The Weekly comet., 1853-06-12
btn)trkly Catittt
rhursday morning, June 9, 1859
Tho Louisiana Penitentiary.


establishment in order to be able to
make an article on the subject Of its
condition and management Through
the politeness Of Col TsEf. rive gained
admission, and on the inside were
placed in charge of Captain W. j. Hh-
DEN, 1st Warden Of the guard, who
kindly conducted us over the premises,
and courteously explained everything
connected with the buildings, manu-
factories, and condition Of the Pris-
oners.
In the first place we were conduct
cd to the new building on the South
side, which is nearly ready for service
II is substantial and commoaious
structure having many advantages
over the West wing. It contains 200
cells 25 on each floor, and four stories
hish. The cells, as in the old build
Ing, are i'll the centre Of the house
with iron galleries three feet wide
around each story there is great i'm
provement In the fastcnings to the
new cells over the old. The building
will be ready for service very shortly,
and much needed, for SO crowded is
the prison at this time that some of
the cells are made TO hold two. The
number of prisoners now on hand is
268 in which number there is 16 me-
groes. The guard numbers 15,--12
in active service. The first thing
done 10 the prisoner when brought
within Tho walls, is to cut his hair
clost, dress him in the uniform dress
Of the Prison, which dress contains a
number whereby he is known; after
this the rules of the prison are read TO
him. The following is copy of the
original which hang on the wall where
their meals are served.
"1'he whole duty of Convicts may be
comprised in d few words They are to
labor diligently, obey all orders, and obs
serve unbroken silence except when it
becomes necessary in relation to their
work or wants They are not at any
time or under any pretence to speak to
any person that does not belong to the
prison, or receive from them y-thing
whatever they are not to leave the
place where they are put to work with
out the special permission or orders
Of 4 proper officer. They are not to
suffer their attention to he taken from
their work to look, at visitors, nor are
they to gaze at them when employed
They must not do anything which has
a atendency in the least degree to dis
tnrb the harmony or contravene the
rules and regulations Of the Prison.
The whole demeanor must be in accor-
dance with the most perfect order and
in strict compliance with the decipline
Of the priw n. No convict is willfully
or carelessly to injure any thing be-
longing to, or being about the Prison,
nor is he to execute his work badly
when he has the ability to do well.
For willful violation Of these rules
chastisement il certain to follow"
Chains are not put on them unless
they are refractory, and then iron main
icles are placed on their legs, This
is also done when an effort is made to
escape. When found impossible to
manage a prisoner in this way. he is
placed on ladder and receives the
lash: the number cf strokes is fixed by
board Of directors, who always decide
whether prisoner shall be whipped or
not, unless it be in a case Of emergen-
by. The food, is plain and substan-
tial. They are regularly counted once
q day--have good medical attendance
when sick, and the cleanliness and
comfort Of the establishment is carefully
provided for.
nj = ea.a. 70 ssr;ra;nnll.- nnnanad IN