Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-09-22
THE TREATMENT OF THE FENTAN
PRISONERS IN CANADA.

The United Irishman thus refers to the
treatment Of Fenian prisoners confined in
Kingston jail: ..
| Last week we referred to the atroci,
ties perpetrased on the Fenian prisoners
confined in Kingston Jail, and mentioned
specially the brutal treatment Of Thomas
Cooney and William Hayden. The for
mer we stated to have been driven mad
by his jailors, and the following well
attested particulars will bear melancholy
proof to the cause of his insanity.
While attending church in the prison,
one Sunday, the stove pipe was badly
smoking, and Thomas Cooney spoke out
that it should be remedied. For doing
so, he was Immediately taken out and
locked in the dark cellar dungeon, placed
upon bread and water, and kept there
without either q bed to lie upon, or q
chair to sit upon. While confined there,
for some reason, he knocked upon the
door of the cell with water cup, and
for that otIense (for he committed no
other, he was made to feel the first of
long series of abuses and brutalities. A
keeper, named Holiday, and guard,
named Billy Atkins, specially de-
voted themselves to torturing him, and
not for one moment did he cease to feel
their hellish cruelty, until insanity, mer~
cifully for him, came to his relief By their
orders, he was tied in chains, and all at
tendance prohibited. 1t was forbidden
tboCa uyho bod aocaco 70 b;c Junnaoo 70
give him piece Of bread or cup of
water, even when almo,t dying from
hunger and thirst. Sometimes he was
gagged, sometimes ne was tied to the
wall, sometimes he was left naked In the
cold, damp, and rayless dungeon, and
one time, for over three weeks he was
kept in straight jacket. frequently
his hands were tied behind his back for
several days; and left in that condition,
and not being able to help himself in
any particular, his cell became an OBJ
ject of loathing to others as well as
himself No matter that his hands were
bound together and behind his back for
several days at time, still his pleas,
for the sake of humanity and of cleanli-
ness, to be given his freedom for sh ort
time were denied him, and q change of
clothing forbidden him.
The outrages and indignities heaped
upon O'Donovan Rosa are surpassed in
enormity by those that COoney had to
bear. The ferocity and malignity Of
Canadian jailOrs, as prscticed upon the
Fenian prisoners, is even more brutal
than is related of the same class in Eng
land. If the Kingston authorities deny
our statements We are prepared to name
those who will testify to the truth of
what we have said. The tale we have
told, however horrible, it is but too true.
We called upon the American press and
public, last week, to proclaim its horror
and enter its indignant protest against
the barbaritieS we reported, and we
asked our own cOuntrymen to arouse
and do something worthy of their man
hood, of the spirit of their race, and the
love they bear their brothers who suffer
for country's sake. We make the re-
quest again. The scorn and Indignation
of the civilized world should fall upon the
wArders and keepers of Kingston Peniten~
tiary, and with quick and burning effect
that even they, human devils as they are,
should vince and crave before them.