The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-05-19

IOOr BOY! 80 eager 10 escape ana HUG cream
ing what the morrow would bring forth.
In order for our readers to understand the trag
edy that follows 1t becomes necessary for us to de-
scribe the prison and its rules The commssary and
the tents of the officers were ut he point of the
islands the prisoners tents were about two hundred
yards further up the islands inclosng those tents
were flour barrels representing the deadline Here
you could come but no further, A few steps beyond
this dead-line was cooking stove where cooked
the prisoners two meals each daythat Is, II meals
they could be called. No fire was allowed within
the dead-line. Now, Henry had by some MEANS
come in possession OF a sweet potato, and had OBJ
tanned permission from the lieutenant of the guard
to go to the stove and cook it, lie accordingly went
to the stove and accomplished his purpose, and pass
ing the guard without any thought of danger, when
without any warning, the negro guard raised his
musket and fired the contents entering Henry's
body 1t the sad privilege of the writer to see
the poor fellow weltering in his blood. There lay
the victim in the agonies OF death, the potato
clinched in his hand. His brother soon arrived on
the scene and lifting Henrys head spoke to him in
the most endearing tones. But Henry was too far
gone to recognize the tender voice of his brother
what is the trouble hereH exclaimed the rough
voice of Colonel Van Aston as ne appeared on the
scene.
ut MEANS" cried John, springing to his feet,
that that black cowardy scoun4rel has killed my
brother without any cause-wthout any provocation.
| demand tht lie be arrested and shot for the das-
tardly act"
"You demand! You poor, sneakng, cowardly
one foe less to fight against the flag of the Union.
Remove the carbon"
On hearing this cruel language, John, with
maniacal fury, rushed upon the colonel who coolly
plunged his sword through the body of the vim.
dicitve brother, who fell backward to the ground.
"AllOw me to state, Colonel Aston" said the lieu.
tenant OF the guard coming forward "tha this kill
ing is unjust. had given the youth permission to
90 to .Ae stove and cook his potato The guard had
no right to shoot him. If he considered it his duty
why did he not shoot him when he first crossed the
dead.lineH Why did he wait until his returnH With
oil Difference to you, my superior officer must
S"y s%sy your victim demanded nothing more than
Probably you demand it," answered the colonel
with sneer.
81 am not commander but if were the guard
should be court martialed. / have never heard of n
more cold-booded murder"
Your advice Is not needed, Lieutenant Adkins
but as you are so tenderhearted see that this hot
headed fool Is carried to the hospital see that he
has proper medical attention. II he should die, bury
the two in one grave"
In justice must here state that the negro was
relieved from guard, and we never saw him any more
whether ne was arrested or courtmartialed we can.
not say Very little hope was entertained of John
hudson,s recovery. For many days he lay with a
raging iever' between life and death Then the doc
tor told the colonel that he would get well in BODY
but not in mind
=, viii he never regain his mental powersi" asked
the colonel. 'N'"
:, .hihk hot' his iron constitution withstOod
the raging fever, but think his mind is gone for.
ever" e "
Well" returned Colonel Van 81 don't think he
had much to lose" ~
But notwithstanding the boast of medical science.
John Hudson had outwtted that science, he was moi
demented. His mind never better This mind
mad devised the plan of feigning fermentation. He
had TWO objects in view-one to escape and the
other was to take the life of Colonel Van Aston.
mary hudson received a letter from Ship Island,
written the same day after the murder OF Henry
Hudson 1t was written by a prisoner who was nc.
quainted with the family. He told them of the
tragic death OF Henry, and Of the mortal wound
which John had received He did not ment;on tha
coloners name, but spoke of him as the COMMANDING
ohlcer The letter concluded with these words: az
Is Impossible for your brother John to live he will
uouotless die tonight. cannot promise to write to
you again, for death is in my system. ne diseose
scurvy has affected my bowels-and that means
death-my time is short" And he was correct He
was wa, buried IN the same grave with Henry and the
m mon ha ~