Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-07-11
FROM FORT McHENRY.
The Prisoners at the Fort Personal Descriptions
Governor Hicks and the 1871 Of Aprii-The
Fourth at the Fort

The Prisoners at the Fort Personal Descriptions
--Governor Hicks and the 18Th of ApriI---Ihe
Fourth at the Fort.
Fort McHENRY, July 4, 1861.
1t may probably be OF some interest to your
readers to peruse some biographical sketches
Of the most prominent rebels that are impris
oned at Fort McIIenry. In this letter my
sketches will be chiefly devoted to the personal
appearance of the prisoners. Yesterday,
acted "as orderly" of Lieut.. Pickett, who was
"oficer Of the day" / had, therefore, good
personal observations. l believe it is the duty
of the officer of the day to take the prisoners
every day, out on the ramparts to walk rea-
sonable length of time with them, one or two
at time. The prisoners occupy three rooms
in the barracks, right above the adjutant gen.
erals Office, and one tent in front of it. The
moneyed men and high traitors have the bet
ter quarters, the rooms, while the poor fellows,
or less eliminated ones, are confined in the
tent. The logic of old days holds also good
here-the more money, the more regard.
Members Of their families are allowed to visit
them daily, and TO provide III, IN with all the
necessaries of life, with books, paper, ink,
pens, etc. They make use OF the privilege to
the greatest possible extent. Mr.. Merriman
is allowed to be waited upon by his own
property, which happens to be a man, a ne
gro, who told me, in his innocence OF mind,
during conversation the other day, that he
thought the South" 1.-THE most rabd rebel or.
gam was a pretty good paper, as it was so
nicely printed. The first two that were taken
on the ramparts were marshal Kane and police
commissioner Kinks"
: MARSHALL KANE is Al years of age, about
six feet two inches tall, Of very dark complex
ion. Nature provided him with beautiful,
strong, and tremendously developed frame.
He wears full beard, which is carefully kept
in trim, giving his chin very fine rounding
off. His whole appearance is rather prepos-
sessing and apt to command respect. To
whatever cause he might devote his energy,
he would be one of those to whom people
would naturally look to as leader. These
| qualities make him dangerous foe, more SO
| than the average of men, In conversation, he
| is apparently open and free, but the close OBJ
server will notice that lie possesses the Ginning
| eye Of the dplomatist. and the peculiar smile
of the aristocrat. On the whole, l think he
| would be more appreciated military ma"
than as a statesman. he admits that his
! sympathies are with the south, but denies that
he had hand in the outrageous proceedings
Of the mob OIL the 10Th OF April. He admits
that he had to burn the bridges, yet by order
of Mayor Brown and Gov. Hicks.
Mr.. Kinks, police commissioner, is a man
of about iorty-tve years Of age, dark COM
pexion, about six feet high. He is a very
weak and consumptive looking man. Yet his
eye and forehead indicate him to be man OF
keen perception and quick decision of mind
He is rather of the nervous temperament
The delicate health OF Mr.. Kinks rendered his
confinement dangerous to his life. Upon the
application Of his friends to the proper author
ity in Washington he was released to-day, on
his parole Of honor.
Mr.. GATcHELL, police commissioner, is about
sixty years of age, five feet four inches tall
OF light complexion, very fieshy face, and hair
almost gray. If he was little more corpu.
lent think he would he perfect illustration
of Fastaff His manner of walk, and his
whole appearance seem to indicate that lie
takes the world easy, burying all troubles and
tribuatlons in the social glass, and the noisy
surroundings of congenial friends" lie was
appointed police commissioner not on account
of intellectual qualities, but on the instigation
of his friends who wanted to get rid of pc.
cuniary burthen.
Mr.. HOWARD, police commissioner is about
sixty years old, of dark complexion, five feet
ten inches high, hair intermixed with gray
There is nothing peculiar about the man, if
his apparent inclination to be easily irritated,
ito be "cross") is not considered as such. His
features would not betrsy his advanced age.
Mr.. MERRIAM, is of lively temperament ;
his manner, his address, his walk, indicate the
polished, social, yet naughty STAKEHOLDER, who
seems to cherish consciousness that he is of
greater Importance than all the world around
him. He is man with whom one might get
acquainted without putting himself TO great
deal of trouble, but who would afterwards as.
sumo an air of superiority that would cause
more pity than anger He is fair represen.
tative of a STAKEHOLDER of Maryland. Mr..
Merriman takes great interest in agricultural
pursuits.
S. w. DAVIS is another one of the police
commissioners of Baltimore, who is confined
in the fort. l have not seen him SO closely as
to give any outline of his personal appearance
Of the other prisoners will only mention the
names. There is WEIGH, arrested for attempt
ing to poison sentinels with strv chnine wills.
key Gen. Iench TiIghman who refused to
obey the proclamation OF Gov Hicks of Mary.
land in which the Governor called in the state
arms. Tilghman received some time ago lot
of state arms for militia companies. 1t is said
he sent them south. EUenbrook a lager beer
saloon keeper who is accused of having parti
cipated in the affairs OF the 18th of April
There are still more, but this moment / can
not recall their names.
In regard to the 18th of April affair in Bal
timore, and the subsequent burning of tn,
bridges, Gov. Hicks OF Maryland was mucl
criticised by the press, though not quite un
Justly. From reliable sources, have the in
formation that Gov. Hicks happened to be ii
Baltimore on that memorable day. He wa.
surrounded by the fercest of the rebels, who
tried to get his consent to burn the bridges
etc, by intimidation. They gave him ever
just cause to fear for the safety of his life. Il
is not known though believed that the cover