The sun., 1908-11-15

else could how much OF strength he was
withholding from the rebel army by re-
fusing TO give back to them the men who
would all up their ranks from Northern
J prisons
| sUFPRRtNGs OF THE PRISONERS.
What should be emphasized, he wever. 10
that the refusal Of Washington and the
American authorities to make the exchange
proposed was not the slightest justification
for the neglect and cruelty with which the
prisoners OF war upon the prison hulks were
treated. 1t Is impossible TO determine ex-
actly who was responsible for the lack of
food and its insufficient quality and quantity
which was furnished. There is evidence
that the orders were that two-thirds Of the
daily food furnished to British sailors was
to be furnished to these prisoners. but GER
tain 1t is that the bread and meat and dried
vegetables which. were furnished were 80
wormeaten and rotten as to provide but
little sustenance. That these abuses arose
probabiylfrom the fraud and oupidity Of the
guards and immediate attendants Is prob
able, but the officers in higher authority
cannot escape the responsibility that is
necessarily at their door for failure to
order constant inspection and TO protect the
human beings whose lives as they must have
known. were being sacrificed from day to
day by the awful environment in which they
were compelled to live.
Thousands and thousands OF the victims
were buried on the shores Of wallabout Bay,
| not more than 500 yards from the ship, and
buried in such an insufficient way that the
recurring tides disclosed their bodies to the
air and washed their bones further upon the
shore.
THE coUNTRY's APPRECIATION.
We know this: The men who were there
confined were Americans who generally had
taken service on privateers to destroy
the British commerce and to hamper the
British operations upon the sea and who
after their confinement were offered the on
portunity OF betraying their allegiance 10
the cause Of the revolution by enlistins in
the British navy and engaging iu the sup
preston of the war against their own people.
We know that they with but few exceptions
preferred the death which was present Ia
them every day In their lives upon those
prison ships to the dishopor OF desertins
the cause Of their country.
This noble memorial is dedicated m n ra-
minder to living Americans OF the gratitude
due to unknown sufferers In our country a
cause and as en- inspiration to future ,In-
selfish and unheralded sacrifice TO maintain
our institutions OF liberty and civilization,
After Mr.. Taft's grafton Secretary of
War Wright on behalf Of the national
the monument to the State OF New York
'in tribute he said. -to those who nes,
this spot gave up their lives to a saored
cause and went TO unknown and for
gotten graves
When later Mr.. Wright. who Ia OF ths
South, spoke Of the monument ss Elm
memory Of those Yankee rebels who
spurned liberty or even life at the expense
OF HONOR Mr.. Taft smiled broadly at the
phrase Yankee rebels and looked nm
quickly and sympathetioally at the secre-
Gov. Hughes. said Mr.. Wright. and
seat beside him. Il transfer to you A.
representative OF the State Of New YORK
the scene Of the conservation and sacrifioe
To- which this noble monument bears
witness-this monument to the prison
ship martyrs OF the Revolution These.
sir, are the keys"
Gov. Hughes accepted the KEYS, and an
the Twenty third Regiment band PLAYED
the we'll known largo Of Handel every
body who was seated arose and the m an |
do1ed hats, Miss Esther King Norton.
granddaughter OF Gen, Horatio G. King,
drew cord and the national oolors which |
had screened the monument came slowly |
down, uncovering IL to the leaden skies. |
and salute OF thirteen guns covered the |
assemblage with smoke.
In the front row Of the grand stand !
beside the speakers stood QuartsrmasteI.
Sergeant James Elkins Cleveland of the |
Forty-seventh Regfment-whose great |
grandfather. James Elkins, died In one |
OF the prison ships-guarding q banner |
which had been carried In the reburial |
ceremonies OF 1908 and which SerRt. |
Cleveland's grandfather had afterward |