Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-01-17
KIlMAINHAM JAIL
How The Irish Prisoner Fare-An
Interview with Boyton.

leased few days previous, was Boyton,
an American citizen, and brother OF
Paul Boyton, the celebrated swimmer.
His whereabouts in Dublin was kept a
secret for several reasons, he did not
wish to be overrun by horde OF
callers, as his health was very poor and
he was not able to stand the physical
strain of much conversation. BY the
intervention of friends, however, L
secured short interview on promising
TO maintain strict secrecy as TO his
retreat, and not to publish anything he
mioht saw on this side of the water.
found Mr.. Boyton in bed; he was evil
IDENTIFY seriously ill, and suffered much
from a throat affection. contracted III
the damn cells of Kilmainham. en-
ouired as to the surroundings and treat
ment of the suspects.
SANITARY DEFECTS.
"The cells" said Boyton, care dark
and poorly ventilated. There isno light
i'm the daytime. The occupants suffer
from cold in the winter, owing to defec-
tive heating, and the hot air let in by
pipes is frequently foul. There Is no
Question that the place is extremely UNI
healthy. Some of the strongest men
sent there have been Frustrated by a
few weeks confinement
"How long are the suspects confined
to their cells every day."
''FOr eighteen hours" said Boyton.
1.-THE cells are opened at in the morn
ing and the prisoners let out for air and
exercise. They are locked in again at
noon for two hours; let out at 2 r. NJ,
and at 5 O'Clock locked up for the night.
They have light i'll their cells until
SP. NJ. when all lights must be eXtln-
guished. These rules apply to those Of
the suspects who retained their health.
Those who are in the lnfirmary are not
subject to solitary confinement, as
several of them are together in one
room. In this department the doors are
open at : in the morning, and the
prisoners are locked up until in the
evening. During the hours when the
prisoners are out of their cells they can
exercise in the open air by playing ball,
or, if the weather be unfavOrable, they
have opportunities for association in
doors"
"Have the prisionersanything ocom-
plain of
a
ayes; their are some grounds of COM
plant. Many of the guards are kindly
disposed, but they dare not show 1t for
there is a system of universal espionage.
The guards are always watching each
other. Lately a number OF convict
warders-that is, wardcrs who have
been used to dealing with convictS OF
the most hardened Class have been i'll
tToduced, and they watch us very close
ly wherever we go. They are very strict
rs TO visitors, and the conversation Will
sometimes be broken off by the warder
in charge very unrcasOnably. An igno-
rant waTdCr, anxious To show his au-
thOrity and earn a reputation for
vigilance, can ut any time Interfere, be-
inc 1.-THE sole Judge of whether tine
prisoner and his friend are talking
politics or trcnchiEg on forbidden
ground, and declare the interview at
an end. Everything is done TO dis
courage visiting. The wives and
mothers Of suspects have been kept for
hours waiting To see them, and often
have to 90 away without an interview.
MANY ofthe relatives and friends of the
prisoners have had their health destroy
ed owing to the length of time they
have had to wait in the damp, unwhole-
some atmosphere before they could get
an opportunity to see their friends
"I1Ow is Parnell looking"
every badly. The confinement Is
steadily telling on his health. lie has
always been used to an active life, and
Imprisonment is breaking down his
constitution"
'What is your view as the future
phase likely to be assumed by the aglta'
tiOn~
"Well, that's difficult question to
answer. do not think that We inside
Kilmainham had any better oppOrtuni-
ty of forming an opinion on that sub
ject than any intelligent outside OBJ
server.
THE FUTURE. ASPECT.
of the movement pepends entirely on
the stand taken by the people, not on
what the leaders! whether in or out oi
gaol, may do or say. IL Is popular
movement or it is nothing. In issuing
the no rent manifesto the last weapon
was reached. The fight is thrown on
the people, and, if they follow out the
lessons we have taught them and see
the end in view as plainly as we see It,
they have it in their power to put an
end to landlordism ina couple sfyears.'
I should have liked to put several
| other question, but fOrbore, Owingto the
state of Boyton's health. From all thai
can be learned from those who have
been in Kilmainham, there seems to bf
no question that this noted prison l;
extremely unhealthy, and that 8
heightened confinement within Its walls
even under the comparatively milo
regulations appliedtopolitical prisoners
is apt to seriously affect the physical