Worcester daily spy., 1861-12-25

How OUR MEN GOT OUT OF THE CHARLES
TON JAIL-FLGHT OF Coz. CoRcoRAN.--W We
have news from the Charleston fire through
one of our men who has spent some time there
as a prisoner of war, namely, Lieut.. Samuel
ID. Hurd, of Bangor, who was in the battle of
Bull Run with the second Maine regiment
He left Charleston on the 18th instant, and
gives some particulars Of the great fire in that
city, which have not been told in the newspa-
pers. AT the time Of the fire, three hundred
Of cur men were confined in the Jail. They
escaped through window, and it is believed
that Col Corcoran fled to Beaufort for he has
not been seen in Charleston since. Here is
what Lieut.. Hurd says -
"The Jail was large brick building ON
Broad street, and nearly all the prisonere were
in large upper room, the windows Of which
were barred and closed with iron shutters, ex.
cept one small one overlooking very narrow
street in the rear OF the building. Mr. Hurd
states that the fire broke out, as nearly as he
could judge, in Il gashouse, next door to
sash and blind factory and it spr ad with
great rapidity. Great efforts were made to
eXungnisl it, but without the slightest effect.
The engines, worked by negroes and whites,
seemed utterly pOwerless, and the flames
spread finally to the Jail, the roof of which
was on fire. No Increment auaS made to
iet the prisoners out. The guards usual.
ly stationed around the building were
away, and no soldiers were visible Mr..
Hurd says Col. Corcoran was the first one to
leap through the window, exclaiming as he
went out, Here goes for Beaufort or the
north" Hurd was the next, and as he struck
"a ln bal 9th
ers came upon lilt, aud the whole room was
speedily emptied OF its inmates. They spent
the night in the vicinity of the flames, keeping
together as well as they coud--many of them
being severely wounded They had nothing
to eat and nothing to drink, except some
liquor which portion of their number got
from the cellars of houses from which
the occupants had been driven by the fire.
AT about ten o'clock guards were sent to
take them in charge. They treated them with
great brutality, striking with their gnns those
OF them who did not move quickly enough.
One OF the soldiers told the sergeant of the
tfard that Col. Corc0ran was missing. His
reply was, that perhaps be was burned--if not,
lie must be hunted up. Men were sent 10 look
aiter iiin AT two o'clock the whole squad of
prisoners were driven to Castle Pinckney again
where they were left in the open courtyard
through the whole of that day and the follow
ing night without shelter OF any kind. and
with no other clothing than that in which they
made their escape. Col. Corcoran was not in
Castle Pinckney with the rest of the prison.
ers, nor had Mr.. Hurd been able to obtain any
intelligence concerning him. He thinks it
probable that he made an effort to escape to
Beaufort"
Lieut.. Hurd explains as follows the circum.
stances under which he left Charleston :
"0n Thursday. he and half dozen others
OF me wounded prisoners were told that they
would he sent north. Six others, named
Frank Tunes, Of New York; Nicholson Of
Vermont, and McBrien, O'Brien, Wilson and
Millott, were also released on taking an oath
not to serve again against the SOUTH nor re-