Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-07-07

work would be profitable. This compa-
nv uses blooms, scrap, billet and char.
coal iron, and runs the wire through
rolling mill; it il the only wire-mill
west OF Cleveland. Satisfying himself
that there was money in it, Mr.. Fitch
returned to Washington and welded
Miss Sherman at ST. Aloysius church.
He then plunged into the wire compa-
ny's business, and was elected a director,
and finally president. The magnificent
present of the khedive to Mrs. Fitch did
not disturb his equanimity. General
Sherman grew very proud OF his dill
gence, thoroughness, and practicability,
and said that work Of that kind was bet
ter for young men than soldering.
This morning went to the Missouri
State penitentiary with Mr.. Fitch and
the sheriff OF the county, Meyers. Half
q dozen workingmeD and some wagons
followed. Leaving behind us the old
yellow capitol and its dome, on the bluff,
and the smart new executive mansion,
we kept down the principal street till
we saw the white, irregular wall OF the
penitentisry and the convicts in their
striped dresses began to sprinkle the
"trusties,n and are allowed to work any
many of the women are dOmestics
around the town. A few guards with
shotguns were lying here and there,
keeping guard over the convict stone
cutters who are now building an addi-
ton to their Jail, to cost one hundred
thousand dollars. This penitentiary of
Missouri is the most slovenly institution
I ever saw; it is in horrible discipline.
~ IN no N a
suits. They were at the moment guilty
Of grand larceny in secreting Mr.. Fitch's
property, intending TO steal 1t. Pure
Perrys and others.
Waddy Thompson has some celebrity
as rebel cotton. broker and peniten-
tisry contractor. He and three or four
other persons lease the Missouri peDi-
Tertiary, with all its twelve hundred
cOnvicts, for one hundred dollars year
the same as one cent, merely nominal
and they not only feed and guard the
prisoners, but sub-let their labor, 80 that
within the prison a number of industrial
establishments have grown up; two
shoe factories, wagon factory, great
saddlery establishment, 8 foundry,
hardware company, etc. The spectacle
Of the fifth State in the Union thus ceas-
ing its functions after it has sentenced
a criminal and handing him over to a
set of goddess slave-drIvers is not very
inviting. The people OF Jefferson, and
the convicts also, detest the lessees, and
they had given Mr.. Fitch information
how to proceed within the prison walls.
Previous to this visit another fOrcible
entry had been made.
The warden, Seebree, standing at the
great arched gate, received the sheriff,
who presented his writ.
"Can't let you in, sir"
"Then I'll break in" said the sheriff.
"Do you mean to say you'll use force,
sir?"
az do"
The warden then ordered the door to
be opened. Fitch whispered to the
gang of men: "Do not speak aloud nor
excite the convicts. March in line right
after the sheriff and me-"
Passing through the guard-room, the
tumbril cage at the second wall was re-
volved to admit US.
"File rightW said Fitch.
Here the great Waddy Thompson
looked on disguised. The hardware
company's shops were to the left, but
Fitch knew that the thieving lessees had
hidden the goods under the coopershops
There we found hundreds of barrels and
boxes filled with hinges, bolts, valves,
handles, clothes-pegs, whatever COM
prises hardware. The agent of the
bankrupt company was along to check
off what was among their assets. Dur
ing that day Mr.. Fitch recovered in
articles nearly the whole OF ten thou
sand dollars due his house. He showed
great decision. and sagacity and cheer
fitness withal, and we saw many
phases of convict life, Of which 1 may
speak again.
TO THE TOMBIGBEE.