The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-15
island and the entire crew OF the steamer
which was lying at the wharf.
A SHORT RESPITE

island and the entire crew of the steamer
which was lying at the wharf.
A SHORT RESPITE.
All Of the excitement attending the affair
had died away and quiet prevailed through
out TIE fort, except loud peaIs OF laughter
from the officers quarters. telling in unmis-
taxable terms OF the revelry which existed
there. The poor tortured drunken victim.
with HIS lacerated hands and face. was
temporarily forgotten. but the time was
again approaching when they would again
place their victim on the rack.
Eight O'Clock was pointed by the hands
of the clock. and Dunn to the minute.
led from the guardhouse to renew his task
and take his punishment There were others
confined in the suardhouse, all Of whom
were brought forth and ordered to pick up
a ball and carry IL. Armed guards were
stationed over them to enforce the order,
they being authorized to bayonet them in
case the orders given were not strictly
complied with.
The severity OF the punishment already
inflicted upon Dunn made IL a physical i'm
possibility for him TO conform TO the orders
given. His hands were unable to perform
their office. Repeatedly he grasped the ball.
only for the hands unconsciously to relax
their hold, letting the ball fall 90 the earth.
When, after repeated efforts. he found il
impossible to obey the commands given. the
sentinel threatening him with the point Of
the bayonet il he still persisted in not COM
plying with the orders. in piteous cries he
appealed from one TO the other. saying 10
the sergeant. could he, he would willingly
carry the ball as ordered.
Sergeant" he said, "I am willing to
carry the ball. God knows the truth of
what say, but cannot do it. If you do
not believe me. come. oh. come, look at my
bleeding hands"
1t was an iron heart to whom he ap-
pealed. There was one answer: You must
carry the ball. Sentinel. il he refuses TO
carry it, obey your orders received and
run him through with your bayonet"
COULD NOT HOLD BALL.
To prevent this he again tried to carry
the ball. but to no avail. The ball fell from
| his grasp, and as it dropped to the earth
he fell with it, crying cut: Sentinel.
cannot carry the ball. Perform your duty
-bayonet and kill me-"
The sentinel endeavored in various ways
| to cause compliance, and. failing to move
with the bayonet. Finding Dunn did not
| move from it's touch, the sentinel called
upon the sergeant of the guard. Cords
were again brought into requisition, and in
the toughest manner twisted and bound
| around his bleeding hands, wrists and
| thumbs In the midst of his cries of agony.
which reached each portion of the fort. his
appeals for mercy could be heard. Useless
his pleadings, his prayers. his cries, as the
| form to which he appealed possessed a
heart as hard and callous as stone, which
had become more hardened through fire.
quent imbibings by him during the day.
There was a gentleman residing with his
| family upon the island, i'm charge of the
| lighthouse, whose family was disturbed by
| the piercing cries of the tortured man
| he screamed out in his agony. He was
| forced to call upon the officer Of the day
| to ask that other measures be adopted in
| the manner of punishment. The officer
| sent forthwith for the sergeant, who
/ received orders and returned TO his guard.
| In few moments Dunn was removed from
| the close proximity of Capt. Henry Ben
mer's lighthouse. and retied TO pair OF
steps by his hands and wrists, his piercing
shrieks during the operation filling every
| space.
| To smother these cries he was taken
| down, gagged with a bayonet and hurriedly
| hoisted up again. His smothered tones
could now alone be heard as he hung sus-
| pended between heaven and earth. For the
| most part of the night he hung in this
manner in almost lifeess condition. Next
| morning at guard mount, while seated on
| the steps at the guardhouse, l requested
| that he would allow me TO see his hands. L
| found them swollen and lacerated in many
places. having a gapgrene appearance, and
| perfectly helpless, not being able to move
| them IN any particular.
From the guardhouse he was taken to the
| hospital, placed under medical treatment.
| where he remained during the period OF his
| confinement, some three or four months.
| 1t was decided at one time that it would
become necessary to resort to amputation
| of one of his hands. but, through careful
attention paid him, he finally recovered.
sustaining the loss of nearly the entire use
| of his left hand.
ITO be Continued Tomorrow