Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-04-06

to their steps that had to be, for down
their middle the column of twos carried a
long chain that had its tentacles on the
ankles and waists of them all. They kept
step after a rough fashion, because 1t
was more comfortable and because 1t
was easier that way to keep the long
chain from dragging as they marched.
I Between them some of the marching
pairs carried roped boxes of all fashions
crude trunks in which were stored their
few earthly belongings. Other individu-
ais carried bundles under their arms, lit
| tie boxes of varying size and
shape. Some wore two hats, one
crushed atop of another. Many showed
new shoes, and among the majority of
| them the hats were new, of felt material
and black. A few still had no other head
gear than their miners caps with the lit
tie metal brackets in front on which their
lamps were used to be hung-the lamps
they were to need no more.
All were in a good humor. Some were
ready with their laughter in recognition
of comrades jokes. The exceptions were
| those who scowled at the growing day
and had no part in the hsht-heartedness
, of the moment.
They are all sorry to leave" a wom-
an had said earlier in the morning.
"Some of them have been crying all
night A good many are still crying this
morning. They don't want to go. This
is home to them. They know what they
get here, and they don't know what they
are going to. It's pitiful to see how
they hate to CO."
She was a warden's wife.
Fortress is Emptied
Before the first platoon vwas well down
~ eli OF
the fortress topping the hill. While they
were both stin on the road, a third
stepped in sight, and shortly afterward
!. fourth and a fifth. Still they kept COM
ing, joking and laughing as they came,
| answering good-byes yelled to them from
the bystanders of the neighborhood, voic-
ing light-hearted and possibly facetious
farewells to this and that as they
passed. For a full fifteen minutes the
chained squads were passing; and then
the open gate of the fortress stood wide
! in vain. for there were no more to come.
Inside the fortress was emptiness. LIT
| tie whitewashed cottages in a row just
within the big rail gate, backing toward
! the fence and facing an opposite row
across a small parade ground, looking
like dilapidated officers quarters in some
4, ill-kept army post, We're tenantless of the
guards and families that had lived in
them. Two men only, former guards,
setting things to right among their own
/ effects, were about. A negro laborer was
| already beginning his scavenger work
among the Uttered discard. Within the
wall gate there was no life at all. Long
rooted barracks were vacant. In front
of their steps and on their worn porches
was cluttered all the trash that the
former occupants had left behind a few
NFaaUF aa hnF~
ragged striped clothing dilapidated shoes.
The barracks themselves would have been
better kept had they covered paddles for
fast horses. Within them the long rows
OF cots, packed close beside each other,
head to wall and head and head together
| across the width Of the building, were in
wild disorder. with dirty mattresses piled
| high upon them, greasy pillows thrown
here and there, and every soul gone. In
the gloom the rusted stoves that warmed
! them against winters cold could be dimly
seen in the aisles separating the rows of
! beds. 1t was here that the lease law, as
yet hardly cold in death, had rolled and
tossed through its last night
Two Trains Wait for Them
Two trains Of the Central railway, one
! OF them six coaches long and the other
made up of five coaches, stood alongside
1 each other on two Of the tracks in the
bottom of the shallow valley. On the far
edge of the tracks, running parallel with
them, were stretched the long coke ovens
( from which flames were continually
( belching. On the ovens, whose heat was
| gratifying in the morning chill, sat
watchers. Others stood over the tracks.
Others were packed near the coaches and
| on the banks rearing up from the tracks
Here was clustered the whole free COM
munity, watching the convicts CO. Into
the coaches the striped squads were
climbing, each in fits turn, slowly and
perhaps painfully because of the chains
that held them together.
Soon they were all in, and the trains
stood waiting for the ooavicts from the
Lookout Mountain Coal and Coke COM
pany's mine, who were to be marched
from their quarters farther down the
| railroad. After a few moments lapse
! these hove in sight, coming down one of
the roadways, and their appearance was
the signal for a grand rush of the popu-
lace in their direction.
They came singing, laughing and jok-
ing, as had the others from the fortress
of the Durham barracks. One SQUAD on
! ly seemed depressed. Probably their own
music was responsible for 1t, for they
J frightened Immediately on the train.
| But they came singing a negro wailing
song that their barbarous forefathers
| might have sung to the same tune in the
jungles of Africa over the bodies of dead
friends or relatives. They sang in cho-
rus. marching slowly with heads bent,
and innocently they were more dramatic
and nerve-thrilling than many of the
| foremost stars of the theatrical firma-
ment. But their song ceased when they
boarded the coaches, and soon they were
| iabbering and Joking with their fellows
and with the onlookers outside the cars
Last in each camp had come the white