New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-03
UORROPS or A soU1HERN PRISON

more revolving picture VI ihhumani.y '""n
is therein presented 1t has not been Oui msfor
tune to contemplate for long time. Prince
Krapotknes revelations about Russian prisons
were not more horrible than these. he made
his "a prisoner telling his experiences. These
from Alabama are in an official report and are
made by the officers OF the prison. what we
should hear il the prisoners themselves IN thls
Alabama hell were to speak, the mind shndders
to contemplate. In the summary of revelations
which we are about to make we shall cohiine
ourselves strictly to the language of the officers
as it is given in their report. This document
W as published some time agO-its record OF
events ends with September 80, lsS2-yet we
have failed to sec any mention of its contents
in the public journals of the State. How any
human being anywhere can read it and not feel
his blood boil in his veins is u mystery
The prisons in Alabama are farmed ont to
contractors, IA they are IN most of The Southern
States. We gave an account few years ago or
the horrors of the "chsin gang system in
Georgia. Many Of these are repeated IN Ala
bama, and others are added which make the
picture even backer than the Georgia one was.
A large proportion OF the Alabama convicts
are let out 20 contractors for work in coal-mines
and on railways. The contractors have full
authority over them, fog them without re-
stralnt aud without mercy, and lodge them
like pirs. The average number nf cOnvicts be-
tween September 80, 1850. and September
30. 1882, WAS 531. OF that number 81 died.
Here is a death ratio Of over II per cent. But
an analysis of the.disislon of labor shows more
appalling figures than these. About half the
convicts were employed on farms, and OF that
half only ten died, or less than per cent. or
the other half, employed in mines and on rail
WAYS. iifty.One died. or more than 20 per cent.
This IA murder pure ami simple, and its causes
are plainly set forth in the report. Speaking of
the mines at New-Castle and the way in which
the convicts were logged and maltreated there,
the Inspectors say:
The beds and blankets filthy, particularly at
New Castle The prisons were infested with ycrmn and
not ample the accommodation OF the conyictS The
squad worked the railroad was In worse condition
They we're packed In small weather houses tho sick
and well together Their clothing and persons were in
tested with yermin. They seldom had vegetable diet
The average number OF this squad did not exceed forty
Twelve have died what hA been said Of the prisoners Mt
Coketon aud Castle Ia unclrauness and yermin
may be- said Of nearly oil the prisons except that else
where these evils and abuses exist IN modified form
THIS is the plain language of the Inspectors.
1t is based on the reports of the Warden, chap
lain and physician of the PeEitentary, and is
mildness itself compared with what they say.
Thus the Warden. who entered upon Office in
March, 1851, describes what he saw
found the prisons where conyiots were confined in
most instances totally unfit for the purpose for which
they were Intended They built IN most with
view to the striotest economy No regard had 20
the Important question II ventilation. and the prison
frequently contained twice IA many cOnvcts rs Its d
mensons would warrant They were ~ filthy rs rule,
81 dirt could make them and both rsons and prisoners
were infested with vermin Tho bedding totally
fiji for use found that conviots were excessively and
I'm sorne instances cruelty punished that they
poorly clothed and fed that the sick were neglected.
in.omuch hospitals had been provided. they being
confined in the cells will the well conyicts. The OF
dining furniture at some prisons was unknown
the men having their meals spread bench, shelf,
or given them by the cook In their hands Tho prisons
h,yc ma adenunte water supply and | verify believe
there we're men them who had not washed their faces
I'm twelve months. In visiting the different prisons.
found the men 80 much inundated thatit was next 10 In
p,-be TO get from them anything touching their treat
mcnt In this condition found things my first visit
TO the prisons.
lie says this condition of affairs Ia irreme-
diable under the present system, and thus pays
his tribute to that IA an agent of civilization:
mn firmly Of the opinion that our system makes men
and women worse. They are more domoraled, and less
ut to return TO- enter their social duties than
hen yiccd Society loss after their return
than before their conviction How IA possible
a man or woman without first inspiring scfrcspect
and how possible for him her to have self respect
when rolling nth and preyed upon AT night by ven
TO such an extent o.rive him OF her mad am pre-
pared demonstrate that our system Il better training
school FOR criminals than any Of the dens of uuiy that
exist In large cities The first lesson taught Is that
the state cares nothing for the criminal his well be-
ing that only interest felt In him Is as to how much
money the State and Jointly realize from
his labor.
The Rev. j. b. Anderson, the chaplain, sus-
tains and cOrrOborates the assertions of the
Warden, and IN righteous Indignation excluims
This neglect OF and cruelty convicts may go for
time yet later the CURSES OF Almighty God
will DO showercd down upon tho proud common ealth.
Unless the present system Is changed, the Judge OF
all the earth will see that retbute Justice is melted
duo season TO OF Alabama Under the present
modus operand tho Alabama Penitentiary. as n REFORM
aory institution IN Of the gandest farccs and OF
the most sublime humbugs tnat human intelligence could
possibly imagine The whole OF the present regime IA a
palpable falsehood and the State Penentlary itself
lie.
This is not the language of the North toward
the South, but of Southern clergyman upon
Southern State. The physician of the Peniten-
tiary, DR.. X. NJ. Cunningham, confirms tho
statements of the others quoted. lie mentions
some conditions of filth 30 extreme as to be
here. and gives the following as
the condition Of the convicts brought to the
hospital from the con tractors "As rule they
u looked like they had not washed themselves
q or their clothing in months. They were fire.
quently covered with lice. In short, cleanL-
ness was stranger to their persons"
This, let 1t DO remembered. Is the official Ian
guage Of Southern officials on Southern insti-
tuition. We have no doubt that similar reyela-