davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-07-18
FIRST NATURAL DEATH
IN LAST TEN YEARS
Samuel Thompson of Walkerton Only
Member of Iron Workers Union
To- Escape Violent Death.

CHICAGO. July Is. Samuel
Thompson of Walkerton. Ind, mem
Der of the Bridge and Structural Iron
Workers union, died at a local hos
Dital from tuberculosis. He was the
only member of the union TO die a
natural death in 10 years. every pre-
vious death having resulted from in
juries
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-07-18
FIRE SCARE AT SHERIDAN
Thick White smoke Due 20 Chimney
Blaze.

Guests at the Sheridan hotel and
passersby on ~. Michigan St, were
given "A scare Friday night at o'clock
when "A dense white smoke was seen
pouring from the roof OF the hotel.
Hose CO. No. and the Central sta
ton was called and found that the
chimney was burning out No dam
age resulted 10 the building.
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13
Daring Exploits Of Union and Confederate Forces on La

seductive homemade Southern drink.
and being unable to Judge its strength
from the taste. partook OF II too freely.
As result OF this indiscretion hundreds
OF men were affected by alcohol 10 a de-
gree that caused them to march with un-
certain steps or to drop out Of the col
umn-
Some ludicrous scenes resulted from
THIS excess. Many OF the negroes who
erals TO Petersburg got hold OF the liquor
and INDUCED in various capers. to the
amusement OF the army.
In the history Of the One Hundred ana
Fifty-nfth Pennsylvania Regiment the
story Is told of a soldier who passed up
a road as the regiment was resting be-
side it. THE mud was ankle deep. The
comrade was hatless. His 'canteen was
full Of apple brandy and his head with
the effects OF IL.
He had a brace Of chickens fastened
to his belt. his gun strapped over his
shoulder and a willow basket flied with
honey on his head. As the Joyous SOL
der waded through the mud. perfectly
Indifferent to the trickling down Of the
honey over his head and shoulders, his
voice rang out in the strains Of a patri-
otic song. The One Hundred and Fifty
hfth, with hearty cheers, sped the joy
full soldier on his way"
The cavalry, which preceded the in
fantry on the march. also made the ac-
quaintance Of the homemade stimulant
and showed the effects thereof by hilar-
ity. and in some cases by difficulty in
keeping the saddle.
No very serious consequences resulted
from this indulgence, although the OFF,
GERS fretted over 1t not little. and II
was accepted as part OF the light that
was needful to effect the somber shad-
ows of the expedition.
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13

lection Of white men all their lives. Those
whose mssters had aeft home were like
animals without a keeper. Others chose
10 leave those who fed them. They had
no notion OF how they should live, o.
where. when they had left the neids
they had known from childhood Yet they
knew an elemental change had taken
place in their lives, and with animal In
stinct they were ready to migrate.
Already thousands OF these former
slaves were assembled in q refugees
camp at City Point. where they received
the bounty Of the Federal government
In the form Of army ratIons. The able
bodied men had found employment, as
teamsters and laborers. Many had en-
listed, and now wore the Federal blue.
Many OF the women worked at washing
for the hospitals and for officers and en-
listed men.
In various regimental histories
glimpses of the encounters OF the
troops with refugees are to be had.
None is more gnphic than one In the
history of the Eleventh New Jersey
Volunteers, None of the regiments that
was In the movement against the We'll
don Railroad.
"0n our way out a group (of negroes)
came Fastening from a distant farm
house." the account begins. 1T con-
sisted of father, mother, and a mum
Der Of children. As they took their
places along the highway, ready to
join the column that was to lead them
into the land OF promise, they discov-
cred that one daughter had been left
behind The father. fearful that he
would be detained II he returned for
her, tearfully implored some one to go.
zone of Gen. McAllister's aids rode
up to the house, and, getting the child
brought II to its father. His thankful
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13
THRILLING ESCAPE OF FED
ERAL PRISONERS.
eetember 2.

