Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-04-02
Flogging in the English Penal Colonies.

obtained an order from the governor of
the Jail to be present few weeks ago while
three prisoners who were undergoing sem
there, too. but beyond u few casual remarks
that passed nothing was said. l looked
around, and at glance saw the machinery
If 1t may be called so-which formed the
sole furniture of the yard. On tho right
stood small wooden kind of shop, which,
with the opposite wall of the Jail yard, form
cd narrow recess. In this stood the TRAN
giles. round about which the ground was
void Of grass, and green with damp The
.trianges are horribly suggestive things to
look at, three leaning poles converging ut
tho top, and firmly planted in the ground.
Two of them face out into the yard, their
bases being in the same straight line. Across
these and between them lies broad board,
pierced with holes. through which strap
hung loosely down. Higher up on each pole
was n similar strap, and another mt the foot
OF each again. On the left stood power
full fallow-who. learned, was the public
observation-disclosures to his shirt, which was
rolled up on his arms, and displayed an ex-
traordinary mass of sinew and strength
Beside him, on the ground, was a box in
which were ranged the instruments Of pun
ishment-the "cat o. nine tails" There
were several of different sizes--long. knotted
white-thonged things, with short handles
like a stock whip, only covered with cloth to
keep them from slipping in the hand.
The First Victim.
Turning to warder the governor gave
some orders, and the noxt moment man
was let III through the iron gate, which
closed behind him. He was a middle-agod,
hard featured fellow with sullen face made
moro repulsve by being clean shaved.
This is the first time" the governor whis-
pered to me, adding the offence for which he
was convicted and sentenced TO be logged.
The man looked Mt the exeeutioner for n
moment and Mt his order commenced to
strip. Divesting himself of his hat, coat and
shirt no was led to the triangles and the
straps passed round his wrists, ankles, and
waist. 1t was impossible to move. lie
shuddered for u moment rs the cold air
swept along tho yard. Twenty -fve," cried
tho warder standing by, and the exeoutioner
took up one of the heaviest "cats from
those in the box. Standing about SIX feet
behind the prisoner little to the left he
passed his fingers through the nine tails Of
the whip. which, with rapid movement, he
then brought across his chest, high up above
his head, with horrible "swish," and down
with the whole force of his arm aud weight
frhana faLy
Of agony, and in livid blue lines like cords
the flesh stood out upon the poor wretch's
shoulder. "Onem cried the warder, and
again the cat swung high up in the air to de-
scend II second time. The piteous moaning
which followed the first blow gave place to
another shrek, intense and long, the deep
blue lines turned red, the blood oozed
through dozen different cuts, and the skin
began to peel in strips along the back
"Twow again the terrible instrument came
down. Shrek after shrek rent the air
The sight was acknowledgements. As each
blow was dealt the prisoner writhed in agony
at the triangles, and when the lash fell for the
last time and the straps were loosed that
held him, he turned away faint, weak,
scarcely recognizable rs human, disgraced
and marked for life.
An old Offender.
His place was soon reoccupied by another,
whose appealing, terrified looks told only
too plainly what he suffered, lie would
have resisted were it of any use. lie had
been there before, knew what 1t was, and
would have given life almost to be roprieved
Stripped, and strapped to the triRngles, un-