Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1891-03-12

order. Complained OF his thin Gang
mattress. and pillow stuffed with hair
adding that he was 90 emaciated thai
his akin chafed easily against The
stats; and as these complaints were
well founded. / ordered an additional
hospital mattress.
That afternoon. at an Interview
sought With MAJOR Gen. Miles, my
opinion was given that the physical
condition Of Stste-prisoner Davis re-
quired the removal Of his shsckles IN
bill such time "a his health should b
established on some irmer basis. Ex.
erciss he absolutely needed. and also
come alienation of his abnormal ner.
vous excitement. No drugs could aid
9 digestion naturally weak andimpair-
cd without exercise; nor could any
thing in the pharmacopeia quiet
nerves so overweight and shattered,
while the constinual friction Of the
letters was Contemplating whatever
medicines could be given.
"You believe il. then, a medical
necessity :" queried Gen. Miles.
81 do. most earnestly" said I.
But it was some time after that be.
fore the shakes were takea of. The
diary contioues:
June 8.--Was distracted. night and
day. BY the unceasing tread Of the
two sentinels in his room. and the
murmur or gable Of the guards in
the outside cell. he said his case
ment wis. well formed for torture
room Of the Inquisitiop. Its archsd
roof made it perfect whispering gal
lsry. in which ell the sounds were
jumblsd and repeated. The torment
of his head was 90 dreadful he feared
he must lose his mind. Already his
memory. vision and hearing were i'm
paired. He had but the remains of
one eye left, and the glaring white
washed walls were rapidly destroying
this. He pointed to q crevice in the
wall where his bed had been. explain
ing that be had changed to the other
side to avoid its mephitic vapors.
June 10.-Gen. Miles had taken
charge Of his clothing and seemed to
think a change of linen twice week
was enough. It might be so in Mas.
sachssetts. But now even this wretch.
cd allowance was denied. The Gen.
eral might know nothing of the mat
ter; but if so. some member Of his
staff was Negligent. It was pitiful
they could not send his trunks TO his
cell, but must insist on doing out his
clothes a. though he were q convict
in some penitentiary.
/ only noticed that Mr.. Davis was
arrayed in the same garments he had
worn when entering the cell-indeed
Gen. Miles had possession of all his
other wardrobe.
July ll.-Found prisoner very des.
ponding. the failure of his sight trou.
bling him and his nights almost with
out sleep. His present treatment was
killing him by inches and he wished
shorter work could be made of his tor.
ment. He had hoped long since for a
trial which should be public and
therefore with some semblance of fair.
ness, but. hope deferred was making
his heart sick.
July 30.-Found Mr.. Davis in q
very critical state; his nervous debil.
ity extreme. his mind more despond.
ent than ever before, bis appetite
gone. complexion livid. and pulse de-
noting deep prostration Of all physi-
cal energies. Was much alarmed and
realized with painful anxiety the re-
sponsibilities of my position. If he
were to die in prison and without tri.
al, subject to such seventies as had
been inflicted on his attenuated frame,
the world would form unjust conclu.
sions. but conclusions with enough
color to pass them into history.
Let me here remark that. despite q
certain exterior cynicism Of manner,
no patient has ever crossed my path
who. suffering 30 much himself, ap-
peared to feel 90 warmly and tendsrly
for others. Sickness. as q general
rule, 10 sadly selfish.
There is much more of DR.. Craven
diary to the same effect. He was
continually protesting against the
treatment of his patient. and finally
got into trouble because he bought
clothing for Mr.. Davis and paid for
it out Of his own pocket.
Mrs. Davis's irst meeting with Gen.
Miles is thus described in the Me.
moirs
The next cav Gan. Miles and anna