Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1866-05-30
MISSING RATIoNs.

In one of our interview with the
freedmen at Newbern some of them,
who were employed in the Commits
sary Department Of the Bureau, stated
that rations in bulk had been frequent
y taken from the supply warehouse
at unusual hours, before the doors
were opened for the transaction of
business, and hauld off in carts andi
wagons, and that on one occasion they
had followed cart containing four
barrels of pork to see if it went to the
freedmen ration, house They ascer.
tanned that it did not. We investigat-
ed this particular case. Captain Rose
kranz stated that he knew nothing
about il. His brother, citizen, whom
he has employed to act as a commits
sary sergeant, stated that the four
barrels of pork alluded to were order
ed by himself to be taken from the
storehouse to the building from which
ratons arc issued 10 the freedmen,
but that the driver of the cart had
made mistake and took the pork to-
the wrong place, a provision store
kept by Mr.. p Merwin, and that inn
mediately on discovering the mistake
he had ii rectified and the pork re-
turned TO the storehouse Afterwards
we called upon MIR. Merwin. who
stated that at about the time Mr..
Ros, kranz said the pork had been sent
by mistake TO his store he borrowed
four barrels Of pork from Captain
Rosekranz, which he had not yet re-
turned He also stated that Captain
Rosekranz on that day, and after his
examination before us, called at. has
store and requested him to return,the
four barrels OF pork immediatel " Mr..
Mnrwin further stated that he had
exchanged with Capt. Rosekranz-two
barrels OF brown sugar for two barrels
ofwhite sugar, and paid Capt. Rose
kranz five cents per pound for maxi
ing the exchange.
THE CRUELTIEs OF REV. Mr.. FILZ-
, Opposite Newbern, on the south bank
Of the Trent river, there is settle
ment composed exclusively Of freed
men, and containing population of
J about four thousand, whose condition
is truly deplorable. These unfortu-
nate people came within our lines and
, were located there during the war,
They are living in small huts, built 10y
themselves of lumber manufactured
by hand; these hnts, generally contain
ing but a single room, each of which
is occupied, in most cases, by largo
, families. The appearance of this set
tlement, recently scouraged with the
small pox, is well calculated to excite
the deepest sympathy for the helpless
condition of its inhabitants. The do
crepit and helpless among them arc
supported by the Government of the
Il United States, and the remainder pro-
cure an uncertain and scanty living
from little jobs about Newburn-from
fishing from small boats, huckstering,
, &c. The Rev. Mr. Fitz formerly an
) army chaplain, presdes over this col
! ony as assistant superintendent of the
; bureau for the Trent river settlement.
+ This agent has exercised the most ar
/, bitrary and despo,ic power, and prac-
= ticed revolving and unheard-of cruel
, ties on the helpless freedmen under
his charge The outrageous conduct
of tins man was brought to our atten-
, lion by delegation OF freedmen from
| the settlement, who called upon us
, and made statements in relatiun to
his expressions aud outrageous which
we could scarcely credit. After hear
: ing their statements we visited the
= settlement, convened the freedmen,
: investigating the charges against this
. man, and ascertaincd that he had been
l guilty Uf even greater wrongs and OPP
: prcssiOns than had been complained
. of. In addition to the testimony of
/, the freedmen, we toulx the statements
+ of four intelligent ladies from the
i North, who are teaching school in the
!. settlement Among the many acts Of
c cruelty committed by Superintendent
!. Fitz, we found that he hand in two
5 instances suspended freedmen with
i cords around their writs. Il cir feet
$ not touching the floor, and kept them
!. in this position, In one case four, in
the other case six hours that he sem
:. tenced a freedman TO an animprsonmcnt
i OF three months for trivial offence,
i that of wrangling with bis wifo. He
1 k,pt another man, who was arrested
i tor debt shut up IN the black house.
e the prison--ior months, while his wife
" end children redaced 70 aheot desti.