Fifty years age today Lieut.. Col. Aaron
NJ. Flory, OF the Forty-sixth Indiana Vol
unteers and Acting Volunteer Lieut.. Ben
Jamin w. Loring, Of the United States
navy, escaped Federal prisoners, reached
Brunswick Bay, La, after travelling on
foot 500 miles Across the country from
Camp Ford.
Camp Ford was Confederate stockade
for prisoners Of war four miles from
Tyler, In Smith County Northeastern
Texas. Here. in an area OF six acres,
without shelter from sun or rain, Lieut..
Col. Flory had spent six months. He had
been captured in the disaster Of the Fed
eral army under GEE. N. p. Banks, al
sabine Cross Roads. April 8, having COM
manoed brigade OF the Third Division
Of Mowers Corps.
Loring was captured by the surrender
OF the 'tinclad" Wave in Calcasieu Pass,
La, on May 6
Men are drawn to each other in prison
by qusatties that make for enduring fel-
lowship. Flory and Loring soon became
fast friends, and soon fell TO planning es-
cape.
A custom Of the prison was to allow
certain prisoners 10 go out on passes to
gather wood Flory and Loring decided
TO profit by it. In preparation for a break
1Qr liberty they saved their supplies until
each had two pounds Of bread and two
Of coffee.
On November Is they left the stockade
at .. m on ''passes'' manufactured for
the occasion. Both carried blankets, for
the ostensible purpose Of gathering
brushwood. Confederate clothing had
previously been sent out and concealed
with trusted friends.
Clear Of the prison, FIory and Loring
waited in a nearby thicket until dark,
when they donned their Confederate
uniforms and began their long and ar
duous march for liberty.
The two officers Travelled thirty miles
the first night, and in twenty-four hours
hfty-five miles. Part of the time they
were closely pursued by men and dogs.
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13

When the chase ceased they had reached
the headwaters of the Naches River,
Southern Cherokee County.
Eastern Texas in those days was q
region Of impossible canebrake marshes
or dense woods, traversed with numer-
GUS rivers and creeks. Frequently il was
necessary for the escaping men literally
10 cut their way through the tangled
woods with their knives.
On November 20 F'lory and Loring swan
the Naches River, VIII: n flows into Sa-
bine Lake. an arm Of the gulf The
weather was cloudy, and with no compass
and without the guidance of the sun, they
did not know in which direction to head.
Their bread was now gone, but they
came upon a cornfield in which they
found abundance Of roasting ears.
November g the travellers approached
the Sabine River, the boundary line OF
Louisiana. A norther covered the rivers
surface with thin ice. The country was
meshed with bayous, which were un-
1ordable.
Two days later, at a sawmill. the men
found a boat This they borrowed"
After twenty-four hours in the boat, pad
ding blindly about the wooded bayous,
they found they had covered only. five
miles and were still on the west bank
of the Sabine.
On November Is, they reached a friendly
house, where they were given a full
meal, the first they had eaten in two
weeks. Next day the Sabine River was
crossed on a raft
They were in the vicinity Of Confed-
crate fortifications at Nobletts Bluff. To
travel in Louisiana they must have a
Confederate pass, and this they had pre-
pared. It stated they were Confederate
officers, going to VermilionviIle, La.
Nobletts Bluff was passed successfully; so
also was Lake Charles, the shire town
of CalcasieU County. on November 30.
boon of a wagon ride twenty miles to-
ward Vermillonville.
On December 2 Vermilionville was sight
ed The night was spent as guests in a
Confederate household, where hot coffee
and seats by the IRE during the preva-
lence Of "norther" were most welcome.
The two travellers remained in this re-
treat until after dinner the next day.
During the night of December they
slept in an old camp Of the Forty-sixth
Indiana, near the town of Vermilion-
VILE. They had still eighty miles to cover
before they could reach the protection Of
the old nag.
Hiding when needful, living on parched
corn, avoiding towns and squads of
ConfSderates to be met at every turn Of
the road, Berwick Bay in st. Mary's
County, La. was sighted on December Z.
Thus in twenty-five days Flory and
Loring had Travelled 900 miles across one
of the most desolate and difficult regions
in the United States. They swan twenty
streams and for days at a time had lived
on parched corn For twenty days their
clothes were constantly wet.
When the two officers reached New Or
leans on December they received much
attention from the Federals. A new
Orleans photographer made their pic
ture, which was sent with a story OF
their trip to a New York illustrated
paper The picture was placed on the
front page, but the story went into the
waste basket
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13

