The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-04-10
Joseph, Pref ferrsed .112
Rcaurn OF Arnold and SpanElor, the Dry
Tortugas Prisoners.

Samuel B. Arnold and Edman Spangler.
the prisoners recently released from the Dry
Tortugas, under pardon of President john
son, the former having been sentenced for
life, and the latter for six years, by the mill
tary commission that tried the assassination
conspirators, reached this city yesterday
They came passengers on the steamship
Cuba. from Key West. Arnold appears in
rather delicate health, but Spangler is well,
and both seem in good spirits. They are
set free now, after three years and eight
months in ''durance vile" After their
trial and sentence, they reached tho Dry
Tortugas with Dr. Mudd, their late fellow
prisoner, and OLaughlin. who died during
imprisonment, on the 25th of July, 1866,
and We're released on the 22d of March,
1869. Both Arnold and Spangler reply
readily to queries concerning their imprison-
ment and the treatment they received from
the different commanders of the post
During the season of the fearful rage of the
yellow fever in 1867 at the fort, they state
that after nearly all the troops had been at
tucked, and either recovered or died, DR..
Mudd, who had SO faithfully and advan-
tageously labored among the sick, wns taken
down with the disease, and there being no
medical man left fit for duty, was nursed
solely by themselves, his only remaining
companions, OLaughlin having previously
died. During its prevalence, there were
thirty-seven deaths in that limited commu-
nifty, two OF whom were prisoners, and the
balance officers and soldiers
They speak highly of the late Mai. Stone,
who commanded at the time. His wife
having died of the epidemic, of which he
had recovered, he carried his little child
over to Key West, with the intention of
sending it to his relatives in the North, and
shortly after reaching there he was taken
with relapse and died. Their treatment
depended r:uch on the disposition of the
| commander of the post, but after the season
| of yellow fever they Jared much better than
previously. They received telegram on
the 9th of March, informing them of their
pardon, and Spangler says it appeared to
him that from that time until the 21st,
| when Arnold's father reached there with the
pardons, he gained in flesh every hour. Ar
mold was employed as clerk ut headquarters
and Span9ler as carpenter, and both at
times were compelled to work very hard.
After their release. they left the Tortugas in
Government sailing vessel, and went over
to Key West, where. they remained several
days, awaiting the arrival of the Cuba, and
were treated in the kindest manner by the
citizens.
On the terrible ordeal Of their trial, under
the circumstances by which they were sur
rounded, it is not to be supposed gthey
would delight to dwell. Spangler says that
from the tortures he endured, he was mostly
unconscious of the proceedings in the case,
and often knew nothing of what was going
on around him. When the padded hood was
placed upon his head in prison, covering
over his eyes and tightened about his neck
and chest. with manacles already on both
hands and feet, he was told it was by order
OF Secretary Stanton, the subordinate thus
excusing himself for his action. After ar
rlying at the fort, and up to the time of his
release, Spangler AYERS that the sense of his
entire innocence only made his chains more
CALLING, whilst at the same time it often
kept him from utter despair
Baltimore iSuu.