West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-03-09

hand. We tried to get them to let
us take the poles OF our shelter, but
they would not let us take a stick.
So you see we we're in a worse FIX
than ever. We gathered up what
traps we had and started over there
reluctantly. When We got there We
laid them down and set down by
them with sad hearts and began to
study what to do. We could see
no possible chance for a shelter,
and We would lay down on the cold
damp ground, as close together as
we could, and cover ourselves with
the blanket. In the morning we
would be so chilled that we would
have to crawl round on our hands
and knees awhile, and rub our
limbs before We could walk. One
morning l told the boys there was
just one Of two things we had to
dove had to fix some place to
shelter US from the storm, or inside
OF two weeks every one of us would
be carried out TO the dead house.
The boys were very much discour-
aged-more so than had seen them
since we were captured. Twas re-
solved to make an effort, so l began
to look around. noticed a bank
close to me aud / seen there was
very fine clay. in il. thought to
myself that IL ] had it made into
stiff mortar / could build us a place
to stay in out of It. started around
among the boys to see what could
borrow. | got board of one of
the boys about a foot wide and
three feet long. also looked
around and |. borrowed a pick. /
told the boys what my intentions
we're. told them / wanted them
to dig that clay and mix It into
stiff mortar, and l would work II
into brick on this board and build
us house. They said it coul d not
be done, and they wasn't going to
bother with it. But after a long
persuasion l got them at it. They
went to work and dug some Of the
clay but they had nothing to mix it
with but the pick, and nothing 20
carry water in but quart can, so
you see it was a tedious Job. /
went 10 work and laid off a piece
of ground just big enough for us
three to lay on, and when they got
some mortar mixed I.took bali of
II about the size of a brick and
beat it on the board until got it
into the shape Of brick, and then
started my wall. We worked at
it faithfully for three days and at
that time we had il two foot high
clear around the whole thing. Then
we got two stakes and drove them
down in the center and put a pole
on them and stretched our blanket
over the whole thing, so that the
edge of the blanket would just COW
er the wall. also made brick and
built chimney In the front end to
have our FIRE in. left a hole be-
side the chimney to crawl in and
out. made brick and shut the
gables up tight and when it got
dried out it made very comfort
able place for us to stay in.
The prisoners in Florence suffered
wonderful for wood, although there
was a dense forest on three sides Of
the stockade. We three would only
get one small armfu1 of wood for
the twenty-four hours. A great
many IN there perished with the
cold. Some would walk up and
down through the camp all night to
keep from freezing. The boys
would dig out al the stumps and
1 roots they could find for wood.
The swamp that spoke Of vas Gov
cred with big pine stUmps when we
went in aud wnen came out doa't
thiEk there was a stump on il.
They had all been tunneled out for
wood. There we're a few old axes
in the camp and would borrow one
about an hour each day, and
would 90 in there and stand in the
slough and water up to my knees
and chop roots out and have one OF
the boys TO carry them to the shan.
~. We made no other calculations
only that we we're in there for the
winter. I never saw Il spit snow
while / was In there. When IL would
commence to rain 1t would most
always ram for about three days
The wind would blow out Of the
north and Il would get very cold
and chilly. Il would freeze ice ovei
The standing ponds Of water abou
as thick as a window glass. DurinJ
the rainy spells the men would di,
of as fast again as they would ir