The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-12-18

when Major Andrew vas relieved Of
command Of the post. Breyet Major
. Col. George ST. Leger Gren-
fell's InveteTate enemy, was ordered
back to the fort and assumed COM
mand. At the same time a new pro-
vost marshal was appointed. Between
the pair the island became hell again,
they devising measures to make pris-
oners uncomfortable and imprisonment
more CALLING.
AS soon as the new commander as
sumed the reins Of power the tendency
10 prosecute GrenfeIl's became ap-
parent, it having been stated to me by
Major Andrews, before departure, that
his successor felt very bitter toward
Grenfell, it nearly being the means Of
his dismissal from the service.
When the provost marshal found that
prisoners contented and obedient some
new order was issued to awaken them
from it. He picked as provost guards
the most contemplate men of the gar
rison, who abused, cursed, struck and
maltreated the prisoners under their
charge in every conceivable manner.
Colonel Grenfell, finding, as he after
, wards expressed to me, that they had
started upon him to kill him inch by
| inch, determined to attempt escape at
all hazards, preferring, as he said. a
watery grave to the indignities impos-
! ed upon him.
Grenfell at this time had charge of
! the small garden lately made within
| the Enclosure of the fort. The major,
on assuming command, relieved Gren-
fell from this duty, and placed the old
man at the heaviest work that was TO
be done. Each day was productive OF
changes and each change bred a worse
condition.
Finding persecution setting gradual
ly in upon him more and more, Gren-
fell went cautiously to work with 9TH
ers and soon succeeded in making ar
rangements to escape. There was
soldier by the name of William Nor
rell who had received very harsh
treatment and was anxious to desert
With this man Grenfell formed hi
plans, in combination with another sol
der of the same company.
MADE BOLD ESCAPE.
On the night of March G, 1868, thei
plans were completed. Norrell was {
sentinel on Post No. 2, guarding thu
small boats within the boom. At 1
o'clock at night he went on duty, ant
Grenfell, with three other prisoners
succeeded in Guiding the sentinel with
in the fort, making their way to tn
northwest side, letting themselve
down through one of the portfolios int
the moat, thence to the breakWate
wall, where they walked to the appoint
ed rendezvous, arranging all the nee
essary articles of food and water TO
their perilous undertaking.
The night was pitch dark and flu
rious gale ragged at the time, which ha
existed for six consecutive days. New
!, err did men venture on a more perilou
: undertaking.. The uninterrupted wave
rose even within our shelter harbor
fearful heights, but beyond in the GU
} during the day they reached to noun
tain heights.
So The sentinel waited until II o'cloc
was called, and then embarked wit
= Grenfell and the others in a. small boa
S picked out for the purpose, and sool
e with sail set, fed from their ocear
S bound home. No one as yet outside {
. my roommates and myself knew any
/ thing of it. The hour of Il 'arrive
t when the sentinel on Post 1 cried oil
f the hour. No sound came from POI
t No. g No. / again cried out the hou
n and yet no sound from Post No. 2.
The corporal, with a Witness az
yanced stealthily upon the post, e.
I, pecting, no doubt, to find the sentin
Il asleep a subject for court-martia
Behold his amazement when no sci
tinel could be found. He then return
{ ed to the guardhouse, reported the fa
Il to the sergeant, who in turn reported
Il the officer of the day. Soon there WI
l a commotion all through the fort, me
y hurrying here and there in search
u the missing man, and then to the pri
II oners' quarters in search, being assn
u ed that an escape had taken place.
~ After diIigent search it was four
" that Grenfell and others were mlssln
:, and. on looking into the boom, the
- realized the means in accomplishing
= Norrell deserted his post, carrying h
= gun and equipment with him.
d Everything remained quiet duri1
" the remainder of the night, but Il
i next rnornig the fort within was 6
e hustle and preparation for pursu
l. There was a steamer lying in the ha
J., { Dor at the time, the commander
o which readily consented to go on Il
search, and about s O'Clock she steam
out after the escaped party. Aft
y cruising nearly the entire day tn
}. failed to hear or see anything Of t