The Cairo bulletin., 1910-10-20


commanding when Confederate Of
flcer rode up to headquarters and dis
mounted Entering the generals tent.
seeing the inspector he stood In
mute surprise. AS for the inspector"
he turned shade paler. The new
conner was an old army acquaintance
In ante bellum days. both having serv-
ed at the same post.
Chandler, what are you doing here
and In this uniform"
Il came here TO benefit the cause
serve or die. III luck In meeting you
turns the scale for DEATH
There was commotion In the Con-
federate camp at this discovery that
the inspector and his orderly we're
spies and that had It not been for a
timely arrival they would have got
away with ample information to In
sure the defeat and possibly the cap
ture Of their whole force. They we're
both arrested. d drumhead court mar
tial convened and within an hour after
their detection were sentenced to be
hanged at daylight the next morning.
| Owing to their former Acquaintance
and service together as brother Off
GERS Colonel Albert the officer who had
recognized Chandler, made strong
effort to save him. He appealed to
Richmond In his behalf By telegraph,
but the authorities there seemed to
think that IL either should be spared
1t was the orderly, who was little
more than boy.
Meanwhile both men. being under
sentence OF death, were permitted to
communicate and to write letters to
those who would mourn them. When
Colonel Chandler had signified his
willingness to undertake the mission
the officer who han arranged 1t sug-
gested that he take with him an or
derry. both as becoming his supposed
rank and because IL the principal were
detected the orderly might possibly
carry the information he had acduir-
ed Volunteers were called for, and
the young man who was now await
lug execution had been selected from
among those who had volunteered.
Up to this time Colonel Chandler was
ignorant even Of his orderly's name.
The young man wrote farewell let
ter to his mother addressed 1t and
laid It on the pine camp table on
which he had penned 1t. Colonel
Chandler noticed the superscription,
and look OF anguish crossed his
face.
Soon after midnight came news that
but one OF the two should be executed
MS a warning to spies and which was
to suffer should be determined by lot.
Colonel Chandler begged that he
might be made the victim without re-
sort to the wheel of fortune. His APP
plication was considered and reply
Returned that inasmuch as the order
from the secretary to determine byS
lot which should die was specific the
general did not care to take the re-
kponsibility of disobeying At. The mp
pIication was forwarded by telegraph,
but no answer was received before the
hour that had been hxed by the court
for the execution So Colonel Chan
dler was informed that the matter
must proceed In conformity with the
outstanding orders.
At daylight in the morning the
provost marshal Of the Confederate
force entered the tent where the two
kpies were confined, carrying a hat In
his hand, Having read to them the
order bearing on their case. he said:
'In this hat are two brass buttons,
the one with raised letters q. 3. A.
stamped on It, the other bearing the
letters G. 8. A. You will turn your
backs. put out a hand In rear and
take button. He who draws the @.
=. A. button will 90 forth to exeeu-
ton"
Colonel Chandler stepped up to the
officer holding the hat thrust In his
hand, drew 1t forth. looked at the LET
ters on button he held In 1t and
handed 1t to the officer. 1t was stamp
ed g. s. A.
! ANY man thus imposing upon a fell
low human being the task OF deciding
whether he shall i've or die WIN nat
uralIy be under considerable emotion.
The Confederate officer holding the
hut was so moved that he threw 1t
down without paying any attention to
the remaining button. Later he re
turned FOR the hat to give IL 10 Its
owner. and. feeling for the button.
failed to find 1t. He hunted for 1t,
turning up the lining. but 1t was not
In the hat
Colonel Chandler was taken out and
hanged When his body was let down
his right hand was found to be tightly
closed. The fingers were forced open
and out rolled a button stamped with
the letters u s. A. He had taken
out both buttons, giving up the one
that meant death. Fearing that his
intention to prevent his young comrade
from sharing the chances with him
might be discovered and thwarted, he
had held the evidence of 1t tightly
closed In his fist till the last moment.
The orderly was sent to Libby prison
at Richmond. There he was informed
that his superior had taken the chances
Of both and had died conceallng the
evidence OF his act The young man