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


officer of the day, when he gave orders
to the sergeant of the guard to place
him on the ring to carry a ball, but,
finding he was too drunk to comply with
the order, he ordered him to be tied up.
Accordingly. he was tied up to the bell
post erected in front OF the guardhouse,
by his wrists, it being about II O'Clock in
the morning.
On returning to my quarters for din
ner Dunn was still tied up to the post. re-
naming there until my return to the
office. about 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
l returned to my quarters about $50
?. NJ. and found Dunn transferred from
the bell post and tied UP by his thumbs
to the iron bars or railing Immediately
beneath our quarters. He was in drunk
en- insensibilty, swinging to and fro
bound around by a small rope. his LEGS
stretched outwardly, the whole weight of
his body resting upon his thumbs.
The ends of the thumbs were fearfully
swollen and pulled out having the APP
pearance of a mortified piece OF flesh.
His head was dropping backward, the
burning rays of the sun striking him
full! in the face and the face red, blue,
and in some parts, nearly black, the
veins in the nec. swollen and extended
like cords, there being practically no
circulation Of blood. I viewed him hang
ing in this condition until after o'clock.
COMMANDER INTERPRETED.
There is no telling how long he would
have remained in this position had not
Major-General Hill, commanding, hap
pened 10 pass that way, and, seeing this
piece OF barbarous cruelty Inflicted upon
an insensible being, Immediately directed
the sergeant to take him down and place
him in the guardhouse. Elc commanded
that in future no man. while in a drunk
en- condition. be punished in like manner.
Instead of undoing the cords from ms
thumbs they were cut away and Dunn
fell heavily upon the ground, not even
awakening from the deep stupor as MS
head came in contact with the nara
ground He was tl;Pn dragged bodily into
the s,lardhouse, where he remained until
retreat.
The officer Of the day came down to
INSPECT the guard. and, looking around
failed to find Dunn. Inquiring OF the
sergeant where he was, he was told ne
was in the guard-h house. The officer or
dered that he be taken out ana be made
to carry a bail and lift the sergeant to
execute his order Dunn was brought out,
and from the tortures already practiced
upon him, was unable to clasp the ball,
it constantly slipping from his grasp.
He essayed to balance it upon his Shout
ders to comply with the orders. in MS
Intoxicated condition. In his endeaVor to
do SO he fell twice once the 42-pound
cannon ball falling directly upon his
chest. as he fell backwards; and again.
as he plunged forward, the weight of
the ball giving impetus to his fall, he
horribly mutiated the entire left side OF
his face as it plowed through the coral
sands.
The sergeant, TO execute the orders re-
ceived, strapped the ball upon his back
in a knapsack; but Dunn, staggering
mere and there caused the material to
give way. which again. when relieved
from the weight upon his back, caused
him to fall forward upon his face At
this point the officer arrived, and seeing
the mans lacerated face. ordered rim
back 10 the guard-house, there to remain
until S O'Clock, then to be taken out
and made to carry the ball. This seen was
witnessed By many persons on the island.
and the entire crew OF the steamer which
was lying at the wharf
A SHORT RESPITE.
All Of the excitement attending the at
fair had died away and quiet prevailed
throughout the tort except loud peals
of laughter from the officers quarters,
telling in unmistaNable terms of the rev
elry that existed there. The poor tortrlr
ed drunken victim, with his lacerated
hands and face. was temporarily Tor
gotten, but the time was again approach
ing yiler they would again place their
victim OIL tho rack.
Eight o'clock was pointed out by TIE
hands Of the clock, and Dunn, to the min
ute, was led from the guard-house 70
renew his task and take his punishment.
There were others confined in the guard
house, all of whom were brought forth
and ordered to pick up ball and carry
it, 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 al
ready inflicted upon Dunn maze II
physical impossibility for him to conform
to the orders given. His hands were I'M
able to perform their office. Repeatedly
he grasped the ball, only unconsciously
for the hands to relax their hold, letting
the ball fall to the earth. When, after
repeated efforts, he found 1t Impossible
to obey the comman ds given the sentlnel
threatening him with the point OF tiS
bayonet ii he still persisted in not COM
plying with the orders in pteous cries
he appealed from one to the other. say
ing to the sergeant, could he, he would
willingly carry the ball as ordered.
Sergeant he said. Il am willing to
carry the BALL God knows the truth or
what I say but l cannot do It. II you
do not believe me, come, on. come, ioch
at my bleeding hands.
1t was an iron heart to whom ne ap-
pealed. There was one answer: GU
must carry the ball. Sentinel, II he re-
fuses to carry it, obey your orders ana
run him through with your bayonet
The sentinel endeayored in various ways
to cause compliance, and failing to
move him in the matter, repeatedly prick
ed him with the bayonet. Finding Dunn
did not move from it's touch, the sentinel
called upon the sergeant OF the guarc.
Cords were again brought into requisltlon,
and in the toughest manner twisted and
bound around his bleeding hands, wrists,
and thumbs. In the midst OF his cries or
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 cailous
MS a stone. which had become more hard.
ened through frequent imbibings by him
during the day.
There was a gentleman residing with
his family upon the island, in charge Of
the lighthouse. whose family was dis
turbed by the piercing, cries of the tor
tured man as he screamed out In his ag-
ony. He was forced to call upon the Of
hcer OF the day TO ask that other mea-
sures be adopted in the manner of punish
Sment The officer sent forthwith for the
sergeant, who received orders and return
ed to his guard. In few moments Dunn
f,~&v INIT