The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-07-11
William Cunningham, Jale1 a
New York -Revo&utioo
Marty"
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y-1sor st.o c, tie CApT. WIlCIAi4
Brs1efl.1 STREE CUNNING '1Ah
eis.uyb thesr tlunb<rz- Art tbey rrty
"a, N.s,sv Cunningham. or p-oToG
-s,ttsl. VII devise sOue Dsz1i 70
ksep ne par vrs:Abss q1,s 0
Eig.u-
60 rurs az o,t letter written =
New York tgrrg ;hs darkest days 0
tie American EeTolZ-.On TIE Brit
,ss had csytgred New Ts'k and P.ilS
ds'psls- To both cities-but chiefly n
New YoYk-they byo-gtt too1szods d
ps,ri1 soItierr. captured IN battle,
and many non<on ba1rts who Lad
r.sks1 freedom and lifs 20 help tie
cause u liberty W money, gifts OF By
patriotic speeches.
These unlucky cay,iyes we're not
treated Ike prisoners os war. They
were housed and fsd-or, rather
staryed-!n a way the law novsdsys
would not permit for cattle or swine
And the man in charge os them va
q blackyuard whose own countrynsi
loatbed him, william Cunningham
Cunningham was the son Of Brit
ish dragoon and was born IN TIE
regimental barracks at Dublin. In l17i
he came 70 America and settled In
New York, where ne made living 'or
some time by breaking" colts and BY
giving riding lessons. When the Revo-
luton broke out, in l775. be became
involved In a political row with some
local patriots and was forced TO fee
10 Boston, there 10 seek the protection
o. the British army.
His noisy loyalty TO King George
III. got him into trouble there and at
tracted the notice OF Thomas Gage.
the English general Gage appointed
him provost marshal TO the royal
army. His chance for revenge" had
come.
Cunningham was sent back 20 New
York and was put In charge OF TN
Revolutionary prisoners there and In
Philadelphia. There were several i'm.
promptu prisons in New York where
the patriot captives were lodged One
was the city hall. another the famous
old Sugar House" another, Kings
(now Columbia) college; another the
new gaol" (the old hall OF records
In City Hall park, torn down only q
few years ago), and-worst OF all
the "phson ship Jersey" moored on
the Brooklyn shore. Churches were
also turned into 1ails.
In the prison ship the eaptives were
herded by hundreds in dark, foul pens
destitute Of pure air and sunlight
They were given such food as dog
might well scorn. and In such tiny
quantities as would not suffice to
keep a dog alive. The water they
drank was filthy. No medical care
or chance for cleanliness or exercise
was granted them. Prison fever and
other maladies scourged their ranks:
They died like 30 many flies To such
fearful condition were they reduced
that the lowest city outcasts were
touched BY pity and secretly sent
them food
The fate Of the captives IN the new
gaol or hall OF records, was little bet
ter. Here 10 an extract from Pin
tards account Of their sufferings
$50 closely were they packed to
gether that when they lay down at
night 10 rest, on the hard oak planks,
and they wished to turn. It was all
together, by word Of command
ght'-1eft'-being 30 wedged as 20
form almost q solid mass Of human
bodies"
All war Ia cruel. But such torture
az this was inercusable. And Though
the British government might perhaps
have bettered matters had they chos-
en- to) the lions share OF the blame
was Cunningham's. Here Is a portion
of his sworn confession. made in 1871,
Just before his own execution:
II shudder to think OF the murders
! have been accessory to, both with
and without orders from government.
especially while in New York, during
which time there were more than two
ping their rations (which sold).
There were also 275 American pris-
ouers executed. A guard was des.
patched to forbid people to look out
from their doors or windows on pain
Of death. after which the prisoners
were conducted. gagged, at midnight.
just behind the upper barracks. hung
without trial and then buried"
Cunningham went back to England
after the war and took to riotous liv-
ing. Being short Of money to sQuan-
der on dissipation. he forged a draft.
For this crime he was tried, con-
demned. and. on August 10. 1891, was
hanged.
He is said to have bern responsi
for the shameful death OF nearly $500
American patriots. Nor could mere
hatred for the colonists account for
q III -.