Year: 1867

son regiment. Inc commanding Ol-
ficer was Scotch youth, who was a
regular Dick Turner-if it be possi-
BILE for nature to produce in a centu-
ry, two such monsters as this devil of
Libby. He heaped all manner of in
dignities upon the prisoners, except
to shoot them when they came to the
windows to get mouttful of air.


This rigorous treatment was grad
uaily relaxed, however and when
spring came, Ransom and his two
fellow prisoners were allowed to
make gardens for themselves. 1t was
while thus employed that they con
ceiyed the idea of attempting to es-
cape to the American shore by means
Of raft. They lashed together all
the sticks and wood they could lay
their hands on, burying the main
portion in the sand, and leaving such
parts to protrude as would give the
appearance of sticks placed there to


make the boundary Of the garden
beds


They managed to secure some
bread, pork, and salt, and on the Sth
of June, 1881, just as night was clos
ing in, they unearthed their raft, and
committed themselves to the treach-
erous St. Lawrence. They were
hardly free from shore when the
alarm-gu of the fort doomed out
with terrible distinctness. and the fu-
gitives knew their escape had been
discovered.


The current Of the river Was o
powerful that IL was almost impossi-
bic to control their crazy structure,
added to which, they found its mate
rials were too slight, and it was set
tling in the water. It was soon
eighteen inches below the surface,
when they were barely able TO keep
afioat and maintain their places on it.
That was long and perilous night
to the fugitives. 1t seemed impossi-
BILE to avoid being wrecked and
drowned,or to land where they would
be re-captured by the British soldiers
or Indians At daybreak they eff
fected landing on the Canada side
but when they attempted to walk
they found it impossible Their low
er limbs. from resting motionless in
the icy current, all night, were as if
they were really dead, and they were
compelled - crawl to the bushes,
where, by switching themselves smart
ly, and vigorously rubbing, they at
length, succeeded in restoring anima-
tion.


When night came they resumed
their journey, searching along the
bank for some canoe III which to
cross the ST. Lawrence to the Ameri-
can side They, finally, discovered
one but it was so faithfully guarded
by two ferocious dogs that they were
unable to appropriate it. Passing
on, they came upon two little bark
canoes, which they speedily confs-
Gated, and made their way to the 9TH
er shore


They now directed their course
toward the head of Lake Ghamplain.


Their bread was soaked and spoil
ed but they managed to secure their
meat and salt. On this the three men
lived for seven days, ,concealing them
selves during the daytime and trav-
cling at night. For over week,
their way led them through an i'm
mense swamp, during which time
they we've compelled to drink water
as filthy as it is possible to imagine,
and live upon snakes and frogs
They, finally, became 80 weakened
and worn down, that one of their
number gave out entirely, and insist
ed OH lying down to die. The others
told him if he did they would slice
up his body and eat it. This dread
ful threat spurred him onward, but he
finally, became feverish, and mani
festly could go no further. Most for
tunately, at this juncture, they reach
ed a spring of pure, ice-cold water.
The sick man took a long draught
and lay down beside it. Finding it
impossible to arouse him, the others
gathered a pile of wood, caught a
quantity of frogs and snakes, and
building a booth over him, bade him
farewell


Ransom and his companion, by this
this time were nearly used up, and
they advanced with faltering steps.
On the fourteenth day they discover
ed two old horses, which at first
thought. they decided to kill for their
beef; but few minutes consultation
decided them to mount and give
them free rein, allowing them to go
where they pleased, in the belief that
they would convey them to some hu-
man habitation. The disposition Of
the animals, at first, was emphatical-
ly against going at all but this was
overcome in the usual manner, and,
to their delight, they speedily fetched
up at the residence of genial-heart-
ed, old lady who took them in, fed
them very sparingly at first, and, af-
ter several days, sent them On their
way, like giants refreshed with new
wine.


At last they reached Poultney, in
Vermont, where Ransom made his
home for time with an uncle. About
three weeks after this who should
make his appearance but the man
they had left to die by the spring in
the great swamp. Rest, nourishment
of the frogs, and the pure cold water,
had sustained him, until his system
rallied, when he concluded to post
pom his death for the present. and re-
sumed his journey.


When he had fairly recovered, Geo.
P. Ransom rejoined the army at West
Point, rising to the rank of colonel,