Page:History of Delaware County (1856).djvu/149

DELAWARE COUNTY. 125 from the floor, when my fellow sufFerer, Thorp, who was not so badly off as myself, used to help me up. " The physician appointed to have the care of the prisoners, whose name was Pendergrass, paid but very little attention to his charge, seldom visiting us, and never examining closely into our situation ; consequently a description of my horrid condition would afflict the reader, on which account I forbear it. At length, however, this physician was removed, and another put in his place, of an entirely contrary character 3 he was humane, inquisitive, industrious, and skilful. When he came first to that part of the prison where myself and about twenty others were confined, the captain of the fort came with him, when the doctor proceeded one by one to examine us, instead of giving us a general look only, as the other had done. The place where I sat was quite in one corner. I had chosen it because it was the darkest, and served to hide me from ob- servation more than any other part of the room. I had con- trived to get into my possession an old rug of some sort, which partly hid my naked limbs j this I kept over my lap, in the best possible manner. " After a while it became my time to be examined ; when he said, ^ Well my lad, what is the matter with you V From shame and fear, lest he should witness the loathsome predica- ment which I was in, I said, ' nothing sir !' ^ Well then,^ said he, ' get up.' ' I cannot, sir,' said I. He then took the end of his cane, and putting it under the blanket which was partly over me, and served to hide me from my waist downward, threw it quite from me, when a spectacle of human suffering presented itself, such as he had not expected to see. I had fixed my eyes steadily on his face to see if aught of pity moved his breast, which I knew I could trace in his countenance, if any appeared. He turned pale ; a frown gathered on his brow, the curl of his lip denoted wrath ; when he turned round to the captain of the fort, whose name was Steel, and looking 11*