The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-11-24
TIE BRIGHT sIDEsOF CRIME.
Visit to Convict Farm Noar charle.,on
Macs dnd Courier.

AHE bhiGhT SlDEaOF CRIME.
Visit 10 q Convict Farm Near Charleston
Naos and Courier.
Since the adoption of the plan Of util
izlng the convict labor of the State under
authority Of All Act of the General AS
sem6ly,. there has been general and
continuing desire to know how tho con.
vlcts are hired out and how they arc
F, treated. The fact that convicts are
leased to railroad corporations, are use
as farm hands by the State, and are be.
ing hired out as phosphate hands is gen.
orally known, but knowledge of the
revenue derived by the State, and the
condition and treatment of the conyicts
is Of necessity much more limited. A
stan reporter OF the NIe,rs and Courier, in
order to make personal examination OF
tDe means employed TO insure the safety,
health aud reasonable comfort of such
OF the .convicls as are employed in dig
ging phosphate rock, paid visit few
days ago to tho stOckade Of Mr.. r. S.
rringle, Oh Gregg's works, near the Ash
ley River, about twelve miles from the
town Of Summervillc. The
CONVICT CAMP,
which is generally recognized as model
OF It's kind, aud has been highly com
mended by the Superintendent Of the
Penitentiary, is located on high pine
ridge about five miles from the Ashley
River, the spot having been selected by
Or. Trezevant, the late physician to tho
Fenitentiary, in view Of its perfect
heaithfulness. The camp was reached
by buggy from Summervillc in about two
hours and half and presented pic
tureaque appearance as first seen through
the trees, looking bright and clean with
its snow white buildings and fences. a
closer view of
THE sTOCKADE
shows 1t to be constructed very much on
Lie plan adopted by the frontier settlers
as means of defence against the Indians,
with the difference that the wall sur
rounding the building is built smooth on
the inside to prevent the escape OF the
Inmates. The wall, or fence as it may be
called, is twelve feet high and encloses q
square acre. There is one large gato
which opens inwards and is securely
locked and bolted. The top of the fence
is covered with spikes. at each corner
OF the square is q miniature tower, in
which is stationed guard, each guard
from his position being able to command
certain portion Of the inclosure. With.
IN this square are located the bull iings
Tor the sleeping accommodation of the
convlcts, kitchen and mess hall, q
guardroom and commissary. The sleep
ing houses, three in number, are built of
neavy hewn timber, and measure thirty
two feet long by eighteen feet wide. The
interior is fitted up with hunks three
tiers high, which are supplied with com.
Portable straw mattresses and blankets.
AS soon as the weather is cold ei >ugh q
large stove with long pipes Inning
through the building is to be .cted in
each one of the sleeping rooms, and the
chinks between the logs in the side walls,
which in summer are left open for the
comfort of the convicts, will be closed to
keep out the sharp winds of winter. The
roof, which is shingled, forms a loft,
which has openings at the front for VEN
tilation, and thus affords a free passage of
air from the interior. Buckets of water
and private convcniences are kept for the
accommodation of the convicts during
the light. Each convict Is, when he
enters the Penitentiary, shackled with an
two chains pass to third, which is fas.
tened with belt around the waist. It is
the custom with some of the lessons OF
convicts to pass long chain through a
ring at the back of each convict, and by
locking this chain to the door at night,
keep all the convicts chained together.
AFR. Pringle has found tbs unnecessary
and after the convicts ent,r the sleeping
ort ovt and ha 11o a.,
outside with huge bolts, they are allowed
is found to conduce greatly to the health
of the men, and, MS o close night guard
is kept, there is absolutely no chance oil
escape.
THE SLEEPING APARTMENTS
are held together by iron rods, and ar
attempt to cut an exit would be the UorL
| of many hours, even with abundant tools
Passing from these three buildings tho
next building for the use Of the convicts
is the mess hall and kitchen attached
The mess hall is 81 feet long by 20 fee
wide, and contains twenty tables, eact
capable Of accommodating eight persons
| The cooking, which il performed by two
convict cooks, is done upon large
stove, and is excellently done. The same
cooks who prepare the meals for The
convicts prepare the meals for tht
guards, and there is no room to complair
OF the style of the cooking in either in
stance.
| THE MENU.
The convicts are given three meals ,
day. At breakfast thay are given corr
bread, bacon and coffee. For Dime
they get corn bread, bacon and one vege
table, which is changed from time to tim,
to promote health. On each Wednesday
and Saturday they are given rice ant
fresh beef for dinner. AT supper they
get corn bread and molasses. Each maj
gets plug of tobacco every Sunday
| The head.cook colored man namet
Peter Crawford, from Chester, who il
February next will have served out fv,
years of term of seven years. He is 81
we'll pleased with his treatment at th
stockade that he says with broud gril
that he is going to stay where he is wheI
his term is out as he knows good thins
when he gets it. This naaa, howovoT, i
near the flesh pots, and is not fair sub
ject to get an expression of opinion from
Others, who work every day in the mine
and nave no sinecure positions, were in
terviewed, however, and their statement
will be given hereafter.
THE HOSPITAL
is O department of the encempmcn
which is rightly considered Of great i'm
portance, and is provided with beds