Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1879-02-08

House the vote was IL iR favor to 20
against it.
rs THE LEGISLATURES IN THE PENl-
TENrlARY.-In response to an invitation
by Superintendent Capt Bridges, the
Legislature OF our State visited the
Penitentiary at Moundsville, on Satur-
day last, and had pleasant time.
There are about 240 convicts, including
five females and one printer. The
Wheeling Rsgister says;-
The shops were first visited. Here
some Of the prisoners were found at
work at making whips of all kinds and
sizes. This factory is the largest devo.
ted exclusively to the manufacture OF
whips iu the world. Others were at
work on brooms, of which large mum
.bers are annually turned out. The CT
gar makers are under contract from the
State to outside parties; as We believe is
also the wagon shop. Here was found
complete factory of wagons from the
wood and metal in the rough. All OF
the work in all departments we inspect
ed, was of good quality, and made in
workmanlike manner.
The cell building which was next WIS.,
tied, was not occupied at all, all OF the
men being ont at work or serving in
some capacity about the establishment.
When the dinner bell sounded, the
visitors were invited into the yard, thro'
which the prisoners were marched to
dinuer. They walked IN single file,
with lock step, and marched with the
finest military precision. Just outside
the dining hall long wooden troughs
were ranged, and here the prisoners
were halted aid faced toward this wash
basin. At word from the guard they
all splashed into the water and washed
their faces and hands thoroughly, each
wiping with 4 towel which he carried.
These are renewed every day. When
all are through command from the
guard again starts them marching, when
they are fled into the dining hall. This
is a monster room, with three tables,
each extending its entire length. Each
prisoner is provided with a knife, fork
and spoon, and when done eating, turns
about on his bench. and holds these up
in constant sight. They seat themselves
and preserve perfect stiffness until sig
nal gong is struck by a guard, when all
epitch i'll" at once, aud the way vituals
fly would horryfy clearinghouse
keeper The prisoners on Sunday had
beef, corn.bread aud coffee. Each man
is given all he wants, and none are bur-
ried at meals. A want is expressed by
holding up the hand,no word being spo-
ken during the entire meal. When all
are done, the gong is struck, and the
prisoners rise and file out, each deposit
ing his knife, fork and spoon in sepa-
rate boxes by the door under the eye OF
a guard. 1t was a sad sight 70 see
two hundred and forty silent, strange
men, some of them, perhaps no worse
than some of those who watched them
with idle curiosity, marched to their
meals like beasts to their fodder, not
saying word to the equally silent wait
ers, their fellow convicts.
And yet the men are no doubt as
well cared for as is possible for men to
be whose sin has made necessary their
isolation from society. They all, or the
few who were allowed to converse with
acquaintance among the visitors, ex-
pressed great respect for CAPTAIN Bridges
and the other officials of the prison, and
seemed more contented than could be
expected.
After the convicts had eaten, Speaker
Moffett announced dinner for the guests
in tie dining hall above, and the crowd
consequently adjourned there and did
ample justice to the superintendent
really excellent repast.