Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-07-19
THE DRY TORTUGAS.
Interesting Facts About n Noted MIIL
tary Prison.

Interesting Facts About n Noted miIL
tary Prison.
w. II. Prentice, an old New York
soldier, recalls the following interest.
ing "reminiscences of the old military
prison, in a letter TO the San Francisco
Bulletin: lthappcned to be my fortune
also to be sent to the Dry Tortugas
soon after DR.. Mudd, though had the
| good fortune TO be relieved from duty
somewhat sooner. The place is a queer
one, and has seldom been described
The Dry Tortugas (the word, | believe
means turtles) embrace group of sew
eral small coral islands, or keys, lying
in the gulf Of Mexico, 100 miles west
from the southern point Of Florida.
The largest embraces only a few acres;
they are destitute of fresh water, and
barren, with the exception of few
small mangroye and cedar trees. They
were a part of the Florida purchase,
| and fort was commenced on Garden
Key, one of the larger, by the Spdniards.
II is now first-class brick fort with
two tiers of easements. and mounts
more than three hundred guns. During
the war 1t was used as a military
prison, and many poor fellow, after a
cOurt-martial, heard the words: Sen
fenced TO the Dry Tortugas for life"
These had accumulated TILL in the
autumn Of 1865, more than 600 men Of
all nationallties and all colors, were
gathered there, and for all crimes, from
some hasty word. most likely true, said
to subalteran officer, up to robbery
and attempted murder.
Our guard consisted Of only about
two hundred men, and there was plenty
Of work for us 70 do. The records had
been but imperfectly kept and the term
Of sentence Of some prisoners had long
before expired. These were hunted
out and sent home first. Then 100 or
more Of the better men were recon-
mcndcd for pardon, which was freely
granted 10y President johnson, for he
was in pardoujng mood at that time.
But the main interest Ccntercd around
the four con,pirators. Mudd, Arnold,
Spangler and OLoughlin. They were
supposed TO be terrible fellows, ready
to cut all our throats any time on
moments notice DR.. Mudd was the
central figure He was a fair-haired
man Of good size and rather PROPOSES
sing appearance. His one all-ahsorb-
ing thought was that he was the victim
Of great injustice. and whenever he
could gain a listening ear. into 1t he
always poured his gricfs lie was de
tailed "a general nurse in the hospital
and did good service there, till In an
evil day he attempted 10 escape by So.
crcting himself on board a steamer.
OF course he was found. sent back in
disgrace and afterward kept In solitary
confinement Arnold was a young
man, not more than twenty-four or
twenty-five. handsome highly educated,
refined and retiring in his manners
He said little, never complained, but
felt his disgrace most keenly. He was
kept as a clerk in the provost marshal's
Office and many descriptive or mus
ter-rol in his beautiful handwriting
went 10 Washington. He had the
ability. and ought to-day TO be taking
good care Of himself somewhere.
Spangler, the stage carpenter at Fords
theater, was a jolly German, and, 10 all
appearances, as happy there as mortal
man ever is. How well remember his
portly form, bustllng about at his work,
the happicst looking man in the fort
Lastly was poor O'Loughlin, an Irish
man, | think n shoemaker by trade. He
had left a family in Washington, and
could not bear up under his punish
ment, lie dropped from the day he
reached the place, and died soon after
left. have to-day letter from Mudd
and one from Arnold, written after
had left the service, asking my aid in
procuring some mitigation Of their pun
ishment. While I did not pity them as
/ did the more than $50 soldiers sent
there for the most trifling breaches Of
military law, / can still see how they
were all, perhaps. more unfortunate
than criminal
The Mast Wonderful Thing.