The Nevada journal., 1855-11-23

The state Prison.

Since the establishment of the State
Prison at Point San Quentin, there have
been seven hundred and seventy five CON
victs confined there, but, at present, the
total number is about four hundred and
twenty. On Marin Island, about three
miles from the Point, are, at present sew
enty prisoners at work quarrying stone
OF the prisoners first mentioned, one hun
drcd and fo,ty-one have been received
since the first Of June. Fo.ty-one have
been discharged-cight pardoned by the
Governor, aud five rendered into the Gus
tody "f Sleritfs, on writs of habeas co, pus
On the first of October last, there were
one hundred and seventy native born pris-
one.s, and two hundred and TWENTY-FIVE
foreigners, or aliens. These latter are
from twenty-four countries, and the lar
gest delegations" are as follows: Mexico
and Lower California, 60; Ireland, 80 !;
Chile, %; Germany, 20; China, 10 !;
France, II; England, Is. From the
States, New Y ork heads the list AZ next
comes Pennsylvania with 20-Ohio, 15-
Massa chusetts, l3--Kentucky, l2 The
States of Iowa, North Carolina, Michigan,
Florida and Mississippi hare none There
are about forty boys, under seventeen
years Of age, confined on various charges,
who are carefully separated from the more
hardened Criminals and put to some use
ful trade, where it is practicable. Among
the convlcts, there are 40 who have been
sentenced for ten years, and ten for TWEEN
fxrvr hac al
Tor twelve, fourteen, fifteen and sixteen
years. Many men, after being scharg-
ed, find their way back, under different
names, and large number of them have
concealed their true names. Innocence
is the crowning virtue of near all the men,
according to their own story Even jim
my-from- Town, the notorious, one of the
most cunning, adroit thieves the Vigilance
Committee ever succeeded in delivering
into the hands of justice. declared he new
er saw Sydney or Van Dicman's Land.
The prison building stands on the slope
o. hill within few feet of the eastern
line OF the original purchase mtle by the
State. 1t is one hundred and eighty feet
in length and two stories in height The
upper story has two rows of cells, ,forty-
eight in number, each fitted for four men;
and ventilation is secured by nues run
ming from the roof to the centre of the
building. The roof in each cell is arch
ed, and doors constructed OF heavy plate
iron with locks OF the strongest kind On
the inside Of each door is posted a printed
copy OF the State law doubling the term
of imprisonment of any escaped convict,
with view of discouraging breaks from
the guards while on duty or otherwise at
tempting to escape. All the cells are
cleaned once day, and some of the pris-
oners are very careful to remove dirt and
filth, however small They are overhaul
ed every day for the purpose of discover
ing any tools OF implements of escape, and
many chisels, handsaws, iron bars, &C.,
have but not recently) been taken from
the cells. In addition to this precaution,
each mans person is examined weekly for
the same purpose. A long room, about
one hundred and twenty five feet in depth,
by the whole width of the building, occu-
pies most of the first floor, in which one
hundred and fifteen prisoners are at pres
ent immurcd One end of it is used as
sick ward; but, as we had occasion to
state before, it has very few occupants
Similar notices to those in the cells are
here posted The other end is used as an
apothecary shop, guards' Office, armory
and whipping room. On the top of the
building sentry box is stationed, and in
the yard beneath, the guard nightly pa
troll. So that no one can believe it posi-
bic to break from the building itself
american. 't