Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-04-19

the outside and four feet lower than
the top Of the stockade there was a
platform on which guards walked every
ten PAGES. Inside the stockade and
fifteen feet away there was a little
ditch known as 'the dead line" which
prisoners could not cross under pain
of death. This line was indicated at
night by rows of dim lamps. These
lamps were being lit while 1 talked
with Walker. The chances of escape
were practically nil, and with that ball
and chain attached any attempt meant
death from the guards, yet 1 could not
help saying:
IF you must die, Walker, go right
up to the dead Line, and fall under the
rifles Of the home granddaughter that
than to be led out and shot down like
dog"
II can slip the ball and chain off,
said Walker, and he demonstrated that
this could be done by removing his boot
and stocking; then he Strengthened out
his long foot, and with a slight effort
freed himself from the ring.
with the help of yourself and other
friends he went on to say, II believe
I can get over the stockade and make
my escape, though there is a veteran
brigade in camp about the place"
Near where we sat there was
stretcher, the body and handles Of
which were about ten feet in length. A
belt fastened across the ends would
make a step or resting place fully
eight feet from the ground, Ii the
stretcher were set on end. Walker, as
has been said, was very tall man,
and without interference he could
reach the top Of the stockade and drop
to the other side. But there were the
lights on the dead line, and the watch
full and ubiquitous guards. Walker
went on to say that the guards were
old men and boys, home guards, and
easily demoralized.
If he continued, you could get a
dozen or so of our friends to load up
on these bricks and at a given signal
heave them at the guards off there to
the east, the men from the south side
would think the prisoners were trying
to break through there, and they would
run from their posts and leave me
clear track for long enough to get over,
At the worst I can only be shot max
ing a break for liberty. Will you
help?"
l gave Walker my hand In proof Of
h11+ hN nd
l who spoke of the danger to the other
prisoners from the wild firing Of the
guards Great though the danger was,
every man with whom I spoke about
the venture was willing to risk being
shot to help Walker.
After 10 o'clock the guards called out
the half hours and the number Of their
posts. When the man at post No. 10
announced - o'clock, the men with the
bricks were to attack with vigor, and
Walker was to rush with the stretcher
for the southern wall. AS the hour ap-
preached the men with the bricks
crawled as close to the dead line as was
safe. The night was very dark with a
cold, driving rain from the northwest.
About five minutes before the signal,
which was to come from the enemy,
Walker crept to my side, clasped me in
his arms and whispered:
God bless you, old fellow! Another
hour and I'll be a free man or dead
one"
In the indistinct light from the dead
line l saw the tall form bending over
the stretcher. The minutes were cruel
ly long to Walkers friends; what must
they have been to him? At length the
cry began.
Twelve O'Clock! Post No. 1; and
all is WE'LL"
The men with the bricks sat there,
and their breathing came hard.
Twelve o'clock Post No. 10; and
alPs WE'LL"
The last word had not died on the
lips of the guard, when thirty men
leaped from the ground, and the fusi-
lade began. I threw one brick in a
wild way, then turned to watch Wal
ker.
With a rapidity that cannot be de-
scribed, he dashed over the dead line
to the south, from which, as he fore
saw, the guards had fled. In an in
slant the stretcher was against the
stockade, and Walker had seized the
top. 1 saw his face for a moment as,
with a mighty bound, he swung him
self over There was firing into the
prison pen, and firing into the camp
outside, through which the fugitive
fed. Then far off we heard a yell Of
triumph. 1t was Walkers signal to us
that he had cleared the camp. AL
though forty shots were fired into the
prison pen. slight wound to Captain
Singer, Of the 33d Ohio, was the only
damage done.
The Confederate officials made an ex-
animation at once. They discovered
that Walker was gone, but they could
not learn who heaved them bricks
The last time l saw Walker was In the
poro6o of ChermaO'S mon In TUoSbiDo