Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-03-10
A THRILLING
STORY OF
THE WAR
SERGEANT JOHN IL. ROBINSON.
(Contluei from Yesterday

Mrs. Bennett, the aunt OF my
rr'' frieu' 1te uant stewart
lived on che corre- or Green and
sasttoga sTacts hol never been
at her r.-re Bat know her very
Well as SIZE oamo 20 Frederick CITY
ana nrr--i Lieutenant Stewart fo'
$50 or th vaat ana after we
were 10 B, more. sh,
"au'i wise the h7arital whenever
She c7r'i 600 permit from those
[ in aur'.r.-g 'Nu looked A. her ne
an aue'a of mercy ami became very
fond of her Lieutenant stewart
was shot through the mugs.
1t was only a few DAYS alter we
had matured our plan for escape
until we were all ready With knives
as sharp as razors, with which to
cut our ways out through the walls
OF little wooden out-house, Fart
of the enclosure that surrounded
the yard. In this little house we
consealed ourselves after night,
thinking we would have soft pine
plant to cut through. but to our sur
prise we found Il TO be the hardest
oak, covered with three-eights OF
an inch thick with lime and sand A
few strokes with our knives con
vinced us that further effort I'm this
direstiOn was useless. We were
compelled TO remain in this little
house, or small room about three
by Ave feet until daylight. VIE
were very much cramped for room
and had to change our positions
many times to keep from taking
cramps or having dead limbs.
We had to be very easy I'm every
movement. for the terminal OF the
guards beat at the little house we
were in. and IL we had TO move we
would wait until we thought the
guard was at the farther end Of
his beat, which was about 80 yards
When daylight came we found
three fellows considerably worn out,
but not discouraged. We could on
ly speak in whispers for fear OF be-
ing discovered by the guard told
the boys | would secrete a brace
and a few bits from that cabinet or
wood shop, which have heretofore
referred to, and by this means we
would be able to cut through the
wall We left our place OF confne-
ment singly. watching the guard a.
he walked away from his beat.
was the last TO leave and when I
stepped out the guard seemed to
have a somewhat surprised look,
but he said nothing.
After breakfast we had a mee,-
ing of our party. ] was recognized
as president and my plans were un-
animously endorsed --that is, that !
should procure the brace and bits
and we would be ready the second
night afterwards, at the same point
to try our ulck again, and II failed
we would set another time and
formulate another plan to make our
escape
If we had succeeded in getting
through the wall OF the little wood.
en- house, we would have been com
PEELED to 20 through the camp OF
the company that guarded the hos
pital, and f. is most likely that we
should all have been captured and
sent back to the regular prison
After looking around for o day or
two. I though I had found another
way OF escape that would be much
easier than the former, but this lat
ter plan eliminated Captain Thorn
ton IS one OF the party. for the rea-
son that he could not 90 without
his crutches, and TO take him along
with HIS crutches was almost GER
tain to insure our capture: and 90
&c was agreed between Liutenant
Stewart and myself TO say nothing
to Captain Thornton Of our new
plan
on the front OF the main hospital
building was Concord street. on the
east side was Mills street. on the
west side was an open space Of about
half an acre. a post and rail fence
In front between the house and the
street which passed south OF the
building about thirty feet From
this point there was a high, solid
plank fence. eight or nine feet high
running west about sixty feet. cor
ncring on the little house that We
made our first effort to cut through.
and from this point the fence ran
south about one hundred and nifty
feet until it came 90 tho edge Of the
bay The water extended back to
Mills street at the foot Of which was
dock for boats. and behind which
and on the west side vas a steam