New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-08-05
WASHINGTON.
HORRORS OF A TEXAS PRISON.

HORRORS OF a lEAAS fhISoNs
CAPT EMoRY's REPORT-THE TUSIsHMENTs OF The
MIDDLE AGES IMITATED-THE SOLITARY CELL
AND TIKI " HORSE why THE UNITED STATES
PRISONERS WERE TAKEN AWAY.
IRON THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRBCSE'
WASHINGTON, Aug. About a year ago q
peremptory order was issued by Chief Clerk Crosby
Acting Secretary OF War; for the immediate removal OF
1l6 military prisoners from the state Penltcptafy az
Huntsville, Texas, TO Fort Leavenworh Exposures OK
the of the Texas Penteniiary gave rse 10
report that this removal caused by cruel aud bar
barous treatment Of conyic's AT that place inquiry NJ
the War Department has confirmed that report. Last
year. in April, an inspection OF the Pencntiary was
made by Capt. c. ID. Emory, Acting Judge Advocate on
Gen. Augur's staff. Ie found the Ventilation OF inc
cells very bad, aud the food Insufficient IN quantity aud
deficient IN variety.
The striking part OF his report relates 10 the pm
shments resorted to for enforcing obedience Three OK
them are described lengththe dark CELL the stocks
md the horse" The dark cell IL a low dark, oven
like nciosur barely high enough to allow the convict 10
sit the floor aud with opening for ght or ar
except the grated door The stocks are made by cut
ting three holes in board standing on It's edge, and fas
tened between stakes The central hole receives tho
neck OF the c,nyict and those each side his wrists.
After the man has been placed In the STOCKS,
il ia customary TO raise the board go as 70
bring the convict upon his toes, leaving II So In rsi$
ing It would often be erked ~ with such force A. to
in the stocks until they became iusensble The "hofs"
surpassed the others, and was comparatively new in
vention 1t was introduced about nine months before
Capt EmOrys visit II consists OF post six or eight feet
high About four feet from the ground there was driven
into peg OF iron wood inch In diameter aida
long Refractory conycts placed astrse
OF this peg with their backs toward the post Their hands
tied behind them to the post and their feet the
same that they could not change their position NJ
obtain any relief whatever. The effects OF this punish
ment horrible. Capt Emory examined one man
who had been permanently iuptured while rding the
horse" and others who were suffering from acute d~
produced by the same cause.
More than 800 Of the conycts employed by taii-
road contractors and plantations belonging TO Ito
es,ees OF the Penentary and Others at the time "
Capt Enor,s visit Their treatment Was generally
cruel. They were oycrworkcd, and II they either died
within few months broke down their places had 10
be flied by fresh gangs. They nsuIlcienty clad
and Obliged To work at sh0veling IN the Winter,
sometimes with only shoe, sometimes with no
shocs at all. Their food cooked IA Houston and
transported to them In open cars and much OF II Was
spoiled before it reached them. Finally they wera
punished by means OF the horse" and by whipping
Convcts who had returned from two or three months OF
service Oh the railroad examined by Capt. Emory,
and their condition found to he horrible 1t IL not fit 10
be described But any doubt as 10 the nhamanity OF
their treatment would be dspeed By an examination OF
the mortality records. These show that - deaths oc-
Cured in the institution within nine months PRIOR To
Capt Emory's visit In % the disease Of which
they died contracted while they were 1T work on tho
railroads No record OF those who died in the railroad
camps accessible.
The lessees Of the institution Ward Dewey Co,
and they were responsible or this horrible cruelty Tho
PeniteItary leased before the present state Admins
tration came into power and OF the lessees was the
Collector OF Customs of the port OF Galveston When
the order for the removal OF the military prisoners was
fssue m. Connecticut.
representng the Galveston District in Congress- and sub
seauen;y Postmaster OF that city, appeared ~ counsel
for the essees and attempted TO induce the War Depart
its orders. The United State mill
trv prisoners WERE however az once removed TO psce
where they treated with some degree or humanity.
In spite the lebuke thus given TO the essec. there -
believe that tie management of Tie feith,
tinry nas been reformed, and AZ least tol>hnd
convicts there are still habtuay subjected 10 the cruel
ties described.