The National tribune., 1905-11-16

War Records. Just what the circum-
stance OF his capture was I never drew
from him, for could never gain any
| thing like his full confidence, as he was
too shrewd to extend confidence to any
stranger, whether q real or pretended
friend. He was kept constantly hand
cuffed, and shortly after / knew him a
court-martial was called on his case,
and he would be taken down stairs and
away from the prison, for a period of
each day, for several days.
One afternoon when he came back I
had gone to the partition to try to- talk
with him, when he approached me and
said: well, I think the court will con-
vict me and / shall be sentenced to
hang, but BY will dance on the
graves Of tho rebels yet" His face
was flushed and the fire in his eye spoke
plainly how desperate chance any one
OF his captors would have who stood
in his way on equal terms in conflict.
expressed the deepest regret, and for
the first time he seemed to give way to
| sentiment that / was what seemed
a real friend-and he chatted pleasantly
till l ventured to ask what his real Of
tense was. That ended 1t, and he
| threw himself back on the cot In the
corner and relapsed into silence.
Next morning Caphart, the chief
detective, and several officers in uni
form came up and gathered about him
to read the findings Of the court-mar-
tial and the sentence that he be hanged
He received the sentence with perfect
composure, but when Caphart pro-
duced set Of shackles for his ankles
and proceeded to clasp them on him.
his demeanor changed. and he raved
like mailman. He said that for weeks
| they had kept him handcuffed, and now,
standing I'm the shadow OF the gallows,
a man who never committed q crime
against the laws of his country was
treated as II the whole-Confedera
| was afraid of him. Before such al,
outburst Of wild rage the court with
drew, and Webster sat In a reverie upon
his couch. For hours he remained
silent and brooding. Toward night a
rebel Major, named Darlington, who
seemed to have some connection with
either the prison or with the safe-keep-
ing or Webster, came up and talked
with him. was not near enough to
whether 1t was of an irritating character
or whether the sight of the officer irri-
| tated the condemned man none of us
knew, but suddenly Webster sprang to
his feet, and hopping with his shackled
limbs toward the officer, he raised his
with a terrible oath declared he would
brain him right there and then The
| Major retreated behind the sentry, who
| came to the rescue, else in my opinion,
and In the opinion Of all who witnessed
1t, Webster would actually have beaten
out the brains OF his foe before he could
have drawn his weapon, using there
for the irons that bound him. Beside
himself with rage, Webster rayed like
demon, and declared he would not
die until he had danced on the grave
OF his enemy. Later, he told me the
officer tainted him on his impending
fate and made insulting remarks re-
fecting on his honor. Whatever the
cause, he was irritated to a degree that
In this instance partook almost Of the
insane. When the paroxysm was over
he settled down In q partial coIlapse.
and when / went to look at him next
morning his livid face and labored
breathing indicated the presence Of the
fever that consumed him. So far as /
know he did not open his eyes that day
nor did he partake OF food Of any kind
for three days.
| Webster Attempts to Escape.
| One morning as made my round /
FOUND him breathing peacefully as an
| infant, and the deadly pallor OF his face
indicated that his fever had abated. hut
f<hat its consuming fire had left him in
| state OF great exhaustion. He Law
with closed eyes and partook Of no food.
but, however feeble he appeared. the
| rebels relaxed no 1.-THE Of Watchfulness
over him nor released him from his
letters. It was whispered about that
the man was known to be able to rid
himself OF handouts and shackles IL
not watched, and as q proper precau.
ton detective was stationed in an adj
Joining cell during the night and the
Behtry must call him at every watch az
two hours to come out and examine
] Wsbstsr'e irons. $3.50 -