The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-07-09
Colonel St. Leger Grenfen.

A prisoner at the Dry Tortuges sends the
Galveston News the following account Of the
treatment of Colonel Grenfell, and the circum-
stances Of his escape:
AS far as the punishment and torture of pris-
oners and soldiers, detailed In the article pub
lished in the New York World Of November
1st, with the exception Of one OF two typo
graphical errors, assure you 'tis true in each
particular, and much worse than therein rep
resented. Dunn did not lose his hand, but
lost the use of it. The soldiers finger was not
cut off, but sustained an injury which deprived
him of its use. For that publication Grenfen
was placed in solitary confinement, and treated
with the utmost cruelty. Being sick on one
occasion, he went to doctors call. The doc,
tor refused to excuse him. The doctor and
every officer upon the Key hated him, simply
because he was unconquerable. He then
called upon the Provost Marshal Of the post,
stating his case. The Provost Marshal stated
if the doctor did not excuse him he could not,
and that he would have to work. Grenfell
stated he would do what he could, and left
him. He was placed at labor which young
man could not perform, much less an old man
sixty-tive years Of age, and half-starved at
that. Not complying with the demand suita-
BILE to those who governed, he was taken to
the guardhouse, and tied up in the broiling
sun during the morning. In the afternoon,
under an armed escort, bound in ropes, he was
hurried to the gulf stream, three officers ac-
companying him, viz: Fred. Robinson, Geo.
A. Crabb, first Lieutenants Fifth artillery, and
A. Pike, second Lieutenant Fifth artillery, each
armed with Colts army six, loaded with ball
and powder. Every soldier and prisoner was
driven into the fort, but there were some who
viewed the affair from the casemates embra-
sures. He was thrown into the gulf, bound in
cords, but managed to keep above the water,
seeing which he was pulled out, and upwards
of fifty pounds Of iron and bricks tied to his
feet, and again cast into the sea: This time
he sunk, and when pulled out was in an almost
lifeless condition. This was overseen by the
above officers named. and half-nigger by the
name Of c. T. Jackson, Acting NJ: S. Regt:, at
the post. This to an unarmed and defenceless
old man over sixty-fve years OF age. Many
other parties were served in @ similar manner.
Grenfell left here in small boat some time
since, owing to the persecution which had
commenced against him by G. 9. MacConnel,
the party named in his publication OF Noyem-
her lat. He could not forget he nearly lost his
Commission through it, and certainly would
and should. had not false and heartless con-
tradiction OF it been made by his felow-ofi-
cers-it associates Of such set Of tyrants.
Every prisoner has been curtailed OF former
privileges, owing to his escape, it having been
reported thathe had received money from out
side parties, &c. Such report ls utterly un-
founded. Men OF Co. I, Fifth Artillery, in
tended to desert, themselves, in the boat, and
were deferred from it owing to the stormy
weather; and one more bold than the rest was
determined to go at any risA, and it was
through him that the escape was made. Gren-
fell had not, in his possession, twenty-five dol
lars when he left the Key. I can. vouch for it,
as was coguizant Of the whole affair. He
went to prevent MacConnell, and thing By
name Frank yhorp, from killing hlm inch by
inch, which they would no doubt have done.