National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-02-06
KES1UCKY's MACK HOLE.


LOUISVILLE, Feb. 5.--The legislative com.
mttcC for the investigation of the State prison
have made Il report of which the following Is
IL synopsis "rhe condition of the poniten-
liury at the present time is bad, und during
the past year ii was shamefully bad, We be.
liGve the condition is attributable to four
causes, viz First, to the Overcrowdel COndi.
ton Of tho prison second, to the defective
sewer; third, to the general want of coauli.
ness about the buildings yards, &c, aud
fourth to tho want Of proper diet for the con.
viCts. Under requirement of u statute the
keeper is under II binding obligation to fur.
mish the couvots with n sufficient quantity of
wholesome food to maintain good health
among them; ana there can be no doubt what.
ever that he is under tho most solemn obi
CATION to furnish food of such quality aud ia
such variety as to prevent scurvy. This dis.
| case prevailed to fearful extent in the prison
during the year of 1879" "At one time"
says DR. Rodman, the keepers physician,
| there were over 200 mon in the hospital with
sGarvy, and God only knows how many were
still at work, having only slight symptoms of
| the disease" DR.. Rldman further says In his
report that ho treated for scurvy, during the
| year 1917, 20l mon ON bod and 4sl of bed,
making total of 775 out of about l,0J0 men
sick with this disease during the summer aud
| early fall Of 1879. DuIing the prevalence Of
this disease eleven men died of it aud two
of sCOrbutic fever, 1t is an uudcniable fact
that the scurvy has but one cause, viz, the want
of proper food; and the fact that IL prevailed
in the prison to such fearful extent is to tho
minds of your committee conclusive proof that
tho couviCts were not furnished with proper
food. 1t was the keepers duty to furnish
proper food and in that duty he failed, and
for that failure there is, in the opinion Of your
committee, no excuse whatever. Such treat.
ment Of convicts confined within walls is un.
parlonable. 1t ia fact that the Kentucky poni
tontiary was almost as much Overerowdod in
1877 and 1878 as it was in 1879, yet during
those years the dead.llSt was not large being
thrty.four in 1877 aud thirty.one Ia 1875 yet
in 1879 we find II running up to seventy.uiue,
not counting the large number who died
after they wore pardOned by tho Gov
ernor and had left tho prison. The
fjgging of couvcts in prison is sometimes
carried to u cruel extent. Tho clothing fur.
| nished conyicts Is insufficient The beds aud
bedding are not sufficient aud are not kept
in good condition. There are 6iS cells In tho
old cell house and ninoty-siX in tho new. The
cells in the old coll house are very small, be-
! ing feet s inches long, 8 foot o! inches wide
and feet 81 inches high, Yet in more than
| 100 Of these badly ventilated cells the keeper
| has been compelled 10 put two c0nycls, and
keep them thero during the night, say for ton
or twelve hours, SUch doubling in cells has
led TO beastly practices, and has doubtless gen
Grated aud developed disease WeUo not hesi'
! tate to pronounce such confinement TO be an
outrage against humanity. Tho committee
conclude their report by asking tho Governor r
to remove j. w, South, tho keeper Of the
| prison,