The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1909-05-19

another, The political orators turned
loose, and the speeches which had
been written in Pennsylvania were
uncorked at Andersonville The
south was basted and roasted. The
Americas people behaved admirably
and retired in good order. At the
conclusion Of the exercises the gov
ernor Of Pennsylvania made an apol-
ogy for the lurid tone of some Of the
OratiOnS Americas continues to
furnish many of the beautiful mon
uments, but the people do not now
furnish the spectators on these oc-
caSiOns.
Across from the entrance of the
national cemetery is a tall fagstaff
flying the national COlOrs, and mark
ing the beginning of the stOckade.
, This place seems to have been Sc
lected with great care, for it slopes
gradually down to the little branch
! winch ran through the middle of
1t and then extends up the hill. The
Inclosure was about tWenty-seven
! acres. Some of the states
! nave erected beautiful monuments in
/ the prison park rather than in the
! national cemetery. The cenOtaph of
ONO crowns the hill near the flag
and is readily seen from the station,
1t IS noble, beautiful piece of work,
and after all is considered its in
scrption is conservative. This is
certainly the piece de resistance on
the hill at present. The stockade is
not kept as handsomely as the Gem
etery. If congress, however, assumes
It's care, it will probably be enclosed
| and preserved with the same scruDu-
lous neatness and elegance. The
stakes now accurately disclose the
lines of the stOckade, while the dead
Ilne Is carefully marked off. The
/ old wells which the men dug in tho
! ground TO burrOw out of the sun and
ram nave never been filled up. They
are Enclosed with iron ratings COW
cred with honeysuckle vines. II was
/ through these wells, dug Surrenti-
lousy IN the night, that many of
the prisoners endeavOred to tunnel
/ uhdef the guards and escape from
the stockade. A forbidding line of
/ OreaStWorkS, which commanded the
prison Enclosure, and over which ar
llIiery pieces were mounted at inter
vans are sui apparent. The at
IeHlpIS OF the prisoners to escaDe
became so steady and ingenious that
another dead line, picketed with
SuardS' was thrown up outside of the
Darricade, and this deferred any
Iui Jhef attempts. Now and then
prisoners have returned to Ander
SonVllle and marked the spots where
Inelr little shacks were thrown IN
Inc exact places where the north and
South gates were stationed are told
by pIacards, while the courtmartiaI
heId by the prisoners, cOnvicting the
marauders and murders among their
own lumber, is carefully defimited.
Providence Spring. which
was discovered after a severe troni-
cal storm in August, 1864, is now
lhcloSed IN cement summer hOuse
and is an ornament to the nIace
Hundreds of southern visitors gath
efed there after a long tramn on
Wednesday, just as the thirsty pris-
ohers used to repair there across the
DEAD line in the summer of 1864
Inc appearance of this spring was
regarded as mysterious, almost like
the well of LOurdes, and one of the
monuments states that God smote
the rock, and that pure water gushed
forth for the poor prisoners. The
walls OF the stOckade had been un-
dermlned and the whole place flood
ed, the gulleys washed, and the sud
den appearance of this spring was
regarded as prOVidential No spring
mousse today at watering places like
tate Of ROckbridge is constructed
with more care. At the TOP of the
nil, near the beginning of the stock
ade, is a club house in charge of
keeper and his family. Different
states of the north and west have
furnished the rooms, which are bean
TRULY and comfortably appointed.
The visiting delegations from vet
eran and other organizations often
put up there, and now and then
Delated traveller is taken into the
comfortable residence There is
registry book for visitors, and pic
lures of northern generals and SOL
dlers upon the walls. One of the
most unique things is drawing bv
a prisoner of Andersonville. giving
his idea of the scenes of his suffer-
ing. OF course the picture is eXag-
gefated, and from an artistic view
has no value. There is no Der-
spective or proportion, and it betrays
a distempered spirit as we'll as an
untutored hand. But as the work of
an inmate it is curious. and doubt
less IS accepted like proofs Of holy
writ by many Of the northern visit
ors, The time has about arrived
when one can look upon it more
with curiosity than indignation. for
some of the scenes depicted are i'm
possible. None of the horrors Of the
situation are omitted. He has en-
phasized the agonIes of the dead line.
the burdens of the dead wagon, and
the living skeletons look like Cuban
instructors The places where a
guard now and then shot down a
recalcitrant prisoner are carefully
pointed out. 1t is to be hoped that
when the government takes charge
) OF the park it will, as far as posi-
Die, obliterate all such eye-sores and
exaggerated "reminiscences. The men
who