Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-08-16
THE CONSIDERATIONS.


Meianc aeIy and ueditsting suicide
Throwing wet Bianks G. over span
gIer-The whosc party IN hurst
of Grief. &C.
From the Washington Chrouicie, August q
In the course ofa pleasant conversation with
Cspt.in George W. button, company 9, Tenth
Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps, who has Just
retained from the Dry Tortugas. We have OBJ
tanned some Interesting facts relative TO The con
spirators and their trip 70 the rock bound for
tress which ia 20 be for three Of them,) their
last earthly home. Captain Dutton. with
gesnt, two corporsls and tveniy-six men. re
ported At TIE Washington Arsenal on the morn
ing Of Sunday, July 10, and taking charge of
the prisoners, placed them on board the steamer
State Of Maine. bound for Fortress Monroe,
which point they reached a. p. III on the 18th.
They were then transfsrred to the Florida. Cap
tain Badd, all entirely ignorant of their destina-
ton. At dark On the 18th the Florida reached
Port Royal, s. c.. where she discharged a cargo
Of sordaye. lie, and eoaled. On the Olaf she
sailed fos The Dry TorsHgas. reaching that barren
and lnh0spltaols spot on the 24!h JasI Que week
after her departure from Fortress Monroe
During the voyage all the prisoners more
or less afflicted with sea sickness, aud AZ one
tine half OF The guards were unfit for duty. DIR.
Mudd and Arnold were particularly vretchcd
Spanxler. although quite sick, was given to prac-
teal joking FINDING tia, while sick he could
get from the surgeon, DR.. Porter, nnodicum
Of French brandy. he concluded 10 take sick at
various odd times, always With pains for which
RIM 9alliei s7iritas il supposed TO be sovereign
cure; but bis trick was discovered aud be was,
much to his chagrin, obliged to qHaf Jamaica gin
ger in place OF the more palatable beverage
He was generally qste laxative, and expressed
himself az being satisfied with the action OF the
Military Commission. but continued 10 assert
bis innocence OF participation in the crime OF as
sassination. In . conversation with Captain
Dutton. he remarked that he knew nothing OF
Booths designs, and that even after the murder.
while Booth was passing through the theatre, he
vas unaware Of the foul deed which had been
committed "The fact il, Captain" said he
Booth was privileged character at Ford'.. He
lad the run Of the house At all times, day and
night: had access 10 the dressing rooms. and fre
quently came TO the reheArsals unsnuOunced,
and always By the rear entrance He was a
great favorits. and spent money freely When
ever be came with his horse, he always called
FOR me TO groom the animal, an5 | have many
time BACKED Bis boots and done other mental
work for him. | did not close the door behind
Booth. Ii spring door. which you can
see when you get back TO Washington, and
closed OF Itself unless you held it open There
was nsthing unusnai IN NV holding Booths horse
on the night OF the murder, for | hs6 done it
twenty times before. didn't see nov the Com
mission which tried me could have decided other
wise in my case. considering the evidence; but
| am not guilty of having anything TO do with
the crime"
SPangler was very lively during the voyage
and several times ran up the ladder from the
hold, three steps al a time. heavily iroBed AS he
Was. lie was quite jubilant over TIE idea that
be would not be prisoner for life IL come
ont all right-six years Is not such long time
after all, said he. You neeG not felicitate
~ harrr q.
Ter. said DR.. Mud. Il don't know where they
arc taking us. but il il Is to the Dry Tortugas,
there 10 no more chance for you than for me
None OF US will live more than two years
Up - this time not word had been dropped
in reference 10 the ultimate destination Of tho
consprAtors. but they had occupied themselves in
discussing the possibilities Of residence at
Albany, . trip TO some port on the gulf or u
sudden death by drowning. OLaughln was
very reiicent. rarely entering into convcrsaiioD
even with bis fellow prisoners Mudd carried
with him printed copy OF The evidence educed
during his trial. and took great pleasure in pick
ing il 10 pieces He IS described by our in
formant, as man OF good education consider
able shreHdness, and strong rebel procvties
he WAS never CT his guard. always bordering a
question well before returning an answer, and in
varisbly spoke OF Mrs Surratt ~ having been
unustly executed Ii will be remembered that
on bis trial. Mudd denied all knowledge of Booth
previous To the visit OF the lame assassin TO the
doctors house, but 10 Captain DGiton he con
iessed that he was acquainted with Booth for
some time before the murder la regard to that
deplorsble crime he asserted that he did not
know of il until after Booths departure Mudd
was very gloomy during the voyage. aud fears
were entertained by his guard that be contem-
plated suicide. he was accordingly closely
watched, very much TO his indignation
why do you keep so closely guardedg''
said he to the officer in charge OF him
Because, said Captain D.. 4 am afraid
may lose you"
"How lose met There IS surely no chance for
me to escape here and you do not suspect that
I would kill myself ?"
That IS just what fear: and until get NV
receipt for your body from the commandsnt Of
the post TO which YOU are consigned. | deem
il my duty to have your every step strictly
watched
well, Captain. you need have 10 fear on
my account would put end 10 my miser-
able existence, but for the thought of eternity
| am afraid TO die although can bear this ter
rible life. which is so much worse than death
When of the coast of Florida. the weather
being warm, the prisoners Ueg5 allowed TO sleep
oa dec.. and during The day their irons were re-
moved. They were very grateful for this un-
Inerited kindness and showed their appreciation
by giving little trouble as possible TO those
steamer
came in sight OF the Dry Torsugas, on the 2ith.
IL made known 10 the criminals that this
treelsss. ifeless place vas to be their prison
They cried ike children. Mudd and Arnold. in
particular. e'ineng the poignant grief
The former paced the deck. wringing his
hands, and sxclsiming, time and again,
There is no hope for me Arnold be~ailad
his fate ia piteous tenes Ne said, Il wish this
were Albany, or any other place where nv
mother and sisters could Sometimes see me.
might bear my Imprisonment. but here shall
have no one TO live for" Madd declared. when
his paroIysm OF grief had subsidad. that he
should lose no opportunity 10 effect his escape
When asked where be would go to IL he sue
ceeded in eluding the vigilance OF the garrison
he cried out, Home Government would not
touch me there. IL could not hunt me down in
ths nidst Of my wife and children -
Shortly after the landing or the steamer. Col.
Hamilton, oss0undred and Tenth Ne~ York
Nolunteers. commanding the post. proposed to
assign Dr. Mud 10 duty "a hospital steward and
Arnold clerk. aud provide the others with
employment 10 which they were best adapted
On the following day the Florida left for key
West. TO coal. >pansler sending to Mr. Ford. by
IL a. ~, l.