The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-19
Copyright. 1902, b The Baltimore An erica 7
CHAPTER XIII.

When the commanding officer found that
Grenfe and the other escaped prisoners
had not been overhaued he issued the most
stringent orders against the remaining
prisoners.
No one after retreat was permitted to
place his head out Of the aperture OF his
casemate. under the penalty Of having
muskei hall sent crashing through his
brain. All intercourse between soldiers
and prisoners was strictly prohibited. a
violation of such order being at first Sc
verely punished. and repetition leaving
them open to be arraigned before a court
martial. Many orders were issued without
sense or reason in them.
The escape of Grenfell was another blow
struck at the commander, who felt dubious
about his commission Consequently.
something had To he done to exonerate
himself from all blame.
He communicated to headquarters that
Grenfel had been furnished with mea ms
by out siders which had been used in brb-
ing the sentinel: also that he had consid-
cradle money in his possession when he
escaped
This was not So Grenfell did not have
in his possession at the time of his escape
s25. He could have gone without a dollar
az the rule Of the place was as disgusting
To the soldier a. it was to those confined.
and help al any time would have been rem
dered : my man who desired To escape,
providing that the soldiers in so doing
were not compromised.
OTHERS SUFFERED FOR GRENPRLI..
The remaining prisoners had to bear the
br,int for the escape Of Grenfell and the
9th 81. N
until sunset in the heat Of the broilng sun
a provost guard. with the commanding
officer and the provost marshal, more fire.
quently than otherwise, standing over them
and hurrying them up. Not a moment
rest was allowed during the day, excepting
at dinner hour. and this continued until
the Fifth Artillery was relieved. on March
10. 1859
Seven prisoners we're sent there from
Eutaw. Ala, for the alleged ofrenc, Of
threatening Ia ride a carpet dagger on
rail. On them was centred deep hatred
and prejudice. They were termed Kuklux
by the provost marshal for the purpose
Of engendering hatred in the hearts Of the
soldiers against them. in which it failed TO
some extent. Their stay was short, owing
to the press of the country taking the matter
unjust and tyrannical in the extreme.
When they were torn from their homes
and families, supplies of every kind were
denied them. They suffered from indigni-
ties heaped upon them all along the route
from Eutaw to Dry Tortugas, weighted
down in chains and most spitefully used by
those In charge Of them.
As a matter Of course, they were without
money, and when released they asked for
transportation and subsistence to their
homes, which was denied them They
were taken to Key West. an island in the
sea, and there. among strangers, were left
TO make the best of the situation that they
could.
MORE ESCAPES FEARED.
From them learned that they met with
friends tall being Freemasons) and, with
out the assistance of the Government,
safely arrived at their homes. But a short
ime after the departure Of the prisoners
from Eutaw, Ala, it was reported that some
parties had been overhear d to express an
opinion a. 10 how easy a matter il would
Ire to break through their quarters into
one of the soldiers company quarters
some night, seize their guns when the whole
garrison, excepting those on duty, was at
the theatre, overcome the guard and seize
the Quartermaster' schooner, Matchless
moored at the wharf, raise anchor, cut ropes
and put to sea.
This rumor reached the ears Of the pro-
vost marshal. 80 said. when in a trice the
most stringent measures were adopted to
illustrate t he design. Double sentinels were
placed over the prisoners quarters. and
every privilege formerly granted was re-
scinded
Myself and companions became he re-
cipients Of IA necessity created only to
persecute. From the first touch OF the
hand Of the military branch of the United
States we had received the full weight Of
their cruelty and tyranny; we had been
made TO study the effects Of partial and
then of total darkness, Of damp and loa, h.
some cells, Of foul and filthy dungeons. OF
tortures, irons and chains. Of degradation
Of all kinds.
PRISONERS WINDOWS BOARDED Up.
And now We were forced to study branches
of a more edifying nature, a. We were
boarded up and denied the pleasure of
looking upon mother earth and the few
green spots OF veget alton growing within
The Enclosure of the fort. the only visible
uarts of the creation left us TO observe
being the overhanging SKY and the bound
Lsi deep They determined by such pro-
cedure and ction that We should become
learned in astronomy and navigation
This unjust proceeding on the part OF
those ruling not only deprived our quarters
OF proper ventilation but caused the damp
ness 10 increase, and at the ZANE tine had
a tendency 10 cast cdium upon us alone
Every person in and out Of the fort was
confront ed with il. and naturally were led
10 inquire why of all quarters this alone
was boarded up.
NO REASON FoR SUCH HARDSHIP.
Az no cause had boon assigned for this
unlooked-for and sudden display Of hatred
III the provost marshal, we applied TO the
commanding officer to I've informed as TO
what ofTenc, We had committed to Justify
s,,cb action and whether he was acting upon
secret information, and, II 80, We desired 70
no confronted with our accuscrs. knowing
,hat we had neither infringed upon the rules
,overning nor contemplated any unlawful
Undertaking..
Ne we're Informed that we were not ac-
,o1 OF anything. but that the rumor was