Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-16
copyrighted 1902

was placed in the hospital. Wnlle theIe
his condition grew rapidly worse, the
lower portions Of his body becoming near
ly useless to him, it being with the utmost
difficulty that he could drag one foot after
the other.
The. doctor in charge stated that this
was mere pretense, and that he would
bring him around to duty. He was dis
charged from the hospital, placed in the
suardhouse and ordered to carry "a
pound log which was done under the
most eXcrucating pain, as the man treln-
bled like an aspen all over from the
exertion required to execute the imposed
task, his limbs being dragged along al
most devoid of life or action. During the
performance Of this task. cruelty I'M
surpa ssed, his frame was violently con-
torted with repeated fits. the command
given being that no soldier should inter-
fcre or offer any assistance in the pre-
tended spells and was left writing in
his agony without any helping hand being
pcrnitted to reach forth to relieve his
sufferings.
For a week he remained in the guard
house. alta cked repeatedly with these fits
Buckets of water were ordered to be
thrown over him when under their IN
fluence and his condition grew worse and
worse He was again removed to the
HOSPITAL. WHERE he IcIuctied uillil oOiiiC-
time in November, 1866, when he was dis
charged from the service of the United
States He was borne upon stretcher
to a steamer lying at the wharf, a help
less man, unable to stand up or move his
lower limbs. He frequently expressed the
opinion that the doctor was trying to
kill him, and whenever the physician
made his appearance in hiss ward his
entire frame shook with fright and hor-
rOr.
SEVERE ARRAIGNMENT.
Harshness began to increase in man
ner, both to the soldiers and prisoners.
Drunkenness ran riot on the island There
was not a day passed but that officers
could be seen Keeling under its influence
as they staggered down the walk lead
ing from their barracks to the sally
port of the fort Gaze where you would,
the eye would come in contact with some
of them, inebriated, a disgrace and dis
honor TO the service of the country which
they represented.
Liquor was obtained from every boat
that entered the harbor, and if the sup
ply became exhausted before the arrival
of q boat again nroads were made upon
the hospital supplies, SO that when need
ed in case Of sickness the supply was
exhausted I state this not upon mere
hearsay; have witnessed all these things
myself; have seen orders sent to the hos
pital for the liquor; have seen the orderly
as he returned bearing the bottles: have
unwra pped the covering and read the Ia
bel "Spirltus Fermenti, and have seen
the peculiar bottle containing the fluid
upon the officers table.
But with this l have naught to do
If the government permits its officers to
live under the influence of liquor and
advances supplies for such purposes, we,
the people, have no right to complain
but must support it. From the barbarous
trea tment daily received from the officers
from under the influence of Intoxicating
draught5 many of the soldiers began to
contemplate desertion. Many succeeded
in their efforts until it became necessary
TO restrict them from going to Key West
consequently were rescinded and soldiers
became as much confined on the island as
prisoners.
One of the most heartless acts wit
messed in this age Of civilization hap
pened on the occasion when the paymas-
ter had arrived at the fort to pay off
the troops. 1t was a counterpart of the
Middle Ages in cruelty and barbarity.
The prisoners were engaged in unloading
a vessel moored at the wharf. contain
ing commissary and Quartermaster stores
for the post. Durng~the work the prls-
oners, whose duty it was to unload yes
sells on ARRIVAL INDUCED freely in spirit
Gus liquors, in company with soldiers who
had charge of them. A prisoner by the
name Of James Dunn became beaStly in
toxicated in company with two OF the