The National tribune., 1885-12-17


white as snow. Even the systematic infexi-
bility of military discipline was inadequate, at
times to keep this motley crew in order, and
the officers were then compelled to use severe
measures for maintaining their authority.
PUNIsHMENTs WERE IMPRovIsED
to meet the exigencies of particular cases not
provided for in the Army Regulations and for
which there was no precedent in military
tradition. One day it was found necessary to
bestow some rather rude treatment upon a
refractory drunken Confederate, aud Grenfelfs
Quixotic soul was instantly in arms. He wrote
a letter describing the affair with many exagger-
ated perversions of the truth, and the precious
document was smuggled to the North, where it
was published in a New York paper which had
distinguished itself as the champion of the
oppressed South" Great sympathy was at
once aroused in certain circles in behalf of the
"helpless victims of military despotism,' as
Tortugas convicts were politely designated.
The letter was traced to Grenfell, and having
thus incurred the displeasure of the officers
and forfeited his popularity, the evil element
in his nature, which two years of peaceful
experience had nearly smothered, burst forth
again into flame. He became sullen and de-
fant, and finally openly rebellious. The Post
Surgeon declining one day to excuse him from
duty, he peremptorily refused to go to work.
The post was at that time under the temporary
command of youthful Lieutenant, who enter
tanned crude notions of the enforcement of dis
Cipline. A rope was passed around Grenfells
body, and 40 pounds of iron having been at
tached to his ankles, he was gently lowered Oft
the wharf by sturdy arms into the waters of
the Gull funtil his health was restored, which, as
no shark happened to be straylng that way, was
happily effected after two or three duCklngs.
His recovery being authentcally certified to by
himself, he was ordered to duty. That order
was obeyed. Edward Spangler, one of the
al >tnrz "a, Hind cd tN
published long letter in the New York World
in 1869, after his release, describing in extend
ed detail the outrages perpetrated upon politi-
cal prisoners at the TOrtugas by their Federal
custodians. Respecting Grenfell, he asserted
that he "was forced to scrub and do other
menial work when he proved he was SO i'll as to
have refused to eat his rations for week"
Spangler died in February. 1875, at DR.. Mudd's
residence near Bryantown, Md, and l shall
not do violence to his memory further than in
stating that the sentence just quoted is a sam
pie of the whole letter, and that sentence is, in
an eminent degree, untrue.
During the Summer and Autumn of 1867 the
yellow fever ragged with great violence at Fort
Jefferson, and carried off number of victims.
DIR. MUDD AND COL. GRENFELL
were untiring in their efforts to alleviate the
sufferings of their fellow-exiles the Doctor
displaying considerable professional skill and
siderate nurse. At least one officer of the gar
rison acknowledged afterward that he owed his
recovery to the patient ministrations of the
post gardener. An effort was subsequently,
made to obtain pardons for the prisoners who
had SO heroically exerted themselves during
the yellow fever season, and it was undoubt-
edly of much avail in procuring the clemency
which was extended to them at the close of
President Johnson's administration.
In this clemency, unhappily, Grenfell had no
share. The Spring of 1868 terminated his cap
tivity and, as l have already intimated, his life
also. One night in the month of March of that
year, Grenfell, with three chosen companions,
desperadoes and prisoners like himself, and
occupying the same apartment with him, sue
ceeded in lowering themselves to the mOat be-
meath their casemate and in swimming to the
stone breakwater which divides the ditch
from the open waters Of the Gulf of Mexico.
The night was Of piichy blackness and
A FEARFUL STORM WAS RAGING,
fearful even in that latitude of tornado and
hurricane, and the noise of their exit was un-
heard by the guard. A sentinel was pacing to
and fro near the spot where they emerged from
the water, but it is presumed that he had been
bribed to accompany them, and the five men
speedily committed themselves to the mercy of
the storm. They made their essay on the heav-
ing gulf in a small sailboat, the rudder and oars
Of which they had during the day in some
manner succeeded in spiritng away from the
guardhcuse. One of the party was noted
desperate named Adair, who had once be-
fore attempted to escape from Fort Jeffer-
son. In company with a negro prisoner he
foated On plank to Loggerhead Key, one of
the Tortugas group, where they stole a row.
boat and managed to reach Cuba Adair, how
ever, was as deficient in generosity as in good
qualities generally. He had no sooner landed
than he began negotiating for the sale of his
companion, offering him at a great bargain as
a slave who had thorough knowledge of boat
ing! The outraged black related the mon
strous story to the authorities, and Adar was
promptly restored to his Fort Jefferson quar-
ters, despite the non-existence of an extradi-
tion treaty between the United States and
Spain. The other members of that midnight
trip besides the soldier and Grenfell, were
prisoners undergoing sentences imposed by
military commissions subsequent to the sup
preston of the rebellion. Whatever their
crimes, or however celebrated their deeds, the
history of all five terminated upon their en-
barkatiOn that night
IN THAT FRAIL sHALLoP.
The escape was discovered by the absence of
the sentinel from his post when the Corporal
of the guard made the rounds with the next
relief, and the alarm was speedily given. But
the darkness and the storm rendered pursuit
impracticable; nor indeed, was it until day
ilgHU tldt tHe UcdUS Dy WHICH tHey Ndu le1I
the island was discovered. The Coast Survey
steamer Bibb was anchored off the fort, and the
Captain at once volunteered to go in search of
the missing boat and its venturous crew, though
he pronounced the effort frutless, as no small
boat however well manned, could possibly
outlive so fearful a storm as that of the pre-
vious night. The search was prosecuted
throughout the day. but it was as the Captain had
predicted-the steamer returned without the
fugitives. The necessary reports of the occur
renee were prepared to be forwarded to the
proper authorities, the mems names were erased
from the roll of prisoners called each after
noon at Retreat and nothing has been heard of
any of them since. So in darkness and storm
perished st. Leger Grenfell,
THE HIGH-B BORN INCENDIARY.
By strange retribution his offense which
aimed at fire as its instrument was expiated in
water.
Whatever moral the story of this unhappy
man conveys the reader may point to suit him
SELF The Confederate Government earnestly
disclaimed all knowledge of the conspiracy in
which Grenfell was concerned, and it is not
requisite now that we should inquire too closely
who. or how influential, were his instigatOrs
and supporters. Grenfeil was scarcely the man
to have conceived, much less the man to organ
iZe and lead a scheme of such magnitude. But
whoever possessed the leading mind that urged
him on, his was the wicked spirit that could
undertake the accomplishment of SO heartless a
task. And herein lies the peculiar justice and
pathos also Of his retribution. Had he re-
mained quietly few months longer as a pris-
oner, it is more than probable that he would