The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1875-02-03

GENERAL SHERIDAN
has his report of outrages and muir
ders nearly completed, and that per-
haps will be called for as evidence by
the Republican counsel.
THE LASH.
How Men are Flexgea In the Mis-
soari State Peniientiary.
Correspondence of the Republican.
JEFFERSON CRY, January 19.
When they whip men in the Mis-
souri, State Penitentiary the thing is
generally done in secret and IN the
| night So when your correspondent
| was admitted, last night, behind the
massive walls patrolled by sentinels,
placed in the revolving iron gate,
which looks as if it might be the
counterpart OF the celebrated iron
shroud, and landed in the immense
quadrangle that constitutes the prison
yard, with a promise from those in
authority that he should see the whip
ping of some of the late refractory
prisoners, he congratulated himself
that he was the first newspaper man
who had ever been allowed to witness
the sight.
In the centre of the quadrangle is a
round brick building, which Is known
| as the round house, and serves as the
prison headquarters. At half past a
dozen guards were in the room. silent
men. who wore comforts and shawls
about their necks, and when they
spoke couched their tones low SO that
none would hear.
At half past z Mr. Bradbury came
in-the man who lays on the strap
and raw hide, and who is more taci-
turn than his fellow officers:
I'VE wish to see the whipping to-
night"
against the rules, and We have to
serve all alike"
will any harm be done if the truth
is told?
swell. 1 don't know; [ guess I'll
let you in, and you may stay until one
man is whipped
| And SO with the crowd of guards
we walked 10 the "old hall, filled
with 426 cells. Positions are taken
by the crowd at the end of lofty
| aisle, bounded by a massive wall on
| one side. on the other by the tiers of
cells. as appears from where we stand,
though little further down the hall
| a fight of steps conducts you to two
| tiers or cells lower. We are at one
extremity of che hall, where Q short
angle is made by the hall, which de-
scribes a parallelogram.
Two posts near by stand out clearly
in the light of neighboriDg lamp,
which is answered by light from an
other further down the hall, and the
glare of stove at tho other extrem-
At first young negro boy is
brought up by the guard. As he
comes up with abashed countenance,
he trembles like an aspen.
Take off your shirt" A slow
movement in that direction. Lie
down and you can take it off quicker"
up to the post and extending both
| hands sees each firmly bound by a
rope in the hands of man on the
! other side of the post. The man on
the other side then takes the rope,
| which leaves about foot's distance
between the negro's hands, and twines
| it on an iron hook placed further up
on the post When this is fixed the
prisoner can only stand on tip toe.
Mr.. Bradbury here comes up.
What is your name Henry
Schaeffer" What have you been
doing? Speaking in the line, sir;
that is all" Don't you know better
than that; how long have you been
here?" mine months" Turning to
your correspondent, Mr.. Bradbury
| remarked: I'VE have begun differ
en-. discipline here
Bradbury takes a rawhide and lays
it on the bare yellow back before him.
The effect is two-fold. 1t raises long
| red line on the yellow back, and it
raises the negro two feet off the floor.
Further it brings yell of pain, and
an abject cry of, Mr. Bradbury, please
Mr.. Bradbury, sir But Bradbury
| Laws on four or five more lashes with
out flinching. The punishment is
done, and the spectator feels . disgust
at the cowardice of the African, who
humbly picks up his clothes and goes
back to his cell.
James Shea comes up-an lntellI-
gent and 6ne-looking young fellow of
less than 3-and takes his punish
ment with bravely-suppressed means
of anguish, until eighteen blows are
measured out 1t is curious to mark
the blows, how Bradbury tries not to
pillow up too much space, but to plow
deep. The long red lines deepen and
darkeu, widen and lehgthen; then be-
come clotted; but you have the salts
faction of knowing that tomorrow
they will be blue. Eighteen blows,
take him down, if he is ready ''Oh,
yes, sir, l am ready, but l have been
imposed upon by these men, says the
prisoner, pointing to the guards.
"Imposed upon, have you, said
Bradbury; string him up again
The deed is done. The already quiv-
ering flesh is made to quiver again.
and the teeth are gritted together
tighter and tighter, though the moans
caused BY the seofching rawhide can
not help coming. and the face pales to
deeper pallor, and the eyes-oh the
look Of despair aud anguished suffer
ing that looks up at the stone walls in
unutterable desolation!
Other prisoners are whipped, but
time can not be spent on all The
braggadocio leader in the revolt dis
graces his humanity when it comes to
little suffering. The brave, patient
follower faints before q cry of pain
shows how the blows have sunk into
his hesh and into the sensitive cover
ing OF his soul. Some come up, daunt-
less, some with trembling: ali depart
with look ont of their eyes that be-
tokens desire for eternal revenge.
Is there any excuse for q revolt?
Outside Of dietary and other consider
ations, are there any reasons why men
should prefer death to further impris-