laws Of war to forage in the country
through which they marched. this right
made the losses of the residents none
the less hard to bear.
As a result Of this roraging. many un.
authorized acts were committed by the
Federals. Houses were entered, personal
property was taken. pantries and even
bedrooms were robbed. and all was
charged by the soldiers to the general
account Of foraging.
What cut more deeply with the citizens
was the burning of haystacks. the driv-
ing of of stock and the departure with
the troops OF their slaves. for these
things meant loss of their means OF live
lihood. Houses, also, were often burned.
In the section visited by Grants troops
were men who thought It no crime, to
take the law Of reprisal into their own
hands, and, terming themselves Home
Guards, to waylay such stragglers from
the Federal columns as they could and
kill them.
Once a Federal was dead, his equip
ment appealed to the poverty ridden ir-
regulars who had killed him. They were
N rags and shoeless; nc had worn good
shoes and warm clothing 1t was no
greater crime to appropriate them than
1t had been TO kill him.
-" oldAh anu 'hCh
bodies stripped. the Federal soldiers
would not have been human had they
not cried for vengeance. The justifi-
cation OF the Confederates was not
considered by them. They had evil
dence before them of a method of war
fare that they did not follow them
selves
Had they been able to lay hands on
the slayers of their comrades they
NJ haW hA NAN In er
able SO to do, they did the next thing
in the scale of reprisal by injuring
the property in the community in
which the act of violence was COM
mltted.
1t was an ugly aspect of the war, and
one that presented itself in all its ugli-
ness to the Federsls who marched
with Gen. Warren in the frosty Vir-
ginia air fifty years ago today; for in
woods near Sussex Court House they
saw the horrid sight of six dead Fed
erals, lying side by side. stark and
naked. They had been made to kneel
In a semicircle and had been shot
What scene had preceded this bloody
act no man in Gen. Warren's column
knew. They assumed that il could
have been committed by no regular
Confederate troops; for no officers who
served under Gen. Lee would have been
In the absence of proof Gen. Warren
assumed that the, men had been slain
by guerillas. His act OF reprisal was
swift. Before the halt of the column
at Sussex Court House was over flames
were mounting through the roof of the
little building in which the county
judges In better times had adminis-
tered the law. while for miles along
the road on either side Of the village
columns OF smoke rising from barns
and stored crops told their own story.
These acts OF reprisal completed, the
colmn resumed its march northYard.
into the Jerusalem road. which brought
IL In day within the lines Of Grants
army before Petersburg.
The march was one long to be remem-
bered, not alone for its tragic aspects.
but also for a few highlights that crept
into the grim picture. Many a veteran
It as ''the applejack raid, by
reason OF the finding, in foraging, AT
several plantations OF much applejack.
Few Of the troops had partaken' Of this
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13

near to the rear Of TIE Federal army as
he dared. ana then had wagoned them
around the left OF Grants line. into his
own camps
Grant determined to destroy the rail-
road TO such a distance south that II
would be almost impossible for Lee 70
make use OF IL. He ordered Gen. G. X.
Motifs division OF the Second. Corps,
Gen. G. AcM. Gregg's cavalry division.
four batteries Of artillery, and three
companies Of engineers with canvas pom
toons for a bridge 80 feet lo1s, for
crossing streams. TO move against the
Weldon road and wreck il as far as the
Meherrin River. ninety miles south Of
Petersburg. ~
Warren marched from the rear OF the
Petersburg lines early In the morning
OF December !. The bridge ever the Not
taway River was found destroyed. but
in a short time a pontoon bridge 40
feet long was In the stream. That night
the cavalry. part Of the infantry, and all
Of the trains were over, the advance biv-
ouacking at Sussex Courthouse, six miles
beyond.
The first day had been rainy. but De-
cember s dawned clear and somewhat
warm. The men trudged along the roads
in the best Of spirits. singing. laugh
ing. and apparently without thought of
threw away their oyercoats, until the
roadsides were strewn with garments.
Gregg's cavalry Immediately swung on
west toward the railroad and striking
It near Jarratt's Station, at once began
TO tear up the track and burn the ties.
A detachment was sent north to the 1e0-
foot bridge over the Nottaway River.
which was destroyed.
1t was sunset before the whole COM
mand was concentrated near Jarratt's.
Those in the van had been given several
hours rest. and now were ordered to
begin work on the railroad. Many Of the
men were not familiar with the methods
Of railroad destruction. Eastern armies
had not often been called upon to do
such work. and the troops were now
interested in the first lessons in the art.
The so-called Western method" was
used. A whole regiment lined up along
the track in single file, and at a signal
each man grasped the end OF a tie and
down. This operation loosed the spikes
and made il fairly easy to pry on the
rails. They were then heated over fires
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13
BURNING OF SUSSEX
COURTHOUSE.
December IL.

