Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-01-30

Last week the legislative committee on
State Prison made their usual annual
visit to that institution at Thomaston, to
ascertain definitely and by personal OBJ
servaton, its condition, with view to intel
ligent legislation on the subject. The committee
consists of Hon. Usher b. Thomp on OF 1ork
Hon. A fired Lennox of Lincoln, Hon. ID. H.
Bartlett of Somerset, of the Senate; and Jos. Ii.
Seward, Esq, of kittery, A. p. Jewett, Esq, Of
Richmond j. S. Berry, Esq, Of Wayne. James
Howes. Esq, Of New Sharon, John a. Bolster,
Esq, of Norway, Dr. Samuel W. johnson Of Dix
mont and Thomas b. Haskell, Esq, of Cape
Elizabeth, of the House. The presiding officers
of the two branches were most fortunate IN the
makeup of this committee. Senator Thompson,
the chairman, is an intelligent an eminently
practical gentleman, and is backed up on the com
mittee bv men who are either in the liberal pre-
fess ions have been in business all their lives and
who went to the prison, not much for a holiday
and pleasurable exclusion, as in quest of intOr-
nation to be wrought out in practical work, that
shall be OF lasting benefit to the prison and to the
people of the State as well. Their report, spccdi-
ly to be made, will carry weight with it, because
tDese EtutEtHcu W III huii III Nnhl thty hIO" "iAA
testify whereof they have seen. 1t was our privi-
ege to be present the occasion Of the visit, and
from personal observations and notes taken at the
,imc we shall now have brief talk with or
readers about the prison AMI its inmates.
In the frat place, how came Thomaston to be
fixed upon as the location of the prison One
reason is, it was at the time central position and
had an accessible harbor quite consideration be-
fore the advent Of railroads But there was another
reason, and young lady aud a love affair were
mixed up With it. Lord Fluker, an English no.
blemau, bat not at all in sympathy with the Amer.
icsu cause, owned vast tract of country, includ-
iug that wherein the prison is now located. lie
lived in Boston, where Captain Knox afterwards
our own houorel General Knox had a company
of pick ed men that he 10 the habit of dri ling
daily. Their splendid evolutiens and the person.
nel OF their stawart handsome commander at
tracted the attention of the noblemsns daughter,
Lucy ia brief she fell in love with young
American captain, sent for him, and told h i'm
frankly and plainly that if he wanted wife, she
was ready 10 fill that position. They mar
ried, war broke ont mot in consequence OF the
marriage, however,. the nobleman fled to Eng
,ard, portion OF his estates were confscated. but
Nast area ltll 10 hHuN : Wllt huu MUM b'NSuiN
the posse s,or of land in Thomaston and vicinity
thirty nile. square. There he built magnificent
mansion and exhibited hospitality hitherto unpar-
alleled. lie made friends of the Indians and would
provide barbacues Tor them. slaughterng whole
oxen aud 1ocks Of sheep. which his visitors would
consume in and about his mansion rema ming iur
DAYS at a time, and waking the echoes with songs
laughter and tory-telling. But the mansion,
which overlooked the sea and vast extent OF
country, was allowed to decay, and about six years
ago the historic pile taken down. Even the
bones OF Knox were not allowed to remain where
they were orig finally laid at rest but were dug up
and carried to another place. and they tell the
story now that ia their new resting place lhey are
mixed with the remains Of another person; so that
Knox 4 Company could with propriety be engrav
en- upon the tombstone. VIM. King our first Gov
eruor, came into possession of the property. A
commission was appointed in 1923 to locate the
State House and State Prison; they made tour Of
observation all over the United States, FOR the pur
pose of adopting the best plans, and as the chair
man of the commission, DR.. Rose lived in Thorn
aston, local pride, coupled with the influence of
Gov. King, owner Of the land, had weight in To-
eating the prison at Thomsston, and about six
acres bought for that purpose, the price paid
being 5000. The report Of DR.. Rose, in the light
of the present plan Of prison management and dis
cipline, is literary curiosity. He would have
the very appearance of the structure itself ter
Ior to the trembling victim on whom the iron door
iscloscd, and admit just enough light into the lone
some cell to allow the condemned man to read
the New Testament!
The Prison is massive aud strong, neat and
comfortable, but has been often descr bed that
a description here would be only waste of time
and space. The cells are within the inner court
of the prison. ard rise in three tiers, reached by
granite sters. Each tier comprises Two rows o.
cells, facing in opposite directions. The cells
which are perhaps four feet wide and nine or ten
feet long, are only large enough for one porson to
occupy, and he has to content himself with very
circumsc ribcd quarters at that. They are uniform
in size, shape and strength, each having door of
iron bars, built so compactly that mans hand
can barely pass through. AT the bottom OF each
door, is small aperture through which, articles
can he passed. The cells, outside end IN
are ali KEEP; neatly whtewashed. bunk or bed
is so arranged in each cell that it may be caught
up in The day time, to give room, and let down at
night. A stand, stool, and looking glass con-
stitute the other principal articles of furniture
But each cell may be adorned and even beautihel
according to the TASTE time or ability of its occu
pant. Thus do we find some of the apartments
approaching the luxurious. The walls are adorned
with neat brackets on which res the novel
works of genius, carved out to while away the
time; pictures of the dear ones far away, and
little souvenirs of home, friendship quilts and
the like, sent to cheer up the unfortunate one,
barred from the sweet influences Of mother, home
and friends. Homemade carpets and dIawn-in
rugs cover the narrow floor. Many of the prls-
oners take great pride in the care Of their cells
and having them scrupulously neat and tidy.
Prisoners are required, when physically AID
mentally able, 10 employ their time in one of the
workshops built in the yard of the prison,-cai-
rage blacksmith, paint, harness and shoe-shops-
which are under the personal supervision of over
secrs, fitted for their position. You enter the
large and well arranged shops, and nothing but