The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1865-11-24
Wjrz.-Eis Life and Eistcry.

WiTz case has revived the interest in every-
thing pertaining 10 him until it has again
become The bsoIbipg topic on the street.
For the purpose of obtaining legitimate
Information concerning the convict ad-
dressed written communication to the
secretary OF war, stating that since WINS
conviction OF atrocities unparalleled in
modern times, everything connected with
biz paren.age, education aud former pur-
suits in life was Of great public interest,
and requested 10 visit him in prison, for
the purpose OF obtaining such information
as hs chose to communicate for pubica-
ton in The Herald, if, in the opinion Of
the secretary, such publication would not
be Incompatible with the ends Of public
justice. Mr.. Stanton furnished the neces.
safy passport cLoerfuliy, and designated
Col. Chatin, Of the war department, az
,be officer to accompany me and be press
ent at the interview. accordingly drove
to the old capitol prison. Major Russell,
Of the provost marshaPs department, pre-
pared Nrz tor the visit, and subsequent
~ leading the way to his room and for
malIy introducing US.
Wiz is at present confined lr room No
9, on the third floor, and is strongly
guarded day and night. The only door
OF the room opens into a hall, through
which sentinel PAGES continually. One
or more commissioned or non com IN ission-
ed officers are constantly present, and the
unfortunate man is not left alone for a
-. -
feet square, with Two strongly barred win
dows looking out nc1thwarG on A street
north. Its furniture consists Of an army
cot and necessary blankets, small, cheap
wooden table, three or four wooden chairs
il various stages of dilapidation, one or
two small vess els ard tin candlestick
Tie room is warmed by a CRATE which
lends cheerful aspect to its appearance
As we entered Wirz rose aud came for
ward to NEE. us with an amiable and
pleased expression of corntenance, entire
y At variance with the demoDcal express
ion 50 often attributed to him. His right
arm was carried in sling, in consequence
Of the breaking out OF an old wound re
ceived at Fair Oaks and a recent extensive
exfoiiation Of the bone. Ia answer to
whether 1t was troublesome or not he re-
piled, Yes, | ought to be writing some,
but cannot 40 it on account of nv sore
arm. There is a large sore on it," show
ing his arm ut is from an old wound"
| stated that did not desire to be i'm
pertinent or importunate, but if aereea
Die TO himself would like to have such
information concerning himself as he was
wiling to impart. lie replied as follows,
verbatim -
wIRz's HISTORY.
| have no secrets OF my past life. nor
of ny present. ! am native of Swiizer-
land. My name is Henry Wirz. NY
fat II was a tailor. In 1884 he gave it
up and was in the Custom House, the last
| heard from him. and perhaps is vet. |
have not heard from him lately. He is
eighty three years old. My mother died
IN 1913. | have one brother and had one
sister; she died unmarried in 1889. NV
brother is blind. | was born on the 25th
of Nov. 1923. There were seven years
between my sister and myself, and seven
between her and my brother. ii, father
wanted me to study for the pulpit l did
not like it. had an inclination TO study
medicine, and he would not let me ; final
ly he compromised with me, and | was
pat in d commercial house. I staid in a
iarge barking house two years. in Zurich
then went to Italy. Ny people used
TO be Catholics, l believe. | Travelled
all over Italy. | could not say
that staid anywere, wanted to travel
| came to New York in 1S49. and tried
to get INTO situation as physician bur
as | could no, speak English | soon saw
could not do that. then went to Con-
neclcut did not care to make any
thing if | could only get along. then
vent to Lawrence, Mass, aud worked for
= shoit time as weaver at one of the
looms. bad then learned English en-
ough to get along, and was soon engaged
as interpreter in a factory three miles from
where German. were EN-
pioyed; was afterwards engaged as super
lntendent of water cure establishment in
northampton, Mass. That wa. IN 1850
and 1851. | had then an offer made me
by a gentleman living some twenty miles
from Hopkinsvile, Kentucky one DR..
Webster. | STAYED with him some two
nonths, TIL was convinced be was q
bunting be could not pay me my wsg>
e. While here / had got acqraiated
With some ladies' aud gentlemen, who had
been thsra 10 get treated. and there mar,
lie6 my present wife. Elizabeth S.vils. in
1884, at Cadiz, Kentucky. / stayed
there some SIX months: it did not suit
me ; the place was too small. | went 10
Louisville and went ia with Dr. Caspari. |
and STAYED with him through the summer
Of 1885. | was superintendent, Of his
water cure establishment, situated on Sec |
Dnd strret between Walnut and Chestnut. |
Then | 60: acquainted with Mrs R J. |
Marshall, OF Natchez Mis.. After the
season was over somewhat | went there |
Mr. Marshall made an engagement with
With me to take charge Of one of his plan
atoms, snd continued 10 this situation
Iii the war commenced. | first went
here by myself; he gave me three hun
lref dollars per annun, and had horse
whenever | wanted one was at Cd ex-
'ense whatever. | took my family there
n 1857. | went from there to Millken's
Send. The plantation on which Marshall
wed was about three miles from Milk
ms Bend.
HE ENTERS THE REBEL ARMY