Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1908-08-07

luC OutS1u0 anu 4OuT 10SI lONSl imam
the top of the stockade there was 4
platform on which guards walked every
ten PAGES Inside the stockade and
fifteen feet away there was a little
ditch known as 1.-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 l talked with
Walker. The chances for escape were
practically nil, and with that ball and
death from the guards, yet l could not
help saying:
IF you must die, Walker, go right up
TO the dead line, and fall under the
rifles of the Home Guards better that
than to be led out and shot down like
dog"
Il 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, Il believe
| can get over the stockade, and make
my escape, though there is veteran
brigade in camp about the place"
Near where we sat there was a
stretcher, the body and handles OF
which were about ten feet long. A belt
fastened across the ends would make
a step or resting place fully eight feet
from the ground, if the stretcher were
set on end Walker, as has been said,
was very tall man, and, without inter
ference, 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 watchful 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 with 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 making break for liberty.
VIII you help?" / gave Walker my
hand in proof Of my willingness, but it
was he, and not I, 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 l spoke about the venture was
willing to risk being shot in order to
help Walker
After 8 o'clock the guards called out
the half hours and the number Of their
posts. When the man at Post No. 10
announced II 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 q
cold, driving rain from the northeast.
About five minutes before the signal
which was to come from the enemy,
Walker crept to my side, elasped me in
his arms and whispered:
"God bless you, old fellow. Another
hour and I'll be free man or a dead
one"
In the indistinct light from the dead
line l saw the tall form bending over
the stretcher The minutes were cruelty
long to Walkers friends; what must
they have been to him? At length the
cry began: Twelve o'clock. Post No.
1 and all's WE'LL
The men with the bricks sat there
and their breathing came hard.
Twelve o'clock. Post No. 10; and
all's we'll"
The last word had not died on the
lips Of the guard and the fusillade
began. / threw one brick in a wild way,
then turned to watch Walker.
With a rapidity that can not be de-
scribed he dashed over the dead line
to the south, from which. as he fore
saw, the guards had fed. In an instant
and Walker had seized the top. I saw
his face for moment, as with a mighty
bound he swung himself over There
was firing into the prison pen, and fir
ing in 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. Although fully forty shots were
fred into the prison pen, slight wound
to Captain Singer, of the Thirty-third
Ohio, was the only damage done.
The Confederate officials made an
examinat ton at once They discovered
that Walker was gone, but they could
not learn "who heaved them bricks"
The last time I saw Walker was in the
parade Of Sherma1's men in Washing
ton at the close Of the war-Major AL
fred r. Calhoun in Cincinnati CONNER
cial-Tribune.