The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-13

started as . Basis for Persecution.
Copyright, 1902. BY The Sun Printing and
Publishing Company
CHAPTER VII.
We arrived in sight Of Fort jefferson Dry
Tortugas, Fla. on July "a, 1895 When
nearing the grim-looking walls signal
gun was fired from the gunboat. which was
responded TO by the officer in command Of
the fort. and soon the officer of the day
made his appearance on board and was in
formed Of the object of the visit of the boat
Within a very short time we were placed
within a small boat. were conveyed to the
fort and placed wit hin one of the many case
mates existing there
The officers who had had US in charge re-
manned at the fort sufficient length of time
to have. as il il called, lark. After three
months Of torture. both OF body and mind
we thought that we had az last found ha ven
Of rest. although in a Government Bastile
where. shut out from the world would
dwell and pass the remaining days of our
life. II was a sad thought. yet 1t had to he
borne
We we're now left under the charge of
Col. Charles Hamilton. llOh New York
Volunteers, who was at that period COM
mandant Of the post. He gave Us instruc-
tiops relative to the rules in force, stating
the consequences which would attend any
breach in discipline, finally mpressing
upon our minds that there was a dark and
gloomy dungeon within the fort. to which
offenders against the rules were consigned.
over whose entrances was inscribed the clas-
sic words "N hoso entereth here leavc h all
hope behind
We asked him if there were any special
instructions relating to US. to which he re-
phi. d: No, you have the same privilege Of
the island as any person confined here, no
instructions to the contrary having been
furnished by the War Department in your
cases.
Our bed that night was constituted Of
"a soft plank, and. in fact. so continued
for months, until. through our own eXer
tons and means received from home. we
we're able to purchase pieces of canvas.
wherewith TO nail up a rudely constructed
bed
DRY foRTUoAs DEsoLArE PRISON.
Spangler's trade was a godsend at this
time, and proved so on more than one &C.
casion afterward The next morning We
walked around the enclosure Of the fort and
toward evening strolled around the break
water wall for the purpose OF forming some
idea Of our desolate condtio
The Dry Tortugas is a small island iso-
lated in the Gulf Of Mexico in about 25 de-
grees north Of the equator, comprising in all
seven and a half acres Of land, and lying
directly beneath the rays Of tropical
sun 1t j. located sixty-fye miles North
west from Key West, ninety-fve miles north
from Cuba and about 200 miles directly
south from Tampa, Fla, this being the
nearest connecting point with the main
land of Florida
Upon its limited area was erected a huge
and massive structure, heSagon shaped, of
brick and mortar, in an unfinished condi
ton, called Fort Jefferson. When com
pleted If ever, il would mount $50 guns.
On the outer side of the fort there existed
wide and deep moat. to prevent the surg
ing Of the sea from washing against the
main structure itself, and intended at the
same time as a defence against assaulting
columns. II is ocean girt on either side
strongly protected by coral reefs and in
tricate channels Of approach.
On our arrival the island was entirely
destitute Of vegetable matter, with the
exception Of some few bushes Of small
growth and about dozen cocoanut trees,
which had been planted many years back by
the hand Of man.
Beyond this there was naught to gaze
upon inside save the white. glittering coral
sand. which had a very injurious effect
upon the eyes in many cases, causing men
TO become totally blind after dark. disease
known there and Of frequent occurrence,
termed moonblnd.
HORRORS OF CAPTIVITY THERE.
There were upward Of 800 FEDERAL prison.
err confined there for various offences
against military rules and laws. who were
compelled to labor daily, from morn til
night, upon limited and loathsome susie
nance. Without exception, it was the most
horrible place the eye OF man ever rest, Il
upon where day after day a miserable
existence was being dragged out, inter
mixed with sickness. bodily suffering, want
and pnching hunger, without tho additional
acts Of torture and inhumanity that soon
became witness of
Around about the fort there were several
small keys, termed, respectively. Sand
East, Bird and Loggerhead keys Sand
Key very small in area, lies in a north
easterly direction, distant about half a
mile, upon which had been erected hos
pital for quarantine PURPOSES and to be-
used in case of any epidemic occurring at
the fort. Every foot Of its space was peo-
pied with the dead. many Of the bodies
having been washed up by the surf of the
sea, and the hospital building having been
torn down for the purpose OF erecting n
theatre at tho post
Bird Key. The largest in area. is distan,
about Ave miles from the Dry Tortugas
upon which in the summer season sea guns
in donse focks conGregate to deposit their
eggs. These were gathered by the Rarri-
son and used for food. Fast Key lies in a
southwe sterly direction. distant alb vt one
mile from the fort. and was used AZ "A ceme-
terry for the dead. Loggerhead Key lie,
mort hery, about three and one-half mile,
from the fort. upon which il erected
lighthouse OF great height, used a. n guide
to ships to prevent their running upon the
reefy beds which abound
Those were all the points OF land visible /:
all else was the deep and briny ocean,
looked long and intently upon all the sur
roundings Of the place and asked the qucs-
ton, ia this. indeed, to be my home for
life?"
FOOD VILE AND LoATHsoME.
When we had returned from our wall
around the breakwater wall we were place.
within our dingy casemate for the night