The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-17


like a statue during the morning, the pierre
ing rays of the sun shining down in full
force upon his venerable gray hairs, he
having no covering upon his head to shield
1T from the sun. His gray hairs should
have protected him from such unjust pun
ishment without taking into consideration
the position he had formerly occupied in
society, Grenfell being a man of fine in
tellect and gentlemanly culture. Such feel
ings were buried, otherwise they might
have interposed checks against gratifying
their deep-seated hatred against him.
They could not forget that his was the
voice that broke their slumbering security
and forced their cruel routine of punish
ment to be suspended for time. No body
like unto his on which to vent their spleen
and hatred. The moment long hoped for
had arrived when he should be made to
feel the power he had raised his voice
against. The government would support
them in any measure they might adopt.
Edwin M. Stanton, secretary of war, was
the most inveterate enemy of Colonel Gren-
fell. which fact he was informed of through
Sir Robert Bruce, British minister at Wash
ington. d. c., in several communications
received.
Grenfell remained during the morning tied
up in this condition. After dinner, or about
o'clock in the afternoon. three OF the Off
GERS of the Fifth Artillery marched down
to the guardhouse ordering the sergeant
of the guard to undo Grenfell from the iron
ratings and conduct him to the wharf.
Each of these officers was armed with a
revolver loaded with powder and ball. Fol-
in hn of
bound still about the body in cords. &C
companied by corporal and ten armed
guards, he was marched to the wharf,
where they awaited the arrival of the OFF,
GERS ordained to perform as debasing and
damning an act of inhumanty and bar
barity as ever degraded the record of any
civilized nation.
Every prisoner and soldier on the outer
portion of the fort was commanded to retire
within the Enclosure of the fort, strict or
ders having been given the sentinels posted
at the sally port to allow no one to pass
from within the fort. Men could be seen
steering their footsteps from every direc-
ton in obedience to the command. Why all
this commotion? The cause of it was soon
learned and many of the soldiers collected
around the sally port to view the proceed
ings.
MANY MURMURED.
Murmurs arose on all sides and there was
not a voice scarcely but that condemned the
whole proceeding. Everything being COM
pleted, action soon followed. Colonel Gren-
fell wished to be informed whether or not
it was their wish for him to be submerged
beneath the water of the sea. They an
swered yes and he plunged from the deck
of the scow lying alongside Of the wharf,
and was soon buffeting against the waves.
The provost sergeant, holding on to the
end of the rope, repeatedly endeavored to
pull him beneath the water with jerks
of the rope, but failed, the old man keep
ing his head above the water. The officers,
maddened at their failure, resorted to sure
measures to carry out their cruel and in
human design. half-breed was sent 20
the blacksmith shop to obtain heavy pieces
of iron. to be used as sinkers on his feet.
The sergeant was busiy engaged in collect
ing bricks lying about the wharf
Grenfell stood undismayed in their midst.
looking callously on at the preparations be-
ing made to sink him, and, turning to one of
the officers directing the proceedings, said:
Gentlemen, if II is your intention to muir
der me, do 1T in a respectable manner, and
/ will thank you for the act"
One of the officers remarked: Damn you,
you deserve to die for the crimes you have
been guilty off,
Grenfell's reply was: 81 leave God to
Judge between us which is the worse, you
gentlemen or t.
The colloquy was here cut short, the irons
and bricks having been obtained. Weighing
upward of forty pounds, they were tied
to the feet of Grenfell. He was then
cast into the sea, sinking far beneath its
treacherous waves Just as he was thrown
ladies who were on a visit to the fort, was
nearing the wharf.
MURDER! MURDER!
AS their feet touched upon the landing
Grenfelrs head was raised from beneath
the water for him to catch a moments
breath. AS they raised his head there rang
out in clarion notes from Grenfell Murder!
murderH His piercing cry alarmed the
ladies, and with ouickening footsteps they
FASTENED toward the fort, their hands placed
over their ears to drown the horrible cries
of murder.
Soon were his cries stifled as his head
again sank beneath the water, and when
raised up again to catch breath his voice
was stified. They had nearly completed
their inhuman deed, there being but little
space left between life and death. In an
insensible condition he was hauled upon the
deck of the scow unable to speak, respira-
ton scarcely perceptible, the picture Of
death itself
Whilst lying in this condition a lieutenant
kicked him in the side and, accompanied
by the other officers, left Grenfel in charge
of the guard. AS they neared the sally port
conversing the lieutenant remarked that he
would either make Grenfell work or he
would kill him.
/ viewed the whole proceeding from the
casemate window adjoining our quarters in
which we were permitted to remain during
the hours of the day. This casemate was
the one joining that directly over the sally
port. from which the whole front of the
fort facing seaward was visible and in a
direct line to the wharf where the transac-
ton described took place. / afterwards
conversed with the soldiers who were COM
PEELED to perform this piece of inhuman
duty. gaining from them sufficient Informal
tion to corroborate the evidence of my own
eyes.
NOT vINDICTIvE.
They may attempt to stamp my rendition
as false, has been done i'm occurrences of
similar purport. but, outside of those per-
sonally connected in it. the truth of my as
sertions can be substantiated by respectable
i