The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-08


placed In large room on the main
deck. There was a large door that
opened out upon tho forward deck, a
which were posted two sentinels, and
In front on deck was a stack OF mus
l.cts. which appeared to belong to the
relief guard. Seeing this. Captain
Bcall quietly told all tho officers and
men that IL they would at certain
signal Jump upon the two sentinels at
the door and take their muskets that
no could easily reach the stack OF
muskets before tho balance OF the
guard could be under arms. | think
that Mr.. Stedman and Lieutenant Me-
Guire agreed with Captain Beall that
this could bc done: but there were
others who insisted that It was cntire-
~ too hazardous, as we had no idea
how many men were on tho upper
deck.
Dcali Thwnrted for Once.
Captain Beall was terribly enraged
when majority OF the party refused
10 join him. and did not hesitate to
tell us, his teeth gritting. that we
were a set of dastardly towards I,
was but a short time, however. before
he apologized. especially after he
found out that the conditions appear
ing so favorable were simply a trap
set hoping that he would do Just what
he suggested. There was 2. full COM
pany OF infantry on the Upper deck.
whose men were waiting for US TO
rush out that they might shoot down
every man and thereby have done with
Captain Bcall and his party without
any trouble OF trial.
We were landed at Fort McHenry,
Baltimore. at night, and next day car
1T W IN IN Mi oh o.
Gated the provost ruarshals Office.
This building was used at one time
rs stable. but had been converted
into prison, in which We're confined
doserters from tho Federal army. Tho
FIST day we were taken into the gar
refAstory'. and were treated very kind
~ & 49, a. We were taken to
duithe fire. It Jas En- gwcre being
ters1nlng aetonatid,f ii Fiiany Yankee
desofsry.lling within TX held in the
yard tRgi.i IA .sha ttersulIt around our
prise r. and who naturally lined UP as
Tar as the guard would allow as we
came out of tho provost ularshaFs Of
Tlce-siapped ms in familiar man
rer on the back and greeted me ef-
fusively. then noticed that each one
OF us received a slap. and that the
hand had been chalhed.
After being in our quarters Few
minutes. I was called for by fankoe
sergeant, and told that I would have
70 no initiated into the mysteries of
tho prison. AS came down with him
nc said, .Don't mako any resistance,
or they will go through you and take
that ring OF, but Il you do not resist
they Will have no excuse to rob you.
found, on reaching the ground
about twenty-five men around and
holding blanket. into which l was
told TO Jump. NThis did at once. and
with a hip and hurrah. was three
times pitched up as high Il thouehD
asa church steeple, Some of our men
resisted and were set on and robbed OF
all their little store of money and
other valuabes.
An incident happened at this time
which. while 1t gave me much pieas-
,lrc has always been an unknown
puzzle The second day after arriving
Mt the fort, the sergeant OF tho guard
came into our room and called wv. w
Baker, ! answered, Here" and was
given a largo willow basket, which
contained all kinds Of fruits, cakes
jellies and tobacco. both chewing ant
smoking. This. he remarked. has just
been brought in the fort by lady
The card had been torn off. and to thi;
day have never been able to learr
the name of my benefactor. to whom
so much desired to mako my CRATE
full acknowledgements. for this bias
ket contained a royal feast for us
which the whole party enjoyed.
learned that other baskets were sen
to me, but General Lockwood woult
not permit them to be sent into TIT
fort.
Men Put In Irons.
On the next day the sergeant cam,
into our room and called out: Hero
you pirates; all of you are wanted
down in the provost marshals Office
On reaching the Office we were line
up and our names called. and wer
told that General Lockwood had di
rectcd him to place us in irons am
In solitary confinement. Captain Beal
protested vigorously, and used som
very plain language In dcnunciatiol
OF the provost marshal and his go
y horts," hut the provost marshal oil
not resent what was said. and orl
replied that he was very sorry ina
this disagreea Bile duty had been i'm
posed upon him, but that Captain Beal
knew that as a subordinate officer h
was compelled to carry out Geneva
Loclswood's orders.
c.aptain Beall and Lieutenant Nc
CURE wero sllaclled with irons o.
both ankles, IS wore all the rest, eN
cent Crouch, Thomas nrd myself ant
az we ,hree had on heavy boots. II
shackles could he found large enoug
10 lock over our boots Hence W
we're told>to-Stand aside until all tn
rost were shacltled. was congratu
lating myself that we would be per
mitted 10 so without any irons, whe
tile officer in charge said: "sergean
take these three men up to the black
rmltl, shop and have a ball and chat
rIveted upon each"
on reaching the yard tho sergear
turned to me and said: Take UP tina
hall and chain and come on pointin
70 o. sixty-pound cannon ball to whic
a two-foot chain was attached.
shouldered it, and by the time
reached the blacksmith shop I wa
nearly. broken down, When the SCI
geant was not looking l slipped
Under tho work bench, and seeing OF
that weighed only about twenty-fi'
tS Y 43lA ia33l.5 f