Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-12-30
AT THE STATE PRISON.

At THE STATE PRISON.
Most of the members of the Executive
Council, Messrs. Chase, Files, Thompson,
Pulsfer and Harlow, made an official visit to
the State Prison last week, to ascertain def
nitely its condition and to allow a personal
hearing to convicts whose friends have asked,
for extraordinary reasons, remission or
Communication of sentence.
THoMAsTON,
where this institution is located is one of
the oldest and most respectable towns in the
State; its village, situated on the Georges
river about fifteen mile, from the sea, is
prosperous and progressing in appearance,
and contains many wealthy citizens. The
Knox and Lincoln r. r. passes through it.
THE STATE Prison,
where the convicts of the courts are detained
In compliance with the sentences given them,
varying in length from one year to ninety
nine, is located at the western edge Of the
village. South of the prison fourth of a
mile, flows the Georges river. The institution,
which occupies several acres, is on a forma-
ton of limestone that underlies the surface Of
the ground from the river northward. Near
the street stands
The WARDEN's House,
genteel and comedy two-story brick dwell
ing, the home of Mr.. Rice, whose administra-
ton of the prison for the last ten years has
been so successful and satisfactory, both in
regard to the reformation and Improvement
of those confined there, and the finances of
the institution. The dwellings of other eff
GERS or employees are in the immediate vicin-
ity. Two or three rods south of the War
den's house and nearly parallel with the street,
rises the north wall of the prison, which is a
long, low, clean-looking, one-story stone
structure, not at all imposing in appearance
and of little architectural beauty, yet
MASSIVE AND STRONG,
slate surmounted by bulky ventilators. A
solid, lofty and not easily psssable wall of
masonry extends few rods in prolongation
Of each end of the northern side of the prison,
then changing direction toward the south
| reaches far enough to enclose, with its south
ern counterpart, several acres of territory,
thus forming
! The PRIsoN YARD,
in which are the buildings for the convicts'
workshops. Perched on the top of each OF
the four corners of this yard wall are en-.
closed sentry stations, occupied by trusty
men with loaded repeating rifles and pistols,
ready with deliberate aim to wound or kill
any prisoner rash enough to attempt to re-
gain his freedom by scaling the barricade or
melting a revolt. The top Of the wall is two
or three feet broad and can be easily traversed
by the guards, enabling them to rush to any
point if necessary, and strong, close board
fence extends along the inner edge of the
summit, behind which the guards can move
unobserved from point to point The system
of surveillance from the wall is complete,
and he would be a fortunate felon who could
escape in that direction. The only way to
the
INTERIOR OF THE PRisoN
is through a door near the center in rear OF
the Warden's house; you ascend flight OF
smooth granite stairs and find heavy door
before you, in which is an aperture that ena-
bles you to communicate with the official in
side; he politely unfastens and swings open
the door-the
OUTER doom OF THE PRIsoN,
that closes SO remorselessly on the entering
| convict,-and you enter a capacious room
some 20 by 25 feet in size, containing for fur
niture only stove and a few chairs; barred
windows and iron doors are on three sides
those opposite the door though which you
have entered opening southwark on the prison
yard. This room is second floor, one ele.
waited above the level of the prison; through
the ample windows on the right and left you
| look directly into the corridors and along the
galleries of the cells of the two wings of the
prison, and begin to realize your proximity tc
| the home of convicted criminals. A sentine
with a deadly sixteen shooter is in the room
looking through the windows into the yard OIL
prison, apparently engaged in dilisent obser
walton. This room is the portal and centra
point of the prison, the station Of the Deputy
Warden, the place where all Corners, con
victs and visitors, are first received; i; il
divided from the adjoining corridors of the
two wings by strong bolts and bars, and nc
one Of its doors can be opened save by an Off
Ger on the inside. Perhaps at your request
the officer will kindly open one of these
INNER DooRs,
for you to pass into the corridor. A descent
by a narrow granite stairway leads to the
ground, and the visitor begins to realize thai
he is in the depths of a prison. The thick
walls Of the building or immense shell thai
environs the massive pier Of granite in the
middle, so completely honeycombed with
apartments, iiJts far into the air, is large