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

the entrance Of the guard room found
Colonel z. 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 fell
lows who composed the guard, oil 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 c0nvicts were receiving their sup
per, preparatory to the lookup for the
night, in gangs Of fifty or more. They
were marched into the dining room,
where were rows Of tables capable Of
seating ten men each, and at signal
from the officer they began their repast,
signaling by uplifted hand when desir-
GUS Of anything. After eatins the gangs
were 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 a thorough drainage, and nes. gran.
ito copings have been laid around the
edges where necessary.
The Superintendent then invited All
examination of the hospita! 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 remotess degree attributable
to causes arising from their confinement.
We received an introduction to the
young physician of the penitentiary, DR..
+ ,c, who, however, was too intent on
business to do much more than acknowl-
edge the same, and VIC proceeded around
the cots viewing tho inmates. One
black fellow contentedly sitting up in
bed we found, Lpon investigation, with
right thigh, received, we believe, while
County. Another convict with his head
paralytic. A negro braced up on his
elbow in one of the cots, recently re-.
turned from the asylum, appeared in q
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-
tained that he was suffering badly with
rheumatism. The poor 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 ;nfamed
and below tho limb attenuated and
shrunken away greatly. This man is n
life prisoner, under sentence for murder,
and upon being directed by Col. Lips.
comb to speak, said, that he had been
kept in 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 of and he was transferred to
the hospital, ever since which he has
heen nn .i.e mend.
Leaving the sick, we entered tho CON-
missariat store room. Here were hung
upcompac:, wel-made buckets for the
use of prison, piles of striped cotton
clothes ready for wear, stacks of excti-
lent shoes made at q cost of ninety four
cents per pair, forest OF brooms put up
in packages of dozen, ct $l.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 oil the necessary
fixtures and are very cheap at the price,
enabling many persons to enjoy the lux
nry and convenience of such 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 O
handsome new two-story wooden build.
ing erected for the accommodation of the
guard. A room at the foot of the stairs
| will servo as reading and writing room.
The next apartment Ia for the sleeping
apartment of the Captain of the guard,
and beyond that G central room for the
new cc::::::::ssss:y. The end apartment
the west end, as it were-is where
the boys will take their hash and
whatever else o scant appropriation
will allow them tn indulge in. Con-
nected with the dining room is o square
pantry and scuilery. TIE upper floor
ofthis building will be divided up into
twenty rooms 8 by IL feet, with sleeping
accommodations in each for two guards.
| A'OoSShuiuS " ttf'u yHWk NE. toulelud
called onr attention to the foundations
of the three-story brick building which
Ia to be erected as n echine shop to be
leased as o manufactory in which the
convict labor can be utilized. Eighty
thousand bricks were required for the
foundat'" rs. Near by were numerous
iron baAc plates, column caps and pintles
for the supporting columns OF. the floora
the hewn timber for which was piled up
ready TO be turned. Several propositions
have been handed in for tho immediate
use of this building and the labor which
will go with it, among them one shoe
factory and another for stocking factory,
| After 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 mote readily distinguished at night
Colorsi Lipscotnb has also contyived re-
Electors in connection with the yard
{, lights, which light up the whole faee oi
the galleries and make the watching as
certain as during the day.
/ Thanking our escort for their courtesy
we en,srge from the prison bounds, with
many sad reflections upon the perverse
hsman nature which will unheaitatingly
plunge itself into Incarceration, peghapl
forever, rather than obey the hehests
of the almighty and the laws of man. A
strik.ng commentary on the comparative
criminallty of the two races In South
Carolina Is tho fact that only forty.si1
Iof the seven hundred conyicts whose
noNnar ova ourollnd - s,,hsto st,E,,,l.- ?