the
| shed. Jones fell over some coal and made
| fearful racket. A man came out the
back door, and walked toward us. Twas
sure ne had heard the noise, and was
ready to drop him with q piece OF iron
pipe found on the floor, IL he should dis
cover as. He walked to the gate and be-
| gan to fasten It,
Hello. Jackson; is that your It was
Yep: How goes It, Billy%
| Darn me. II didn't think I heard
some one in. your coaished"
mo, it was me. slammed the gate.
an reckon the coal jes' slid down" They
talked for five minutes thought Il an
hour. Jackson went back to the store,
| locked up, and went out by the front door.
The guard went up the alley again. Jones
and | slipped out, unfastened the alley
| gate, and crossed noiselessiy. had
basket on my arm; found it IN the shed
and thought it would be a good thing to
carry. We entered the yard opposite
and started for the front gate A man
/ came out OF the house and sat on the
porch steps. He accosted me. / knew il
would be foolish to run; so tried blur.
Il beg pardon, sir, got in the wrong
place" II may have been q satisfactory
explanation to him, but was doubtful:
| can't say that my speech and pronunc
alton were strictly Southern; In fact II
worried me more the more / thought OF il.
| We walked out through the front gate
and started leisurely south on the side
street, away from the business center. The
basket was a good thing. People were
going home in the direction we were going.
with their baskets and bundles, and we at
tracted no attention. We passed two sol
der patrolmen in FIVE blocks. The houses
were getting farther apart, separated by
vacant lots land open commons. We were
walking faster now, nearing the edge of
town. Jones turned around suddenly, his
keen ears detected hurrying feet less than
two blocks away. Two men were running
fast In our direction. l caught Jones by
| the hand and. ran as fast as / could d.
| agonaily across a common. There was no
alley. jumped picket fence and pulled
I 1870 ILL.,