DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70302#0445
LIFE AND CRUELTIES OF JOSEPH WALL, ESQ. 401
guist to do their duty, and repeatedly saying: “ Lay on, you
black b-s, or I’ll lay on you; cut him to the heart! cut
his liver out!” Eight hundred lashes were thus inflicted,
after which Armstrong was led to the hospital. His back
was found to be as black as a new hat, and he continued
to grow worse and worse, till in about four days death
relieved him from his misery.
The pretence on which this horrible punishment was
inflicted was, that Armstrong and his comrades had be-
haved in a mutinous manner, and this likewise was the
defence which the governor made upon his trial for his
atrocious conduct. Nothing of the kind could, however,
be proved, and the real cause of his inveteracy against
Armstrong and the other unhappy men who suffered on
the same occasion, is stated to have been the following.
Armstrong and Robinson, according to the declaration of
the latter, were found tampering with Jordan, (one of
two men who had been confined by the provost), to give
information against the commandant for confining his
fellow prisoner Pauler’s hands and legs in irons, till he was
devoured by rats. This circumstance, with advice he had
received from his agent at home, informing him of many
charges against him, and of the intention of government
to send out a superior officer to try him at Goree, enraged
him almost to madness, and caused such excessive severity
in his punishments. Armstrong and Robinson received
each 800 lashes; next morning, Evans and Paterson
the same number, Upton 375, Shaw 75, and Fawcet,
47.
Among these unfortunate men, Armstrong was not the
only victim to the vengeance of the implacable governor ;
Upton and Paterson likewise sunk beneath the lash of
his tyranny. Such was the system of terror which he had
established, that not an officer, the surgeon, or any other
individual under his command dared to interfere, unless
Eccentric, No. IX. 3 f they
guist to do their duty, and repeatedly saying: “ Lay on, you
black b-s, or I’ll lay on you; cut him to the heart! cut
his liver out!” Eight hundred lashes were thus inflicted,
after which Armstrong was led to the hospital. His back
was found to be as black as a new hat, and he continued
to grow worse and worse, till in about four days death
relieved him from his misery.
The pretence on which this horrible punishment was
inflicted was, that Armstrong and his comrades had be-
haved in a mutinous manner, and this likewise was the
defence which the governor made upon his trial for his
atrocious conduct. Nothing of the kind could, however,
be proved, and the real cause of his inveteracy against
Armstrong and the other unhappy men who suffered on
the same occasion, is stated to have been the following.
Armstrong and Robinson, according to the declaration of
the latter, were found tampering with Jordan, (one of
two men who had been confined by the provost), to give
information against the commandant for confining his
fellow prisoner Pauler’s hands and legs in irons, till he was
devoured by rats. This circumstance, with advice he had
received from his agent at home, informing him of many
charges against him, and of the intention of government
to send out a superior officer to try him at Goree, enraged
him almost to madness, and caused such excessive severity
in his punishments. Armstrong and Robinson received
each 800 lashes; next morning, Evans and Paterson
the same number, Upton 375, Shaw 75, and Fawcet,
47.
Among these unfortunate men, Armstrong was not the
only victim to the vengeance of the implacable governor ;
Upton and Paterson likewise sunk beneath the lash of
his tyranny. Such was the system of terror which he had
established, that not an officer, the surgeon, or any other
individual under his command dared to interfere, unless
Eccentric, No. IX. 3 f they