The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-12-15

JASNA%E AO& SEA 2AAS-@N--N-
The only view from our quarters vas
the inside of the fort. There were but
few things that transpired within it's
environs but that came under our OBJ
serYations. because directly beneath
was the guardhouse, the Chief point
where the barbarities were practiced
and inflicted upon prisoners and SOL
diers. At this time it was an everyday
occurrence to behold men piodding
around a ring, both day and night,
carrying logs and cannon balls, the
balls varying in weight from "a pounds
up to 12S pounds.
To be reported was enough to award
punishment, neither soldier nor prison.
er being allowed to utter word in his
own defense. To look sideways at an
officer was the forerunner of ball to
be carried two hours on and two
hours off, frequently for a week or ten
days. There was a soldier by the name
of Wheeler, Company NJ. Fifth Artil-
lery, who was required to carry ball
for month. both day and night. two
hours on and two hours off, because he
altered his pantaloons furnished by
the government, instead of going there
to the tailor to have it done, he pre-
ferring to do it himself to save the
cost of the same, he being poor man
and having family dependent upon
him.
During the first year and half the
Dry Portugas was anything but
paradise. There did not pass day but
men could be seen tied up by their
thumbs, between the sky and the
earth, until the joints of their thumbs
were nearly pulled from their sockets;
| some carried to the Gulf Stream, bound
| in cords and nearly drowned, and 9TH
ers tied up in the guardhouse and
dashed upon their naked backs.
Many of these cruelties were infict-
ed because the victims had followed
the example set by some of the officers
in charge of them and had dared to be-
come intoxicated. There was another
mode of punishment applied in many
instances. Men were what they termed
nailed to the cross or spread eagle
fashion, and others were tied with
their hands behind them to swinging
limbs, the tip of their toes barely
touching the earth. If these same cru
elites were practiced in other portions
of the Army to the same extent as
was done at Dry Tortugas the cause
of so many assertions from the service
could easily be discerned, Had the SOL
diers at that post the facilities Of de-
sorting there would have been but few
of the command left to do garrison
duty.
Many left in small boats, to make
their way from the scenes of torture,
across 200 miles of sea, preferring to
risk their lives upon the deep than to
remain, daily dunned to death by such
brutal measures enforced there. TIL ese
particular cases l will hereafter refer
to, 1t being my desire, as far as posi-
BILE to relate each thing in order, as
far as memory can recall.
A short time after Colonel Grenfells
removal to other quarters case OF
smallpox broke out upon the island
The patient, instead of being placed ir
a remote corner of the fort, there be
ing many unoccupied classmates avail
: able at the time, where the disease
would not endanger others, was
; brought and placed midway between
our quarters and those of Colone
Grenfell We came in contact with Il
daily as we passed to and from our la
Dor Colonel Grenfell receiving the full
benefit therefrom upon each puff o.
wind that passed. We failed to be
: come inoculated with the loathsomt
disease, however.
Finding the patient still remaining
in close proximity to each Of our quar-
tiers, Colonel Grenfell obtained largt
blackboard and upon 1t in large Letters
inscribed Smallpox Hospital" direct
ing all persons on the island to shun 1t
This drew the attention of the officers
together with the murmurings heart
all over the island, and the patient wa
removed to another portion of the fort
The action of the authorities in this af
fair was so pointed that not only our
! selves, but each man upon the island
firmly believed that 1t was done for tn
; express purpose of inoculating us wit
this fearful and loathsome malady.
i, JOKE NOT APPRECIATED.
Colonel Grenfell was severely repri
manded for his action and sternly com
manded to take in the board and to b
very careful in his actions in the fu
i dated but strictly garnered the action
of the officers at the fort, recOrdin
y them in a diary, which he kept durin
his Imprisonment, and which, learned
is now in the possession of Captai
MacElrath, Company l., Fifth Unite
States Artillery. At this period sus
l tenance was horrible and of the mos
disgusting nature. We sustained our
selves from our own resources. 1t wa
= a godsend that we possessed it, other
$ wise starvation would have stared u
in the face.
Colonel Grenfelps quarters were pa
pered over it's woodwork front inward
ly with his daily rations of bread an
- meat. nail having been place
:, through it to fasten it to the wall. Sd
diers We're loudly complaining abor
, their rations and the quality issued. OF
u ten when guarding us they requisite
=, something to eat, stating that the
. were nearly starved; that they wei
- robbed of their rations, etc.
q Many cne's hunger was relieved b
q us from our own scant supply, throug
r which we gained their friendliness
: some instances, but as a general thin
II they were kind, and sympathized wit
l. us in our misfortunes, and would hay
. permitted US to have escaped If in lie
a ing so they would not have been con
a promised in the matter. They con
n planned bitterly of the distribution
| Gfa hpt