Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-07-31


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 / talked with
Walker The chances for escape were
practically nil, and with that bah and
chain attached, any attempt meant
death from the guards. yet could not
! help saying.
If You must die, Walker, &C 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"
" can slip the bah and chain OF, ;"
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, be went ON TO say, II 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
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
dozen or SO of our friends to load
up with these bricks and at given
signal heave them ut 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 aud
leave me clear track for long enough
to get over. At the worst, can only
be shot making a break for liberty.
win you help?' l gave Walker my
hand in proof Of my willingness, but 1t
was he, and nc| 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 10 risk being shot in order to
help Walker
After 0 o'clock the guards called out
the half hours and the number of their
posts. When the nan Mt Post No. 10
announced u o'clock the men with the
bricks were TO attack with vlgor, and
Walker was 20 rush with the stretcher
for the southern wall As the hour ap.
preached the men with the bricks
erawled as close To the dead line as whf
safe, The night was very dark, with q
cold driving rain from the northeast
About Eve minutes before the signal
which was to come from the enemy
Walker crept to my side clasped me In
| iiic al LIE anu
God bless you, old fellow. Another
hour and IN be q free man or n dead
one"
In the indfstInet light from the dead
line / saw the tall form bending over
the streteher The minutes were cruelty
long 70 Walkers friends. what must
| they have been 10 him? At length the
cry began Twelve o'clock. Post No.
/ and airs WELL
The men with the bricks sat there
and their breathing came hard.
Twelve o'clock. Post No 10; and
| airs 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 rapldity that can not be de-
scribed he dashed over the dead line
10 the south. from which, as he fore
saw, the guards had fed In an instant
the stretcher was against the stockade.
and Walker had seized the top / 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 Thea far OFF we heard
yell Of triumph. II was Walkers
signal TO us that he had cleared the
camp. Although fully forty shots were
fred into the prison pen, n slight wound
TO Captain Singer. OF the Thlrty-third
Ohio, was the only damage done.
The Confederate officials made an
examination at once. They discovered
that Walker was gone, but they could
not learn who heayed them bricks"
The last time saw Walker was In the
parade Of Shermaa's men IN Washing
ton al the close OF the war.-Maj0 Tor All.
fred X. Calhoun, in Cincinnati CONNER
cialTrihune
Numerous Blocks.
After several sudden jerks and abrupt
stops the Chicago man on the southern