The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1913-08-22

loved and fairly terrorized Federal
soldiers in Boonville, Mo-, in the STIR
ring times of the early sixties, still
are made the subject of many rem
iniscent story.
Mary Carroll, of Boonville, was as
fearless as she was pretty, as defiant
as she was clever and resourceful
She could, says the Kansas City Star,
ride a horse as well as any cavalry
man and she could walk, too, when
the occasion demanded. She smug-
gled arms and ammunition to Con-
federate soldiers, right under the
very noses of the Federals. She aid
ed in the escape of three prisoners
who were under sentence of death.
Finally she was imprisoned herself,
but her ready wit won her release.
So it is only natural that those who
were neighbors of this dauntless
nineteen year-old girl should still
have vivid recollections of her.
Today Mrs. Mary Carroll Brooks
lives quietly with her son in Kansas
70 years old, but her mind is alert
and her clear eyes have not alto
gether lost their laughter.
Brother Condemned as Spy.
In the winter of 1868 Dennis Car
roll, brother of Miss Mary, was ar
rested by Federal soldiers on the
charge of being a Confederate spy,
and, together with two other men,
Mastin Patrick and Lieut.. Charles
Brownlee was imprisoned. Col. D.
w. Ware, in command of the Boon
vile post, ordered the three men
shot, but on account of the sudden
illness of Patrick, the execution was
deferred four weeks. ..a,,t', -.
Carroll and Brownlee were held in
prison and when Patrick recovered he
was placed in the same cell with
them.
Mary Carroll obtaoined permission
from Col Catherwood in charge of
the post, to take meals to her brother
and his friends and to give him any
sisterly relief she could.
So day after day, morning and
evening, Mary visited the Federal
Jail with basket of provisions on
her arm. 1t was almost dark in the
cell when Miss Mary brought the
evening meal. This caused her broth
er to devise plan of escape. "Smug-
gle me in file and a crowbar when
you come tomorrow night" he whis-
pered in his sisters ear one night.
"We'll break out the bars on the win
dow and escape"
Brings Crowbar and File.
So the next evening Mary carried a
short stout crowbar and file dang
ling from her waist beneath her hoop
skirt. She left them in the dark
cell unobserved by the guards.
But that night the three men were
caught in the act of breaking out the
bar5 and the work had to be done all
over again, under greater difficulties
now, for the men were thrown in
chains and placed in a cell without
windows.
For some reason or other Miss
Mary was not suspected att he time
of being responsible for the presence
of the crowbar in the cell of the
doomed prisoners, anl from then on
she worked with more assurance.
The only hope of escape now was
to obtain key that would unlock the
cell door, and Miss Mary unhesitat-
ingly set herself the task of procur-
ing such key.
Being a comely young woman, it
was not strange that the Federal
soldiers about the prison should pay
her marked attentions on her visits
to her brother.
Sergeant Proposes to Her.
Lucky for Miss Mary and her
brother the man who was hardest hit
was the young sergent in charge of
the jail-he who always carried the
precious key at his belt.
One day as the execution time was
drawing near, the young sergent ask
ed her if he might accompany her to
her home
"Why, no, Wouldn't be seen on the
street with Federal soldier" replied
Miss Mary archly.
"Then may l visit at your house
tonight" persisted the soldier.
We'll, perhaps l wouldn't object to
that" she teased back at him over
her shoulder aS she hurriad ouoy
Of course he went to her home. He
was young and made violent love to
Miss Mary, who half encouraged,
half repulsed him as women will. He