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

!, y hesitatingls pronounce the whole
statement to be false upon tne,esioe'.cs y
the parties most rita.lE concefinse aa,, made
,..Simlar Investigations have been I ,a,s
1h,.'oti,er officers the result of whicn leau e
to show the enllre statement. as p W.
tiished is what it is characterized IN .ne
ccmmunicat OF this ietterrscaii'''''o0s
and false in the greatest deSTet.
.If am, gentlemen, truiy
..Your obedient servant.
second Lieutenant Fiftn United states
- al ARNOLD SAYS FALSE.
Never was a more base falsehood
blazoned to the word than tnls III.
expressions are similar in purporft. 70
those written by the commanding otIseI
to the War Department. proving .ndl
concert of action had been agreed upo oa
not been punished in the inhuman ma =.
ner ~cited in his article puoiisned; ne
referred to others than himself: ana. as
than depicted His efforts in the matter
were alone to break up these neartiess
acts of cruelty and barbartty. Wh zen
daily were being practiced upon tne
island, feeling that continuation Oh them
might revert upon his own shoulders.
as none knew what q day Wouid oiils
forth. as every. officer seemed 70 pa ~
vested with unlimited authority. Lractts,
ing every Kind OF cruelty tue iiiitto to''-s'
conceive OF.
It is natural that brother officers Would
uphold one another, as the acts OF one
reflected upon the whole. out douo[s t ine
and debasing falsehocd l speak or no
thing herein but that can be s9ostain-
tiated by intelligent and respectaols Wa VIA
nesses IL living at the present daE, attu
pronounce that Grenfells statement: with IN
but few exceptions. was trutntui IN tss
whole tenor. notwlthstanclng an that IT, I.s
been said by General Hill and otneIs:
III in q o
island.
Punishments heretofore practiced we're
abolished. ball-carrying and tying men me-
Up by the thumbs were strlctty p'4 isia.l5
ed. and for few months the lsiahu;
which had existed as a hell assume "a,
brighter appearances. The heavy car an
non balls were removed from the suaru-
house. leaving only a 2i-pound snot TO
be carried by offenders against military
rules and orders were Issued from neaa-
quarters directing that no man De, os 't tI,t
ished except on orders alfectiy isoiii 'iie
commanding officer.
ORDERS WERE NIoLATE.p-
These orders ware daily violated by ths
company commanders. PriFate so ,,li ,.
instead of being sent to the suaro-t ~ ~. e,
as formerly: were taken na to,, OF 81 M H.,
commanding officer, and pintznsd VII" IN
the usual severity. When it became ah-
parent that the effect OF the article p Pun
Iished by Grenfelt had died out thes
gradually increased the punishment, re-
Sorting in many instances TO the III
human practice Of throwing men ri ~,
the sea. Drunken men We're lIetI.easS
wheeled to the wharf N barrow ana
submerged beneath the water and almost
suffocated.
There was prisoner by the name OF
brown who had been suffering from SICK
ness for some time and on the morning l7I
in question had gone to the DOCTOR 5 c[tll.
and by him had been excused from lsoor
during the day. Contrary to custom, ne
-nrl. nv -
marshal He stated his case. that ne
was excused; in fact, cnat he was 50
weak that he could not labor Whsn 70
cure him of his ailmeut h" was ordered
to carry a 42-pound shot. He did as coW-
roanded for some time. until overcome
by the sun and his afiiiction When Ne
dropped the ball ard refused 90 carry =
longer Forthwith he was bound around
the feet his arms being tied behind MN
and he was conducted to the sea and
submerged beneath the waves.
The officer in charge repeatedly aSk2u
him. when his head was brought abo; o.,
the surface if he would carry me pa
The man from swallowing so nuch san
water was unable. no matt now hi'.ch
o,lired answer when he was subn2ersttt
again Finally wilen nearly drowned
he was raised from the water 20 me
wharf. where he remained i,ntil SUIT
cientIv able to speak. and firdi's it was
death by drowning il he refused 70 OBEY
the order he acuuissced to the demanGs
and in his III condition. his entire com
ing saturated with salt water, ploddeo
more dead than alive. around the ring
with lettering footsteps. carTyins the b1i
sunset Then in his wet ci0tnIng NJ
was thrust within the gla al,t ,s, 10
remain during the night. without oed OF
covering of any kind
A PECULIAR HAPPENING
Some time afterwards quite 4 huihper
of colored prisoners were relsasea py
of whom had been waiting upon tnt
officers at headquarters as coos wait
ers. etc It seems as If theIt had baen
committed in the S Ia oo OF OF eiot then5
and before being allowed 10 leave .ns
island. which was perfectly Just. 'aTI
baggage was searched. some .. lste
session and they were closely qucs-ioned
by the officers relative to the othef ar
tices but TO no avail
Innocent and guilty alike were nlarchsu
to the wharf with General Hill to view
the sport occupying PROMINENT posi-
ton on the stern Of the schooner Ma1cn,
less. moored at the wharf Soa s,la, u" ,is ID
cords with their ha::ds. as usual tlsd
behind them. thew We're cast INTO 1!s i
As they were pushed off the wharf mo
thte sea their cries ftlF-d thf ar. 70 oe
beneath the waves. TINS was repeissu
several times. when they were recon
ducted into rhe fort
General Hill seen7ed to enjoy the scene
wontlerfulfv. his wrcle frame being con-
v7Ifesd with laughter. After being con
Quoted into the fort a consultation vs.
held among the officers. When ore OF N"
prisoners raoed James. Of haitnlore.
from the evidence. being deemed lIino-
cent. vas released and ordered TO 90 ms
duties at feadGuarters. ftra!ty. al. nuf
one was re1aaeed-a color3d man from
I louisiana who was tasHn irto the guard
house his clothing stripped Gown IRON
his shoulders and back and gwen t"en-
t,--rine laehes upon the back iald on Wei
by the enlisted men OF the guard
4 NEGRO VICTIM
His cries FOR mercy as every lash cur
into the flesh could be heard IL ever
Dcrtion of the fort gaining force as l'sf'
quickly followed lash. After TINS proceed.
ing in direct conflict with the laws o.
the land the negro remained smut up II
The. guard ouse. moaning most rlFeousiN
The boat being in readiness 10 leave n,
was brought from the gGardhouse rnatch-
ed 10 the boat and left win q bieedtng
and sore back the shores OF the Inflated
island Of Dry Tortugas.
The system in cur nloSa OF conllheHef2,
rernaired UNCHANGED: sui guarded ano
compelled TO dwell in our camp and un-
wholesome quarters when not at WORK
In the month Of January. 1861. sun
district having been formed. SreN5f-bT!s-
=. II Hill vas renewed %
the commend OF Fort Jefferson and as
s,-n,ed command Of the sub-dtstrIct. "stn
headquarters a { Te~ West. Fla. IN the
meantime many OF the officers conposih"
the Command were transferred 10 othef
ncints. and with a light heart ever
nr5so>,e. and soldier watched their de-