Litchfield enquirer., 1879-11-27

tirely in the hands of the chief keeper. The warden confines himself to the stores con- tracts, and disposal of prison labor. ~
 The punishments, l must say, are very se- were and barbarous. { Punishments of, stinted food. withot bed or blankets, will last as long as your keeper thinks proper, for he has the power of inficting it at his discretion, and without reporting, it to any higher authority. Assumed penitence and prayer for4fergive ness wN probsbly assaage his.Wrath . when e it it weeks, until the surgeon steps in to the rescue and transfers them to another company.
 Another punishment is suspension of an off fender by the wrist, entirely off the ground; until the culprit IS in fainting condition or as an alternative, suspension by the thumbs. In the latter case small cord is slipped over the thumbs below the first joint ;~you are then triced up by a pnlley until your toes only touch the ground, and then. you have to hang sometimes as long as forty minutes. l have known men to bear the torture to the point Of fainting. It is a dreadful punishment 1 have seen the nails and the balls of the thumbs split open, so severely have they been punish ed. It affects the Joins, kidneys, and the chest most cruelty, for it seems to tear all those or gans out of thelr places and the arms for days appear Jparalyzed .-|
 The next punishment, called "paddling," " is disgraceful A man is thrown across 8 barrel, and beaten after the fashion of Sbirching, only the instrument is more formidable weapon. In form it is like an Indians oe-paddle, but entirely fiat in the blade, which if perforated with small holes. This, when applied, raises small blisters at each stroke, and is both pain full at the times and long Afterwards. The sufferer would prefer to go without his dinner for day onstwo, rather than be compelled to fn nof of tor mi cahontas's paddle"
 Another punishment, now abolished, was the cross, which was a large piece ot wood suspended from mans neck. With his arms fastened to the upper part of the cross, man was,obhged to march about for a considerable time.
 But the most dreadful punishment of all, 1 think, is the shower bath. The victim, Ii do- cile and quiet, is stripped and fixed on stool in a cell. The fire-engine hose, with engine to work it. is then fixed to the main water supply, and the force applied is sufficient to send the water to the top of the building. When this is brought to bear on the man at a distance of few feet the effect is dreadful. have conversed with men that have undergone it, and I never saw one of them who did not shudder at the bare recollection of it. They said it was as near death as possible and for days they were unfit for anything. l only know of one case where immediate death was the result. It was that of a young English. man, and. he, was. removed to the hospital dead. If the full force of the water strikes weak person over the region of tho heart, it will kill him as surely as the knout of the Russians.
 Another punishment is called the ''cage." This is an iron crown placed over mans head and face, and fastened with paddock in the front, under the chin. The victim has to wear this, night and day until he begs his keep CT to release him. #
 I think I have now given good idea of the softening means used in America to reform the criminal classes. It is treatment of this kind that has produced their gangs of river pirates and desperate rowdies.-40 the YeGr Round. %-- @--...+