The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1853-07-07
THE WESTERN PENITENTIARY.

tation from Major Beckham, the excellent War
den of the Western Penitentiary.) to visit that
institution, ana as our readers are but little
quainted with the interior of the prison, or the
arrangements there carried out, we presume,
the following remarks made from personal OBJ
servations, will not prove to them entirely de-
void of interest. The Western Penitentiary, as
most of our citizens are already aware, occupies
beautiful position on the West Common, Ale
gheny city, near the terminus of Ohio street.
II is built entirely of solid stone which. with its
watch towers. grated windows and massive DOORS
gives it a sombre and heavy appearance, not un-
like that of the feudaI strong holds which at ev-
cry few miles distance rear their embattled heads
on the green fields Of our native isle. On enter
ing the hall of the front building You find your
self opposite ponderous iron grated door, thro'
which (if the Major permits,) you pass directly
to spacious corridor. the ceiling of which is
beautifully frescoed At either side is excel
lent bakery and kitchen, the polished utensils in
which resemble more the glistening engine of
crack steamboat than the articles usually to be
found in those apartments.
Directly fronting the corridor lie the buildings
in which the convicts are confined. They are
three in number, and average some two hundred
and fifty feet in length, by forty eight in width,
and twenty nine in height each, with neatly fres-
coed ceilings AZ they diverge from the corri
dor referred to, person standing there OBJ
serve what's passing in the above buildings with
out once changing his position, that single
watchman sitting in his chair in this apartment,
has the entire tenanted portion of the Peniten-
tiary under his eye-thus rendering it impossi-
bic (if he but attends to his duty) for prisoner
to leave his cell without detection. Two of the
above buildings only are occupied by convicts-
the third being newly erected, and not yet ready
for their reception. The foundations of the new
were laid several years ago, and the walls raised
some Gve feet, out of the accumulated profits on
the earnings of the convicts; but owing to de-
crease of crime in the State it was considered
unnecessary to go with its erection, and the
work was dropped. OF late years, however, the
alarming increase in crime and consequent swell
ing of the convict list, rendered it necessary shat
additional cells should be prepared; so the Leg
islaturc made grant for the purpose, and the
work on the new building was resumed it is
now nearly ht for the reception of prisoners. Its
total cost, when completed, will exceed $50, 900
rather moderate charge for such an edi6ce,
when the one next it, though finished in a less
'.thief proof manner, cost $S5, 900. The build
ings are heated by steam, and the cells are re-
uarkably heat and clean and thoroughly venti-
lated.
The food which the convicts receive seemed to
as TO be of very superior kind, their bread far
exceeding, in taste and appearance, some of that
lo.I, a. Ioo, - 80, LII
the quality of the food might be judged from
the fat, healthy appearance Of the prisoners, the
majori,y of whom have increased in weight since
they entered the prison. An instance of this
came under our notice during visit Old
Hutchinson, who, our readers viii remember,
was convicted, twelve months ago, of shooting a
man in the Ninth Ward. with his favorite can
drew Jackson as he called his musket, and
sentenced to the Penitentiary for the offence,
was discharged On Thursday. When given un-
der the Majors care he weighed but 16l pounds,
whilst on leaving, ESQ well had the prison and
regimen agreed with him. he weighed 205 pounds.
He laughed heartily at the change which impris-
onment wrought on his person, and left exclaim-
ing that the Penitentiary wasn't as bad as peo-
pie thought it was, after all.
Inc prison at present contains one hunOreu
and eighty eight convicts, but one of whom is a
female. Of these, about one half are natives of
this States one ninth. of Ireland; tenth, of
Germany; one eleventh, of New York; the re-
mainder being from different parts of the Union.
The separate or solitary system of confinement
is carried out in this prison to the fullest extent
the convicts scarcely ever being allowed to leave
their cells, unless when suffering from sickness
and then they are removed to an hospital, fitted
up for the purpose. Neither are they allowed
to converse with each other-their moral instruc-
tor, the warden other officials, being the only
persons with whom (unless by permission of the
they ever get opportunity of
speaking. At frs: il was thought this system
would be attended with the most ruinous conse-
auences, many contending that it would end in
the mental arrangement or total physical pros
oation of the convicts; such, however, has not
been the result, for, during the whole time that
it has been in operation, but very few cases OF
insanity have occurred among the convlcts-
those, on the contrary, entering with imbeciie
minds, having been benefited rather than injured
during their confinement.
The prisoners all made to work at some
trade or other during their confinement. Shoe
making and weaving occupy the time OF most Of
the cspyieta We saw some Of them plying the