Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-07-30
FoRr nE1AEaRE.
Soon Will be In Condition to Present a
Formidable Front.
philndnlnhln Eunninr Inlanranh.

Philadelphia Evening Telegraph.
If the activities in the local naval
engineering circles continue, Philadoi-
phia will in very short while be one
of the best protected cities in this
country. Along the Delaware waters
Notifications have been erected and
perfected within the past year, but mo-
where has this been more so than at
Fort Delaware. This old fort. (which
was for years fort in name only, has
been completely changed in character.
Extensive alterations have been put in
and tho fort has been enlarged and
strengthened in every detail, to such
an extent that when completed it will
present most formidable front to any
invading vessels.
Aside from the mere fort duty, there
will also be placed here torpedo
station. With that end in view ex-
tensive underground electric plants
will soon be laid in the river and all
torpedoes will be handled with the aid
of electricity.
The government, fearing early in the
twenties that Philadelphia was vul-
nerable point in case of war, built
Fort Delaware. 1t cost $3.50, 600, and
garrison was kept there for nearly
three-quarters Of century. but in
recent years no tread of sentry or
rattle of musketry has come from it's
ramparts. It's big 69-pounders became
rusted from want Of care, and swarms
of rats have held high carnival within
its confines.
Fort Delaware's big guns mover sent
shot or shell at an enemy, but the strong
hold was used as prison for reoel
soldiers during the rebellion, and left
behind fearful record of death. The
structure was reared on low, swampy
island in the river, one of whose chief
products was malaria. More than 1,500
rebel prisoners we're confined there in
1868, and the mortality among them
was frightful In one month nearly
four-score died. The physicians in
charge did everything in their power,
but the death dealing vapors con-
tinued to claim victims.
Then there was another cause to
which many deaths we're attributed.
Confined in this prison were hardy
mcuntaineers from the South, who had
never known what captivity meant
men who had spent much of their time
in the mountains, and whose lives were
as free as the air they breathed. They
grew pale and haggard under restraint,
and then laid down and died, from
nostalgia, or Inconsistencies.
Among the captiyes in the fort was
the greater part of regiment from
Arkansas-Red River men-all big,
powerful fellows, who earned their liv-
ing by bunting when at home. These
men had been confined in the prison
less than three weeks when many of
them, unable to bear captivity, broke
down. physically and mentally, turned
their faces to the wall and died.
One of them, giant six feet four in
height who was strong and healthy
when he arrived, said to one of the
attendants:
"Mister, which Away does Arkinsaw
point from he'ar?" A finger was
stretched towards the Southwest.
Then again the big fellow spoke up:
Hits powerful way off, hain't
itP'
The poor fellow was teld how many
States it was necessary to Cross to
reach it, Then, with tears swelling
in his big, gray eyes, he turned away
With hopelessness and despair pictured
ON his rugged face, he walked aim
lessly about the barracks, and three
days later he was dead.
There reached the fort in 1863
prisoner from the mountains Of North
Carolina. He was ad-shouldered
and handsome, typical mountaineer,
even to the coonskin cap he wore when
taken by the Union soldiers. Quietly
he took his place among the hundreds
who had preceded him. No word of
complaint left his lips, but from day
to day those who watched him could
see the bloom of health leave his
checks and deathly pallor take it's
place.
His messmates missed him one day.
The straining at his heartstrings had
become too strong for human endur
ance. In silence he had grieved, and
when the prison physician called on
him the poor fellow turned his pale.
wan face towards the doctor, and
said:
'Stranger. I'm goin', but, oh, how
I'd like to see my sweetheart down on
Laurel Crick Send her this, and
write an toll her I'm going, and TO
take care of old Snap, the best coon
dog that evor treed game. -
AS he spoke his band went to his
bosom and brought forth well-wo
little Bible. Then the man closed his
eyes and died. Nostalgia had claimed
another victim.
Fort Delaware during the war har-
bored some men who subsequently
became famous in national affairs. 1t
was there that L. @. @. Lamar, late
Justice of the Supreme Court OF the
United States, was confined as pris-
oner of war Speaker Crisp also spent
a short timn within IFS cnntinns.