The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1906-05-02
Capt. Wlrz.

Sapt. Wlrz.
from recent article written By
Hon. W. Nj. Hammond, of Thomas.
VILE, Ga., we extract tho following in
relation to the conduct Of The Ander.
oonville prison by Capt. Henry Wirz:
Having heard while en- route to
Macon (1s6A1 accounts more or less
unfavorsble Of the condition of the
AndersonVillo prison, based in part at
least, on the alleged inefioieuoy OF it's
commanding officer, I felt special io-
terest in arriving at just estimate of
tae qualities Of Captsiu Wirz and
therefore devoted the greater portion
OF my stay in .Audersouville to a care
full study Of che man and of. his
methods.
Major Wirz was, when saw him,
apparently forty years of age; was
born in Zurich, Switzerland. and was
q trained soldier a :sstle below me-
dunn heighth, slight of figure, and
lean almost to emseistion, with thin
dark hair and brown eyes, direct in
manner and expression, aud active and
alert in movement, he impressed me
as one peculiarly fitted for the details
OF military administration aud control.
Hie right arm had been. badly mutt.
lated near the wrist, caused By the
fragment OFFS shell at an engagement
near Baton Rouge, La, inospaoitat:ng
him for active service. He was ct
my side during my visits to sick and
dying in the hospital, and while pass.
ing among the scarcely leae =sstoheaa
inmates Of the stoekdade. At night
he went over the prison records with,
me, explaining minutely the needs
and deficiencies Of each department,
aud when I was on the point Of leav-
ing. Andersonville, he: iwplored me
With tears streaming from bis eyes to
urge upon tho authorities at Richmond
the absolute necessity for; more and
better food for the prisoners, for med.
ieines, tenta and lumber, aud declared
IL: I: =e=!a he :saa.:.e!- ::ssaa.:.e!-. hhe..e- and
more ereditable TO our government and
20 our ciyilzatioa thas thousands Of the
suffering and dying man whom the
fortunes sofs wsr had placed in ,,i our
hands, should be released vithop,s;
formalits Of an exchange, or any :equivs
alent whatsoever, and recommended
that I advise tho authorities at <Rioh.
mond 70 send q many OF the priso, onera ID
as eonld be furnished with .fansporta::EE s
tion tos Richmond Of Savannah, |Slti a.
sueh other point 40 might bs selected,
aud :there: turn them over uneondition.:
ally TO the Federal susho:isies. :;g !: D y
= = Attic time Of my visit shero /, ,sas q, j
2S, 9S1 prisoners in tha hospital tents
and inEthe stookd kdado,, mostly. private Il, ],
and ndn.oo oomniaaionad totss tssders--a dis4
orsanissd and desperate mass 81 irl hur.S
manity, whoss snRerinss hid ,2blotted
out the last vestigai Of respect III
themselves. and Of regard for, their.
Fellows; mud 90 gsptaia eWiirzs. pssss,ds.
with me unarmed ssaand K s,Iuitt unattended
through this isesth hing . masa 81 misery;t i a. q
and hopelosss g, 81 asked him s s iiff Ia
felt 40 fekr fof his pstsonals safety 81 III
the hands of ;msn whose Il Only isb l,sossihIsS
feeling toward hin inuatfs IS 81 ol,s }si, @oft
a4.aAat: resentment. His rep p,iys ,wss. EliIi.
! ;si'They know that I am doing 81 &, = ut.5
most 70 mitigate their suH Heelrines: ana
bsaides, the least appearances 3 B 81 3fsar5 b Il
or hesieasion on my part world sbe
qnfakl fatal to 't And d, \ "a
passed tbropsh every | portion AZ she
crowded stock dade without fecssiy Il iyinr1
sny nnkind expression . of /, N seeing d
threatening gesture. T b ] jms. jml 81 ses &, ,s
insssd thst onsl sail u oi tha oss,si.
tiss allegsd against hiin tby. 3 Siis III eseaus
tioners, could poasibly hare psssstla 81 u Il an.I ti
ss..ssa sssess q 81 asls Q
snialys IS apst sig mid aahs rat atssioSn siS III
ssAs;a sss9s-7ssss:s.- sG9s:,-.ss.e
nation and have been ussafs 4o coysr1
bic + men wit oblean
ISL asss it asams prop psr tkat rsf IS erennsi q,
hesnnada 10. .ths spesitS 6 ehksKsS Sof shay.
Ing st lsast onooUfaaoiiIs.se b 81 1 i iss s.
tha sxsaut & shaE priaensts Mo-