Fifty years ago today the troops OF
Gen. O. X. warren's command, the Fifth
Corps OF Grants army, returning from
the expedition against the Weldon Rail-
road, south Of Petersburg, applied the
torch to Sussex Courthouse, Va, end to
all public buildings, barns and haystacks
in the village about 1t, and in the neigh
boring country.
This harsh measure was in retaliation
for acts OF violence against Federal sol
diers by irregular Confederate troops.
who were rated by the Federals as guer-
rillas, not acting under the law OF war.
There had been little actual guerrilla
warfare in Virginia-though this form
OF war had fourished in the West-but
there had been a lax military control
by the Confederatss Of the so-called
Home Guards" which resulted. in ef-
feet. in warfare not countenanced by the
laws Of man or humanity.
The residents OF the section through
which the Federal troops moved were
enraged by the spoilation OF their crops
and storehouses by the Federals. While
the Federals had the right under the
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13

ness was unbounded. and the happy
family, now united, gave voice to many
expressions OF gratitude. Col. Price, OF
the Seventh New Jersey, interested
himself in their welfare and placed
them in a baggage wagon.
again. on the 10th. on our return
march, when passing a plantation. a
group Of seventeen came hastenins
across the field to join the Union col
umn. They had heard of our approach,
and on seeing the Stars and Stripes
floating in the breeze they gathered
up their household goods and hastened
to its protecting folds.
They were all sizes and almost
every hue. One, a girl Of about six
teen. was very pretty and showed but
little trace of negro blood; another,
year or so older, was very dark but
both called the same woman mother.
Although the weather was cold
enough to make the need of heavy
clothing felt, these poor people were
very thinly clad, and only a thread
bare shawl to add protection.
There were also two small chill
dren. but in the excitement of the
flight one had been forgotten. The
older and darker of the two girls
dropped her bundle and started back.
saying that she would carry the child
herself rather than il should be left
behind.
she soon returned, bearing i with
her, but in an almost nude condition,
its bare legs being exposed to the bit
ing winter air. The mother carried the
youngest, the daughter mentioned the
next, and though some of the party
were barefooted, with smiling faces
they trudged along the half-froZen
highway beside the Union soldiers
Less fortunate than the blacks, home
less. yet happy, were the whites who
had once held these people as property.
The movements Of Grants troops across
their farms and about their homes bore
heavily on them.
'on December 10 we marched toward
the weldon Railroad. . We were
ordered to eneamp near the ruins Of the
Watkins house. destroyed by fire by the
Federals today.
I'VE cooked our supper in the burning
emoers Of the house, and while smoking
our pipes, a boy probably fifteen years
OF age. came to the fire, and, leaning
against tree, looked around few min
utes and then burst into tears. We OBJ
served him for a little while, then called
him up and asked him the cause Of his
gr1ef. He told US, in a quiet, straight
forward way. that this house had been
his home ever since he was born: he had
left there yesterday morning, when he
had heard the Yankees were coming; ne
had left behind bis grandmother and
mother.
They had then several head of cattle,
a horse, and everything necessary to
make a comfortable country home. He
had just returned to find everything de-
stroyed. house burned, cattle gone. fences
gone. garden and heids beaten down by
the tramping Of men and the wheels OF
ordnance wagons. Where his Mother was
he did not know. He sobbed as II his
young heart would break. but, soon re-
covering himself. he clenched his little
hst and said slowly and with emphasis.
If my life Is spared III get even with
these people for fnfIcting this wrong
upon my mother
Then. turning to Chamberlayne. ne
said. Captain, can I go with your
Chsmberlayne said. Yes, come with
me; IN make -cannoneer Of you We
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13
NEGRO REFUGEES In
FEDERAL CAMPS.
December 10.

Fifty years ago today large. number
Of negro refugees were coming into the
Federal camps near Petersburg as a re-
suit of the movement Of troops from
Grants army into the country near the
Weldon Railroad. the chief line out OF
the Confederate stronghold on the south.
The following OF the Federals by the
negroes was no new thing. for it has
been going on ever since the war began;
but in this time and place. with the
great struggle nearing its last tragic
chapter, the misery of these poor people,
and their forlorn situation, made their
appeal 10 the soldiers whom they looked
upon as their liberators peculiarly touch
ing.
The simple creatures were willing to
leave whatever homes they had and fol-
low ."Marse Linkum's Sojers' without
question They had relied on the pro-
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13
GRANTS FORCES WRECK
AT RAILROAD.
December s.

