clotelle(有色女英雄)-第31部分
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〃De darkies at de Norf am ris； And dey am comin'
down Am comin' down； I know dey is； To do de white
folks brown！ Dey'll turn ole Massa out to grass； And set
de niggas free； And when dat day am come to pass We'll
all be dar to see！ So shut your mouf as close as deafh； And
all you niggas hole your breafh； And do de white folks brown！
〃Den all de week will be as gay As am de Chris'mas
time； We'll dance all night and all de day； And make de
banjo chime And make de banjo chime； I tink； And pass
de time away； Wid 'nuf to eat and nuf to drink； And not a
bit to pay！ So shut your mouf as close as deafh； And all you
niggas hole your breafh； And make de banjo chime。〃
How to escape from prison was ever the thoughts by day and dreams
by night of the incarcerated。 Plans were concocted； partly put into
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execution； and then proved failures。 Some of these caused increased
suffering to the prisoners after their discovery； for； where the real parties
could not be found； the whole were ill…treated as a punishment to the
guilty。 Tunnelling was generally the mode for escape； and tunnelling
became the order of the day； or； rather； the work for the night。 In the latter
part of November； 1863； the unusual gaiety of the prisoners showed that
some plan of exit from the prison was soon to be exhibited。
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CHAPTER XXXVIII
THE GREAT TUNNEL AND THE MISTAKE
FOR several weeks； some ten or fifteen of the most able…bodied of
the prisoners had been nightly at work； and the great tunnel； the
ever projected by men for their escape from prison； was thought to be
finished； with the exception of the tapping outside of the prison wall。 The
digging of a tunnel is not an easy job； and； consequently； is of slow
progress。 The Andersonville prisoners had to dig ten feet down into the
earth； after cutting through the floor； and then went a distance of fifty feet
to get beyond the wall。 The digging was done in the following way： As
soon as the operator was below the surface； and had a place large enough
to admit the body； he laid down upon his face； at full length； and with his
knife； spoon； piece of earthenware； or old iron； dug away with all his
energies； throwing the dirt behind him； which was gathered up by a
confederate； carried off； and hi。 This mode of operating was carried on
night after night； and the flooring replaced during the day； to prevent
suspicion。 The want of fresh air in the tunnel； as it progressed to
completion； often drove the men from their work； and caused a delay；
which proved fatal to their successful escape。 The long…looked for day
arrived。 More than three hundred had prepared to leave this hated abode；
by the tunnel。 All they waited for was the tapping and the signal。 The
time came； the place of egress was tapped； and the leader had scarcely put
his head out of the hole； ere he was fired upon by the sentinels； which
soon alarmed and drew the entire guard to the spot。 Great was the
commotion throughout the prison； and all who were caught in the tunnel
were severely punished。
This failure seemed to depress the spirits of the men more than any
previous attempt。 Heavy irons were placed upon the limbs of many of
the prisoners； and their lot was made otherwise harder by the keepers。
Clotelle； though often permitted to see the prisoners and contribute to their
wants； and； though knowing much of their designs； knew nothing of the
intended escape； and therefore was more bold in her intercessions in their
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behalf when failure came upon them。
The cruelty which followed this mishap； induced Clotelle to interest
herself in another mode of escape for the men thus so heavily ironed。
Pete； the man of all work； whose sympathies were with the Union
prisoners； was easily gained over to a promise of securing the keys of the
prison and letting the men escape； especially when Clotelle offered him
money to enable him to make good his own way to the North。
The night of the exodus came。 It was favored with darkness； and it
so happened that the officials were on a spree； owing to the arrival of
Confederate officers with news of a rebel victory。
Before getting the keys； Pete supplied the sentinels on duty with
enough whiskey； which he had stolen from the keepers' store…room； to
make them all drunk。 At the chosen moment； the keys were obtained by
Pete； the doors and gates were opened； and ninety…three prisoners；
including the tunnel workers； whose irons were taken off； made their
escape； allowing the faithful negro to accompany them。 Nothing was
known of the exit of the men till breakfast hour on the next morning。 On
examination of the store…room； it was found； that； in addition to the
whiskey Pete had taken a large supply of stores for the accommodation of
the party。 Added to this； a good number of arms with ammunition had
been furnished the men by the African。
The rebels were not prepared to successfully pursue the fleeing
prisoners； although armed men were sent in different directions。 Nothing；
however； was heard of them till they reached the Union lines。 Long
suspected of too freely aiding Union prisoners； Clotelle was now openly
charged with a knowledge of the escape of these men； and was compelled
to leave Andersonville。
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CHAPTER XXXIX
CONCLUSION
THE fiendish and heartless conduct of a large number of the people
of the South towards Union men during the war； and especially the
unlady…like demeanor of rebel women at New Orleans and other points； is
a matter that has passed into history。 In few places were the women more
abusive to those of Union proclivities than the female portion of the
inhabitants of Greenville； Alabama。 While passing through this town； on
her return from Andersonville to New Orleans； Clotelle had to encounter
the fierce ill…treatment of these chivalrous daughters of the South。 There
were； during the rebellion； many brave and generous women； who； in the
mountains and lowlands of Alabama； gave aid to Federals；soldiers and
civilians； in their wanderings and escape from the cruelties of the traitors。
One of these patriotic women was arrested while on a visit to Greenville
for the purpose of procuring medicine and other necessaries for sick Union
men then hid away in the woods。 This large…hearted womanEunice
Hastingshad her horse taken from her； robbed of the goods she had
purchased； and； after experiencing almost death at the hands of the rebel
women； was released and turned out penniless； and without the means of
reaching her home in the country； when Clotelle； who had just arrived at
the dilapidated and poorly kept hotel； met her； and； learning the particulars
of her case； offered assistance to the injured woman； which brought down
upon her own head the condemnation of the secesh population of the place。
However； Clotelle purchased a fine horse from the landlord； gave it to
Miss Hastings； who； after securing some articles for which she had come
to Greenville； left town under cover of night； and escaped further
molestation。 This act of kindness to a helpless sister at once stirred up the
vilest feelings of the people。
〃The worst of slaves is he whom passion rules。〃
As has already been said； there was nothing in the appearance of
Clotelle to indicate that a drop of African blood coursed through her veins；
except； perhaps； the slight wave in the hair； and the scarcely perceptible
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brunettish tinge upon the countenance。 She passed as a rebel lady； yet the
inhabitants of Greenville could not permit sympathy with； and aid to； a
Union woman to pass unnoticed； and therefore resolved on revenge。
〃Revenge； at first though sweet； Bitter ere long； back on itself recoils。〃
Clotelle's person； trunks； and letters were
