The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-08-11
The Conspirators.
Incidents of the Trip to the Tortugas-
What they say as to their Sentence
-. Dnn4nn4n h,n Tnnnnnnnn

The Washington Star has some interesting
particulars of the trip of the United States
steamer Florida, Lieut.. Commander Budd,
which conveyed DR.. Mudd, Spangler, O'Laugh-
lin md Arnold to the Dry Tortugas They
VT : in charge Of Gen. Dodd, and to Surgeon
Potter was assigned the medical care. Accom-
panying the prisoners were Captain Duttor:, of
the Veteran Reserve Corps, with guard of
Is men. Colonel Turner, Assistant Judge Ad
yocate General, was also a passenger, and went
out to examine into the mode of keeping and
treating prisoners at the Dry Tortugas. The
Stars account, after stating that the prisoners,
when they left Washington, and until after
their arrival at Fortress Monroe, were entire.
ly ignorant of their destination, proceeds as
follows;
The prisoners were allowed TO be together at
times during the trip, and they frequently en-
gagged in game Of draughts &c, during the
day, but at night they were placed in separate
stale-rooms, closely guarded The weather
during the whole rrip was pleasant. and but
one on board (AIudd) was sea-siCk, and tie on
the first day at sea only. They were consider
ably depressed in spirits soon after starting, and
when Informed of their destination by General
Dodd, after leaving Port Royal on the 2lst,
they became quite gloomy, but on reaching the
Tortugas, and finding it island of about thir-
teen acres, enjoying fine sea breese and COM
paratlvey healthy, they expressed themselves
as agreeably surprised, and became more buoy
ant in spirits. On landing and seeing comfor-
table quarters inside the fort, and ciump of
cocUanut trees and other vegetation growing,
and noticing the other prisoners confined there
in good spirits, they soon became quite cheerful
! There are about $50 prisoners confined at
! the Dry Toringas at tins time, who well
treated, and seemingly enjoy life as we'll as they
could in confinement anywhere. AT present
iaere are but nine persons on the sick list, a
/ fact which speaks we'll for the treatment Of the
/ the prisoners. The lI0th New York Volun-
| teers, Col Hamilton, has been on duty here for
| the past sixteen months
! The Florida reached the Tortugas labout Go
miles from Key Vest at noon on the 25tn OF
! July, and Gen. Dodd, with his charge, immed-
/ lately landed Sam. Arnold was Immediately
! assigned to desk as clerk in the engineer de-
partment, he being familiar with such work.
! Spangler at once noticed workmen shingline
some of the buildings and expressing wish
! to take hand in his own business, was per-
mitted to resume the hatchet and saw. Or. S.
A. Mud arrived just in the nick OF time, the
surgeon of the post, who has been there for
six years past, stating that he wished an assis'
! tant DR.. Mudd was notified that he would
in future be expected to follow the practice oi
medicine among the prisoners. OLaughiIn had
not. when the Florida left, on the morning @
the 26th, had his work allotted to him but
would no doubt be assigned some suitable occu-
patton.
On the trip DR. Mudd acknowledged to Cap
tain Budd, General Dodd and others, that h
knew Booth when he came to his house. with
Harold, on the morning after the assassination,
but that he was afraid to tell of his having beer
there, fearing the life of himself and family
would be endangered thereby. He knew tina
Booth would never be taken alive. He alsC
acknowled ged that he had been acquainted will
Booth for some time, and that he was with
Booth at the National Hotel on the evening re
ferred to by Wechman that he met Booth il
the street, and Booth said he wanted him (Mudd
to introduce him to John Surratt that they
started up 7th street, on their way to Mrs
Surratt's house, and on their way they me
John Surratt and Welchman, and returned Il
Booths room at the National, where he ant
4 John Surratt had some conversation of pfi
yate character He said that the military com
mission in his case had done their duty, and, a
far as they were concerned, the sentence in hi
case was just; but some Of the witnesses ha'
sworn falsely and maliciously. Quers. How the
could the sentence have been just
O'Laughlin acknowledged that the eonr. ha
done its duty, and said that he was in the plo
to capture the President, but that after the In
effectual attempt in March, when the part
hoped to have captured the coach containing
? the President, be thought that the entire pro
{ ject was given up, and it was, as far as be wa
concerned. He denies positively that he ha
, any part or knowledge in the plot to assassinat
f,be President, General Grant or any one else
Sam. Arnold made about the same statemen
! as he did before the trial-that he was in tn
plot to capture, but not to assassinatei that ha
failed, and be considered himself our or Il, IN,