The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-02-15

Mnen we reacneu Chatham, the van
stoppedat q public house in the principal
street, where 1t was the custom to per-
init the prisoners TO alight for o brief
period, and indulge in one good meal,
with accompanying stimulants, before
commencing their penal servitude, dur
ing which they must put up with only
coarse but wholesome fare, and OF me-
cessity suffer all sorts Of priyations. My
spirits were terribly depressed, and / in
sdnctiyely shrunk from tho gaze Of tho
curious crowd that had collected ut tho
door Of the public house 10 look at ,ls.
Being better dressed than the rest, I, of
course, attracted particular attention, and
the more so, probably, as tho fellow who
was linked 10 me was miserably clad, and
presented a most repulsive appearance.
The remarks made by the bystanders
were by no means complimentary, and /
was evidently set down as one OF the
swell-mob, and certainly not On object Of
sympathy, or considered deserving any.
My companions seemed to be utterly de-
void Of feeling, and entirely unconscious
Of their degraded position. Transporta-
tion had apparently no terror for them,
nor did they permit its contemplation TO
interfere with their present enjoyment.
The feast at the public house was pro-
longed to tho extrome verge Of indul-
gence, and farewell chorus was then
proposed, ono Of the party improvising
the words. The last note was given Just
as the door Of the van closed. We were
soon within tho gates of the dockyartl,
and proceeded rapidly TO tho hulk,
which was lashed to the wharf, leaving
o considerable space, however, between
the wall aud her side. Over this a
bridge was thrown, extending TO the
gangway, which was drawn up at night,
so that there was no connection between
tho ship and the shore. We alighted ut
the foot Of this bridge, and walked over
Il aswell as the short chnin would per-
NIT, and. were placed in q line on the
quarter-deck to await the inspection OF
the surgeon. When he arrived, we were
desired to extend ono arm at right
angle with tho body, and he used it like
q pump-handlo; but what the object OF
this operation was l never could divine,
for that was the extent Of the inspection.
We wore then relieved Of our shackles-
and great relief 1t was-and conducted
to m Office in the forward part Of tho
ship, where sat u keen-eyed man at the
desk, with large book open before him.
In this was entered tho personal de.
scription Of tho prisoner, color OF his
hair and eyes, his height, complexion,
and any other particulars which might
lead to his recognition should he chance
to escape.
Another person entered the conyict's
name, age, place Of birth, where brought
up, and the names and residences Of
your relatives. This last information, I
confess, it greatly panied mo to give,
and It seemed to mo cruel to exact it,
though / suppose II was doomed ncces-
sary for the ends Of justice. These for
malities completed, we were taken to
another department, in which was an
immense bath.tub. Here We were told
to strip and give ourselves agood wash
ing; and while doing SO, our clothes
were removed, and each man was fur.
nished with tho convict uniforms pair
Of gray worsted stockings, check shirt,
and u coarse gray jacket, vest, and knee
breeches, together with thick shoes Us
near tho size as possible. Having dressed
ourselves, . convict appeared with a
large pair Of scissors, n comb, and sllav-
ing apparatus. Having rendered our
faces completely smooth, and cut our
hair as short rs possible, he then took
tho razor and marked tho letter O dis
tinctly just above the forehead.
A still further degradation was, how.
ever, yet to bo undergone, in the riyet-
ing on Of my chains. To an iron ring
placed on each leg, just above the ankle,
was long, heavy chain reaching TO the
whist, where It wns fastened to q belt
passed around the whist. Believe me, it
was an attachment Of IN exceedingly
troublesome character, and the rattling
Of the chain with every movement made
mo shudder. This was, indeed, "the
iron TINT entered tho SOUL" The con.
victs were compelled for time to per.
form the most laborious work wearing
this chain, such rs carrying heavy tim
ber, excavatng and wheeling dirt, etc.,
while even walking was most painful
operation with tho hands at liberty TO
partially relieve one Of the weight. BY
q course Of good conduct, however, the
convict was gradually relieved Of this in
cimbrance one-half would first be re-
moved, then short chain extending to
one knee would be substituted, and
finally only tho ring would be left.
The day after my arrival I was sent
out with gang to work, and we were
employed carrying heavy ships beams,
as much as three men could stagger
under. AS may be imagined, my strength
was unequal 70 the task, but no shirldng
was permitted, for the keeper regarded
Gll alike, Us felons who were to be pun
ished, md knew that he was appointed
to see TINT IL was duly inflicted. To ex-
hibit fayoritiSm would, in oil probability,
hayo got him into trouble. He no doubt
saw, however, my inability to perform
the work, and possibly reported the fact;
or II may DO that there was some secret
influence at work in my behalf, for after
the second day, I was ordered from
the gang, md desired to 60 below,
where those who were Ill, or pretended
TO be (for there was great deal Of that
kind Of thing, had to wait IN examina-
ton by the surgeon. / don't think 1
could possibly have undergone the labor
that day, for my shoulders were literally
by the chatting Of the timbers,
and my limbs was 80 sore and stiff. that