The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-08-21
A Visit to the Penitentiary.

ton passing through on his way to the
up-country, we strolled towards the Pen
itentiary on Sunday afternoon, and at
the entrance of the guard room found
Colonel T. J. Lipscomb, the Superinten-
dent, and Mr.. George Shields, one of the
Directors, who kindly permitted an in
spection of the grounds and buildings
within the enclosure. Accompanied by
these gentlemen, we began the detour,
and the first thing which attracted our
attention was the splendid-looking fel-
lows who composed the guard, all Of
whom have been selected with especial
care by Colonel Lipscomb, who has them
thoroughly disciplined and in fair way
to become sharpshooters. Whenever
the commandant passed one of them he
was greeted with quick military salute
executed with nice precision, which was
in like MANNER recognized.
The convicts were receiving their sup
per, preparatory to the lookup for the
night, in gangs of fifty or more. They
we're marched into the dining room,
where were rows of tables capable of
seating ten men each, and at q signal
from the officer they began their repast,
signaling by uplifted hand when desir-
GUS of anything. After eating the gangs
we're marched quickly to the cells and
the bolts shot in the locks.
The grounds of the institution are be-
ing nicely graded and arranged to per-
feet thorough drainage, and neat gran
ite copings have been laid around the
edges where necessary.
The Superintendent then invited an
examination of the hospital and its ac-
commodation. The institution is re-
markably free from sickness, none of the
few in hospital (seven in number
having been put there from any cause
in the remotest degree attributable
to causes arising from their confinement.
We received an introduction to the
young physician of the penitentiary, DIR.
Pope, who, however, was too intent on
business to do much more than acknowl-
edge the same, and we proceeded around
the cots viewing the inmates. One
black fellow contentedly sitting up in
bed we found, upon investigation, with
an ugly gun.shot wound through the
right thigh, received, we believe, while
attempting burglary in Williamsburg
County. Another convict with his head
covered up we were told was confirmed
paralytic. A negro braced up on his
elbow in one of the cots, recently re-
turned from the asylum, appeared in
fair way to recover. a white man sit
ting on stool attracted our notice on
account of his intelligent look and pa
tient demeanor, and upon inquiry ascer-
tanned that he was suffering badly with
rheumatism. Tbepoor fellow extended his
left arm, showing an evident improved
condition of what must have been bad
rheumatic member. Then, barring his
right leg to the knee, he exposed the
knee cap which was very much infamed
and below the limb attenuated and
shrunken away greatly. This man is a
life prisoner, under sentence for murder,
and upon being directed by Col. Lips
comb to speak, said, that he had been
kept in q cell manacled with ball and
chain under the former administration
of the institution, but that as soon as Col.
Lipscomb took charge his irons were
knocked off and he was transferred to
the hospital, ever since which he has
been on the mend.
Leaving the sick, we entered the COM
missariat store room. Here were hung
upcompact, well-made buckets for the
use of prison, piles of striped cotton
clothes ready for wear, stacks of excel
lent shoes made at cost of ninety-four
cents per pair, forest of brooms put up
in packages of a dozen, at S1.75 per
dozen equally as good as these of
Northern make, and numerous other
handiwork of the convict labor. Here
also we noticed neat stained poplar
wardrobes, which the Superintendent
says he can supply those in need of for
five dollars apiece; they are fitted up
with drawers, pegs and all the necessary
fixtures and are very cheap at the price,
enabling many persons to enjoy the lux
ury and convenience of such q piece of
furniture who could not possibly pur-
chase one at the fancy price of the deal
ers in furniture.
Leaving the commissary, we entered a
handsome new two-story wooden build
ing erected for the accommodation of the
guard. A room at the foot Of the stairs
will serve as o reading and writing room.
The next apartment is for the sleeping
apartment Of the Captain of the guard,
and beyond that central room for the
new commissary. The end apartment
the west end, as it were-is where
the boys will take their hash and
whatever else a scant appropriation
will allow them to indulge in. Con-
nected with the dining room is square
pantry and scullery. The upper floor
of this building will be divided up into
twenty rooms s by u feet, with sleeping
accommodations in each for two guards.
Descending to terra Jfrma Mr.. Shields
called our attention to the foundations
of the three-story brick building which
is to be erected as machine shop to be
leased as a mandatory in which the
convict labor can be utilized. Eighty
thousand bricks were required for the
foundations. Near by we're numerous
iron base plates, column caps and pintles
for the supporting columns of. the floors
the hewn timber for which was piled up
ready to be turned. Several propositions
have been handed in for the immediate
use of this building and the labor which
will 60 with it, among them one shoe
factory and another for stocking factory.
After q pleasant walk about the
grounds, looking at other objects Of in
terest, we wended our way out of the
prison walls, stopping, however, long
enough to notice the new white number
ing Of the cells, whereby they may be
the more readily distinguished at night.
Colonel Lipscomb has also contrived re.
fectors in connection with the yard
lights, which light up the whole face of
the galleries and make the watching as
certain as during the day.
Thanking our escort for their courtesy
we emerge from the prison bounds, with
many sad reflections upon the perverse
human nature which will unhesitatingly
plunge itself into incarceration, perhaps
forever. rather than obey the behests