The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-15

the Government permits its officers to live
under the influence ~ liquor and advances
supplies for such purposes, we, the people,
have no right to complain. but must support
II. From the barbarous treatment daily
received from the officers under the in
f'efcc Of Intoxicating draughts, many OF the
soldiers began to contemplate desertion.
Many succeeded In their efforts, until II
became necessary to restrict them from
going TO Key West upon passes. Passes of
every description consequently were re-
scinded and soldiers became a. much con-
fine1 on the island a. prisoners.
One Of the most heartlese acts wit
n,'s- "d IN this age Of civ ili2ation happened on
the occasion when the faymaster had ar
rived 1T the fort to pay on the troops. IL
WAS counterpart Of the Middle Ages i'll
cruelty and barbarity. The prisoners were
engaged in unloading a vessel moored at the
wharf, containing comm'ssary and quartet
master stores for the post. During the
work the prisoners whose duty II was 20
unload vessels on arrival, INDUCED freely
in -piri'uous liquors. in company with sol
diers who had charge Of them A prisoner
Ct the ntme Of James Dunn became beast v
Intoxicated in company with two Of the
soldiers who were acting as provost guards.
TORTURE ALLEGED.
The occurrence was reported TO the officer
Of the day, when iIe gave orders to tho
ring to carry a bali, but, finding he was too
drunk to comply with the order, he ordered
him 70 be tied up. Accordingly, he was tied
up t. the bell post e.ccted ia front II the
guardhouse by his wrists, il bcing about |
O'Clock in the morning.
On returning TO my quarters Tor dinner
Dunn was still tied up to the post, remaining
there until my return 10 the office. about 2
O'Clock in the afternoon. ! returned 10 my
quarters about $50 p. II, and found Dunn
transferred from the bpll post and tied up
Nv his thu,nhs Ia the iron bars or railing
Immediately beneath our quarters. He was
in drunken insen-ihilty, swinging to and
fro. bound around by a small rope. his legs
stretched O;itwardly. the whole weight OF
his body resting upon his thumbs.
Tho ends of the thumbs were fearfully
swollen and puicd out, having the appear
Gnce of mort flied piece Of flesh His
head was dropping backward, the burning
rays Of the sun striking him full in the
face and tho face, red, blue, and in some
l,Jrt-, nearly black, The veins In the neck
swollen and extended like cords. there being
practically no circulation Of blood. |
viewed him hanging in this condition until
after ) q clock.
COMMANDER lNTEPFEREp.
There is no telling how long he would
have remained in this position had not
Major-Gen. Kill. commanding hapI ehed
To- pa ~ that way, anC, seeing this piece OF
harbarous cruelty inflicted upon an In
sensible being. Immediately directed the
sergeant To- take him down and place him
in the suardhou-c. He commanded thut
in future no man, while ia lunken CON
dition, he punished IN like manner Instead
of unduing the cords from his thumbs,
they were cu' away and Dunn fell heavily
upon the ground, not even awakening from
the deep stupor "a his load come in con-
tact with the hard ground. He was then
IL n lfI hn n 1lNg
where he remained until retire t.
The officer Of 'hc day came down TO in
Spcct the guard. and. looking around,
failed to find Dunn. lnqui"inG. Of the
sergeant whrr" "a" va, 'c was told lac MAS
in the guard puso. The officer ordered that
he bc taken out and made TO carry a ball
and lift, the serJpaN' to execute his order.
Dunn was brought ont. and. from the rur
lures already praCti-rd upon him, was uI,-
able to clasp he ball. II constantly slipping
from his grasp. He e--ayed 20 balance i
uDpu his shoulders, Ia comply with th"
orders, la his Intoxicated CONDITION. In
his cndcavor - do ~ he fell twice orce the
i2-r,,md cannon ljan falling directly upon
his chest ~ hr fell backward. and again
AZ he plunged forward, the weight Of tho
ban giving impetus 10 his fall. ne horribly
rnutiated tho entire icf) side 81 his face a.
il yl)ughad through the coral sands.
Tie sergeant. To execute the orders re-
rcivcd strapped tho hall upon his back in n
knapsaok. but Dunn, staggering here and
there. caused the material TO give way,
which again, when relieved from the weight
upon hi back. caused him 10 fall forward
upon his face Al this point the officer
arrived, and, seeing tho mans laceratcd
face. ordered him bh'k To tho guardhouse,
there to remain until O'Clock, then 70 I've
taken ont aud made 20 cary he ball. This
scCre was witnessed by many persons on
the island and the entire crew Of the steamer
which ylS 'yuL NJ he ~ ltT
MORE CRUELTY.
All Of the excitement attending tho affair
had died away and quiet prevailed through
ont the fort, except loud peals Of laughter
from the officers quarters, telling in unmis-
taxable terms OF the rpVelry which existed
there. The poor tortured. drunken victim,
with his lacerited hands and face was tenn
porarily 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, was
led from the guardhouse % renew his task
ana take his punishment. There were
others confined IN the guardhouse, all 81
whom were brought forth aud ordered to
pick up ball and carry it. Armed guards
wcrc stationed over them TO enforce the
order, they being authorized TO bayonet
them In case the orders given we're not
strictly complied with.
"he severity Of the punishment already
II .ilcted upon Dunn made II a physical inn
possibility for him To conform TO the orders
ei,en. His hands we're unable to perform
their office. Rereatedly he Rrasped he ball.
only for the hands unconsClously to rela x
their hold, letting the ball fall to the earth.
When, after repeated efforts, he found It
impossible Ia 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 pieOus cries he
appealed from one to the other, saying TO
the sergeant. could he. lac would willingly
carry the ball az ordered.
sergeant" he said. Il am willing TO
carry the ball. God knows the truth Of
what say, hut cannot do It, II you do
not believe me, come, oh. come, look at my
bleeding hands"