The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1862-01-03
How Col. COfcOran Escaped Interest
ing Statement.


| From the narrative of S. D. Hurd, of
Maine, who arrived in New York on
Monday from Charleston jail. we extract
the following regarding that Jail, and the
escape of Colonel Corcoran, at the time
Of the great FIRE:
The Jail was large brick building on
broad street, aud nearly all the prisoners
were in large upper room. the windows
of which were barred and closed with
iron shutters. except one small one over
looking a very narrow street in the rear
Of the building. Mr. Hurd states that
the fire broke out, as nearly as he could
judge, in gas house, next door to a
sash and blind factory, and that it spread
with great rapidity. Great efforts were
made to extinguisb it but without the
slightest effect. The engines. worked
by negroes and white men, seemed utter
ly powerless, and the flames spread final
ly to the Jail, the roof OF which was on
fire. No movement was made to let the
prisoners out. The guards usually sta
toned around the building were away,
and no soldiers were visible. Mr.. Hurd
states that Colonel Corcoran was the
first to leap through the window, ex-
claiming as he went out, "Here goes for
Beaufort or the North" Hurd was the
next, and he says as he struck upon the
pavement half dozen others came up-
on him, and the whole room was speedily
emptied of its inmates. They spent the
nj ht in the vicinity of the flames, keep.
ing together as well as they could-many
of them being severely wounded. They
had nothing to eat and nothing to drink
except some liquor which one of theil
number got from the cellars Of houses
from which the occupants had been driv
en- by the flames.
At about 10 o'clock guards were sen
to take them in charge. They treatec
them with great brutality, striking with
their guns those who did not move quick,
ly enough. One of the soldiers told tht
Sergeant of the guard that Colonel Corco
ran was missing. His reply was. tina
perhaps he was burned, if not he mus
be hunted up. Men were sent to lool
after him. At 9 O'Clock the whole squad
Of prisoners were driven to Castle Pink
ney again, where they were left in tht
open court yard through the whole o
that day and the following night. withou
shelter of any kind, and no other clothing
than that in which they made their es
cape. Colonel Corcoran was not il
Castle Pinkney with the rest of th,
prisoners, nor had Mr. Hurd been abl,
to obtain any intelligence concerning HIM
He thinks it probable that he has mad'
an effort to escape to Beaufort.
On Thursday Hurd and half. doze,
other wounded prisoners were told tha
they would be Gent North. Six others
udulGu IIAtIk uneS, Oh NtWIOunClaDQ
Nicholson, Of Vermont, and McB len
O'B,ien, Wilson and Wi,mot were re
leased on taking an oath not to serv
again against the South, nor reveal an,
thing they might have learned there
They were all put into railroad trail
and taken to Richmond and thence t.
Norfolk--having nothing to eat or drinl
on the way. From Norfolk they wer
sent under flag Of truce to Fortres
Monroe, and thence to Washington.
Mr.. Hurd says that the treatment c
of the prisoners has been brutal and in
famous. Their allowance was a quar-
OF oatmeal and three pints of water
/ day, and they were constantly expose
| to the SCOTS, jeers and insults of tie rnot
5 At Richmond they were required to d
picket duty part of the time, and to shoe
f.: any prisoners whom they saw lookn
out at a window. Hurd, himself wa
in this way wounded in the neck, and
fellow prisoner from Maine, named D ag
get was killed.