The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-06-20

| the brawny taschahic made an attempt to
slip one Of the shackles over the ankle SO
raised; but, as if with the cvehernence and
| strength Which frenzy can itnpart, even to
tho weakest invalid, Mr., David suddealy seiz7
cd his assailant and hurled him half way
across the room. ~aNtSgau
T. On this Captain Titlow turned, and seeing
that Davis had backed against the wall for
further resistance, began to demonstrate,
pointing out in brief, clear language, that this
course was madness, and that orders must be
enforced at any cost "Why compel me, he
said, "to add the further indignity of personal
violence to the necessity of your being iron-
cd Pc edi ~ fo.'9 l7 ndi 'f aJf t33
| II am prisoner of war" 6ercey retorted
Davis; 81 have been soldier in the armies
of America and know how to die. Only kill
me, and my last breath shall be a blessing on
your head. But while have life'and strength
to resist, for myself and for my people, this
| thing shall not beCdohe" fi-S- vs-
Hereupon Captain Ttlow called, in SER
geant aud file OF soldiers from the next room,
and the sergeant advanced to seize the prso-
ner. Immediately Mr.. Davis flew on him,
seized his musket, and attempted to wrench
it from his grasp. d''i5 o. hs'9sis VI .ssi7~r~ p
| OF course such scene could have but one
issue. There was a short passionate scutf1e.
In moment Davis was flung upon his bed,
and before his four powerful ASSISTANTS re-
moved their hands from him, the blacksmith
and his assistant had done tlieir work--one
securing the rivet on the right ankle, while
the other turned the key i'll the paddock on
| the left. .f'll.
/ This done, Mr.. Davis lay for moment as
if in stupor Then slowly raising himself
and turning round, he dropped his shacked
feet to the floor. The harsh clank of the
striking chain seems first to have recalled him
to his situation, and dropping his face into
bis hands, he burst into passionate food of
sobbing, rocking to and fro, and muttering at
brief intervals: 14"Oh, the shame, the shamep
! 1t may here be stated though out of its
due order--that we may get rid in haste Of an
unpleasant subject--that Mr.. Davis, some two
months later, when frequent visits had made
him more free OF converse gave me q curious
explanation Of the last feature in this Incl
dent. 7a5i2-.s ssiloa7f99e n q
He had been speaking of suicide and de-
nouucing it as the worst form ofcowardice and
folly. Life is not like d commission that we
can resign when Disguised with the service.
Taking it by your own hand is confession
Of Judgment to all that your worst enemies
can allege. It has often flashed across me as
a tempting remedy for neuralgic torture, but,
thapk God, l never sought my own death but
once, and then when completely fredZied and
not master Of my actions When they came
to iron me thatday, as a last resource Of des-
peration seized a soldiers rnusket and at
tempted to wrench it from his grasp, hoping
that i'll the scufde and surprise, some one
OF his comrades would shoot or bayonet
me. r r. -
The moral and physical effect of the ndig-
nifty is shown in the fact that during the time
Mr.. Davis wore the manacles his health stead
lily declined, until D.. Craven felt compelled
to report that medical necessity called for the
rem oyal of the shackles. 1t was on the 24th
the Doctor paid his first visit, when he found
his patient teverish and emaciated, suffering
from great irritation Of mind and body, and
chropic neuralgia which had destroyed the
sight of his right eye. ~ t5fsn
| The Doctor told him to spend as little time
| in bed as possible; that exercise was the best
medicine for dyspeptic patients. 70 this he
answered by ancovering the blankets from
his feet aud showing me his shackled ankles.
1t is impossible for me; Doctor; I cannot
even stand erect. These shackles are very
heavy; I know not, with the chain, how
many pounds. Ii try to move they trip me,
and have already abraded broad patches of
skin from the parts they touch. Can you
devise no means to pad or cushion them, SO
that when I try to drag them along they may
not chafe me SO intoleraby? My limbs have
so little flesh on them, and that so weak as to
be easily lacerated." 7'o- ~ ft'"' la'
That afternoon the Doc.or reported to Gen
eral Miles, urging that the continued irritation
of the letters was counterpoisng whatever
medicines, might be given s-
On the 26th he found Mr.. Davis in bed
complaining of intense debility, but could not
point to any particular complaint. The pain
IN his head had, however, after leaving him
in the night, been brought back by the noise
of wWkmen employed that morning in taking
down wooden doors and putting iron grating
between his cell and the adjoining room 50
that he could at all times be seen by the SEN
tries in the outside room as well as by the
two 'silent friends" who were the unspeak-
ing companions of his solitude. s'0
On the 9th, found the patient very weak
and responding, and having been kept awake
all night by the surging Of the Storm isod /
On the 28th, five days after the shackles
We're put, on, they were taken off. The Doc
tor CARED at q F.AM immediately on enter
ing, Mr.. Davis rose from his seat, both hands
extended. and bis eyes filed with tears He
was evidently about to say something, but
checked himself, or was checked by rush of
emotions, and sat down upon his bed.
p Froh1 june to November. we have accounts
representative Of deteriorating health, and
his frequent protest against the 'rigor and in
dignity Of his treatment as the head of six
millions of people, and prisoner refused i'm
partial trial. june 9Th, the torment Of his
head was 50 great he feared be must lose his
Enthusiastically his memory, vision and hear
ing were impaired. june 18th, General
| Miles, learning that the pacing of the two