Fifty years ago today Grants forces
were engaged In destroying the Weldon
Railroad. south of Petersburg. to pre-
vent It's being used by the confederates
under Lee in bringing up provisions from
the carolinas.
Since the extension Of Grants line in
'front.' OF Petersburg, in October, had cut
the Weldon road south of the city, Lee
nao stn made considerable use Of it,
re had brought up his provisions as
hfteo- Thus whole section Of track
Was torn trom IFS bed and turned upside
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13

reached Ossabaw Sound and boarded q
Federal vessel there.
Sherman remained at Mr.. Kings house
for the night. He slept little. There was
much 4. stake In the operations Of the
nezs day and his mind was S~sy with
plans for the future.
The Washington herald., 1914-12-13

shared our supper with the little fellow.
and put him in charge Of Chamber
layne's sergeant"
The best part Of the story Is in Its In
evitable sequel, for II that lad OF "a sur
vived the war. IL was to become a loyal
citizen OF the Union.
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1914-06-05

Prohibition leaders in Seattle de
clare that the election on the Wet
or Dry" question In Washington
this fall In assured. and that the
filing OF the initiative petitions with
the secretary Of state on July 2 VIII
be only Formally.
"The number OF signatures on
the initiative petitions required by
the state law IN 31.100, or one-tenth
tho number OF votes cast for gov
ernor In the last election" said w.
A. Hitchcock. district superintend.
ent OF the Anti-Ssloon league. as
ISOLATED with State superintendent
George ID. Conger. with headquar.
tiers in the Arcade building.
we now have more than 100000
signatures. and can get more before
We turn them In 10 the state Off
ciais nj Olympia for checking. The
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1914-06-05
THE ruRrh DEATH

Editor Tho Star: Jacob Farth.
IN. greedy traction magnate. In
dead. but not forgotten.
| notice that every paper In Sc
attic had nothing bat bouquets for
him after hs passed away. While
alive ho was subjected TO much
criticism.
While In many respects he was a
worthy citizen. yet bis death does
not relieve him OF tho blame for
many stolen nlckeis taken into the
Golfers OF this gigantic traction
company.
His wealth ia estimated 81 81. 0oo..
900. Probably the bulk OF that
came from tho pockets Of the work.
ingmen. This shrew fihAncior ON
pioycd artifice 10 hugo advantage.
No wonder he amasscd such for.
tune. II. r. l..
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1914-06-05
1TME DIARY G)IF
FAT HER TIME

When you hear woman say, as
she frequently does when you want
20 take her to an outing" or a
party" that she hasn't got thing
30 wear, do not think that she Ia
saying something new or that she
u the only one who ever said II.
Even among the royalty of long
ago, some OF the women folk had
Z habit OF spending all their pin
money on everything imaginable,
and when an occasion arose on
which new buds we're required,
they announced the fact that they
had nothing to wear.
In 1906, 400 years ago, I remem-
Der, Catherine OF Aragon had used
mp all her spare cash and was In
such desperate straits, as far as
clothes were concerned, that she
wrote to her father, King Ferdi.
nand v. Of Spain, as follows:
ABOUT my own person ] have
nothing for chemises; where by
your Highness' lief have now sold
some bracelets TO get black velvet
dress, for was all but naked"
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1914-06-05
PRETTY TOUGH ON
POOR Mr.. BELLS
PHONE COMPANY

The public has another laugh
coming In the farce-eomcdy Of
which the telephone company n the
promoter. In the matter of the IS
cancellation fee graft.
You remember how L. l. vella'
rave the telephone company the
frosty stare when II tried TO collect
s. from him. He turned II over "a
Lawyer George Olson. And the
latter said unto the phone CO. and
all it's heirs ard assigns. to-wit:
"Shooi"
The phone company was going "a
sue. But II didn't. And Olson says
II never viii.
And now comes Mrs. Rasmus
Thumpson. Fourth and Pike, and
commissions Olson 10 also say
'Shoo'" for her In tho same matter
OF the cancellation fees.
The telephone people are having
an awful time collecting. these
days.