The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-06-19
THE PRISONER AT OLD POINT.
THE fortunes OF HIS IMPRISONMENT.

prison. These show to what refinement
his fortunes had been carried. His own
account of the effect ON himself OF the
brilliant light which was every night kept
bcaming in his face excites thrill ol nor
ror as il is read. The Humanitarian OF the
War Department will win the thanks OF
the whole world by the gcntlcness and ten
dcrncss Of heart displayed through the
prison discipline OF Fortress Monroe
IN his SnACkLEs.
Told um 10 spend as little time in bed
az ne could; that exercise was the best
medicine for dyspcptic patients. To tbs
he answered bg mcorerjng tie blankets from
his feet and shoring ne has Stacked ankles.
at is impossible for me, Doctor; can
not even stand erect. These shacklcS are
very heavy: know not, with the chain,
how many pounds. If try to move, they
trip me, and have already abradcd broad
patches of skin from the parts they touch.
Can you devise no means 10 pad or cushion
them, so that when | try 10 drag them
along they may not chafc me SO intolc-
rahly NV limbs have SO little flesh on
then, and that 50 weak as TO be easily
lacer4tcd."
At sight OF this | turned away, pro-
missing TO see what could be done.
He expressed great concern lest his wife
should hear through newspapers OF the
scene in his cell when he was ironcd.
Would it be published, did think And
on my remaining silent-ior | knew it ha
been sent to the newspapers on the after
noon of its transpiring-hc intcrlaccd his
fingers across his eyes, and calculated
"Oh, my poor wife, my poor, poor girl
How the heart -rending narrative Will aiillct
hcr."
DR.. CRAVEN appealed to General MILES
To have the slackles removed, urging that
exercise was indispensable for his patient
saying:
" No drmlS conhidda digestion naturally
treak and so impaired, ,rittOW exercise nor
coud anything in the phrmacop0ja quid
na'rtS ~ 0rr-uTOuyM and shattered, Tl,le
the continual irritation Of the letters ,ras
co,n,trpoiSing whaterer medicines might be
yjrG.'
TIE GRATED DOORS AND THE Two FRIENDS"
MAY 26.-Dr. Craven found Mr.. Davis
complaining of intense debility with gene
raj nervousness and headache, aggravated /
by the noise of mechanics employed in
taking down the wooden doors between his
cell and the exterior guard-room, and
replacing these lrith iron gratiugS, 50 that
he couid at all times b. seen by The SentrjeS
in the outSjde room as rel as by the t,ro
"SH,nt friendS," rho rere the tutSpedkilf =
companions Of his solitude. deem
REMOVAL OF THE SHACKL,ys
The shacklcS were rcmouse." RS.
May-having been ON tc~'oissd on the 18th
~ re 81 meetpo WI >.'~s' )" five DAYS. The
'iiPe Association wasc Doctor is thus de-
scribed:
Mr.. Davis rose from his seat, both hands
extended, and his eyes filled with tears
He was evidently about to say something,
but checked himself, or was checked by
rush of emotion, and sat down upon his
bed.
HIS INDICTMENT.
On June lst heard of his indictment.
Remarked to the Doctor during the day:
"lIumanitv suppoSeS every man lnno-
cent" urged Mr.. Davis, until the re-
verse shall be proven, and the laws guar
antee certain privileges to persons held for
trial. To hold me here for trial, Hadr all
| he riqorS Of q condemned conr'ct, ~ not 'rar-
rdnted Jy ta,r-js rer0HRg to tie spirit o.
Justice. In the political history OF the
world there is no parallel to my treat
! mcnt."
NO REST-GLARlNG LIGHT AND HIS GUARD.
Found Mr.. Davis relapsing and very de-
Spondcnt. Complained again OF lntoera-
bic pains in his head. Was distracted
night and day by the unceaSing tread OF
the two sentinels in his room, and the muir
muir or gable of the guards in the outside
cell. He said his casemate was well-tormed
for torture-room of the inquiSition. Its
arched roof made ii a perfect whispering
gallery. in which all sounds were .iumbled
and repeated. The torment of his head
was 50 dreadful he feared he must lose ms
mind. Already his memory, vision, and
hearing were impaired. He had but the
remains of one eye left, and the glarlng,
whitewashcd walls were rapidly destroying
this. He pointed to crevice in the wall
where his bed had been, explaining that
he had changed to the other side to avoid
its mephitic vaporS.
THE LIGHT AND THE HORRIBLE EYE.
The following, underdate of July llth, is
one of the most thrilling pictures in the
book:
Mr.. Davis complained this slceplessness
was aggravated BY the lamp kept burning
in his room all night, so that he could be
seen at all moments by the guard in the
| outer cell. If he happened to dose one
leverish moment, the noise of relieving
guard in the next room aroused him, and
the lamp poured its full glare into his
aching and throbbing eyes. There must be
a change in this, or he would GO crazy, or
blind, or both.
"Doctor," he said, chad you ever the
consciousness of being watched! Of nav
IN eye fixed on YOU every moment, m
ing corr, 'mizing your most minute ac-'
. ..n' and the var,.ntions of your co2h'e-
, uoncs a." and posture1 The consciousness
,nat the Omniscient Eye rests upon US III
every situation is the most consoiihe anu
beautiful belief of religion. But 10 haSe
j., human eve riveted on YOU III enois
moment of waking, or sleeping, sil''ns,
walking, or living down, IS Iehhei'i.n.
" torture on anything the CamancheS
OF or SPANS; Spanish Inquisition ever dreamed MED;
I'll They Sp in their ignorance of cruel
a ,n', on,y struck at the body; ana
a ,hs nerves e have a very limited capacity OF
main. This is a maddening, lncesSah1 ao.-
ture of the mind, increasing WIN eve.
mnment il is end ured, and shaking the
reason by its incessant recurrence Vi III. =,
rea as,,io - main Letting a single drop OF