Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1880-12-02
HOT TIMES IN CELL No. s.
n Remtntscenc- of the Nevada
state Prison In 1883.


While visiting the State Prison recently,
in passing cell No. S, the following story
was told the writer in illustration of how
discipline was enforced in the early DAYS
Of its history:
Bob Rowland was then the Warden OF
the State Prison, as he also was during the
Territorial days under the administration
OF Governor Nye. How such a genial wag
as Bob Rowland should ever be placed in
charge of a penal institution, reauiring
strict discipline and a total absence of all
l~eviry-which is so natural with Bob that
1t bubbles mp on every occasion-is q mys-
terry now. and so it was then. This was
particularly commented upon by those Of
the criminal class who knew him by repu.
fation only, and before making his ac-
quaintance behind the prison bars and
the general impression amongst that class
before reaching prison was that life there
would be no great hardship. and, in the
language of some of them, sit would only
be ducks for tiem," when times W, re
hard. to get there. In this they were
greatly mistaken, as the sequel will show
and right here it is worthy to remark that
during Bnb's incnmbency a. Warden he
never lost a prisoner by escape, which,
considering tie insecure character of the
prison walls at that early date, speaks vol.
nmes for Bnb's vigilance and close atten-
ton to his duties.
From the above remarks one can easily
Judge Of the motives which influence the
action of the notorious George Kirk. WHO
was sentenced from Virginia City for high
way robbery in 1865, aud duly lodged in
the State Prison. On the evening Of
his arrival he was duly introduced
to the prison regime. and after being
SHARED and shaved and scrubbed and clad
III striped garments, was placed in cell No.
>, and instructed to fall in line the follow
ing morning and march to breakfast. Be-
ing a desperate and wild character, he snb-
mitted with an ill-grace to these prelimin-
aries, and when morning came and the
order was given to the prisoners to = fall
in line " for breakfast, all took their places
but No. 5. The guard repeated the order
for No. 5 to fall in, and then Kirk turned
loose with horrid imprecations and detied
all the powers in prison to compel him to
obedience. The Warden quietly ordered
his cell door closed, and the other prison.
ers were marched cleft hand on next
mans shoulder" to breakfast. Kirk in
the meanwhile was ra,ipg and loud
~ cnrsing and defyiug the Warden
or any other to even try to
make him come out unit he felt disposed
to. The Warden quietly vent to the black
smith shop, procured a bar of steel about
twelve feet long, and had it heated for
about four feet on one end to a red heat,
and as quietly came back with it to cell
No. 5. He again ordered Kirk to come
out and fall ill.," and was met with the
former refusal and violent abuse. The
Warden closed the grated door of the cell
and showed the bar Of steel. hot end fore
most, (Which had now cooled to a dull
COLOR, through the bars. Kirk sprang for
and grasped it in both hands with a close
grip to wrench it from the Warden. With
a howl of pain, as it scared the flesh, lie
dropped it and retreated cursing with
~fiercest rage. TIE Warden. without
speaking, swayed the hot bar
back and 70 tn in the narrow
call, at times weighing Kirk into a corner,
soaring his limbs with every touch. Kirk
howled with the mingled rage and torture,
now bounding over it and again under it,
striking his head against the tnp Of the
cell aud falling back upon the bar, yelling
and screeching like pandemonium turn d
loose. At last lie realized the helples,ness
If his position and begged for mercy. The
bar was immediately withdrawn, the cell
opened aud Kirk came forth as gentle as a
lamb to have his wounds dressed. and dur
ing the term of his incarceration was the
most ubedient convict in the prison.
All recullect his tragic end in Virginia
City snme wears after. when refusing TO
obey The order Of mystic ..6Ol. and leave
the city at once; the following day the bo ~
of George Kirk was found hanging. cold
in death. to the frame of the old hosting
works of the Gould 4 Curry mine.