, 1886-01-09
MgTAoDs 81 paIgoN evNaaMEnr.



The DARK Cell. IN. Padding Machine
and the weighing sfaehine.
Tho methods of punishment at Sing
Sing, as everywhere else, have caused
much discussion and have many times
been changed. The old and once popu.
lar form OF discipline was the dungeon.
Not many years ago every prison had
one-dark, wet and loathsome. There
the prisoner was tasted on tread and
water. or If an attack was made upon n
keeper even this was Withdrawn. and
every imaginable horror and torture
was heaped upon him instead. This
ancient dungeon has lived in q modi-
fed degree until the present day, and is
o known ms tho dark CELL sing
Sing has ten of these cells, where a man
can DC kept any length of time without
a ray OF light nor even a piece Of straw
TO lie on at night. After the dungeon
came the famous padding machine"
For n long time this was believed to be
the most perfect punishment possible
and the keepers pointed with delight to
its elaborate equipments as each new
convict was made to behold it in terror.
The padding machine" consists Of a
pair OF solid stocks on the COR, into
NIAlh ~ RAAtOlGA1 lttt htIt lOtkE1
and then dashed to the sides OF the
stocks. Next, a wide leather belt under
his arms was strapped fast to a cleat in
the wall and -ust above this another
fastening held the unfortunate man
head in place-face to the wall. His
handcuffed hands were then raised
above his head and a hook fastened into
the chains. When all was ready a
pulley WIS let down from the ceiling
and two lusty keepers bent their com
bined weight upon the rope until the
prisoner was pulled nearly in two, when
the rope was made fast TO a cheat on
the wall. Then the performances BEGAN.
The man was stripped of his clothing
and his keepers in turn Selling the
heavy leather strap made for the
purpose lay upon the unhappy mans
back as many blows as they saw fit.
But two years ago, when the old
keeper OF the prison was removed and
the present principal keeper, took
charge, the padding machine" wa
done away with. The old method was
considered undesirable aud of little
value, for, Notwithstanding its terrible
lessons, there were 900 rebellious con
yicts in their cells on the day of his APP
pointment They would not work nor
obey orders, and to turn these men
loose was to defy the keepers and cause
a general mutiny. Something must be
done and that speedily, because it would
require several weeks TO paddle 800
men and the dark cells were already
full. So this emergency brought about
the weighing machine"
This seemed to be a most childlike af-
fair and of little value when compared
with either the padding machine or the
dark cells. II was merely a solid piece
OF oak plank set in two grooved up
rights, so that 1t could be made to slide
up and down to any desired height.
Two iron pins were ready to hold it
where it was wanted and a couple of
handles On the sliding plank were set
firmly into the wood. In the centre OF
the plank a hook was placed, and on
this was hung the chain connecting the
handouts Of the prisoner to DO pun
ished. The plank was then forced up
until the man could barely touch the
floor with his toes. when the two iron
pins were put in place and the weighing
Logan.
AS soon rs the hard, unyielding rim
of the handouts legins to press into the
flesh and bones of the wrist the agony
commences. IL a few seconds more the
circulation in the hands ceases and they
begin to swell and grow red. The blood
seems about to hurst from the finger
tips and the prickly sensation sets in
under the fnger-nails, which seem ready
to lily from their places. When the
keepers watch points to thirty seconds
the pins are pulled oft aud the Shrek
ing convict is ready opromise anything
that may be demanded of him. So eff
fective was the weighing machine
that within twenty-fo hours after its
invention the rebellious prisoners we're
all at their work. and there is not a man
within the walls of Sing Sing who has
not 4 terrible dread OF its torments. No
person has yet been able to stand more
than three-quarters of a minute in the
machine which never fails to humble
the most stubborn convict. The dark
cells have not been filled for months,
and the four Weighing machines are
stiff from disuse. The instruments OF
punishment are not shown to the pris-
oners as was formerly the custom, but
their existence is known, although they
are seldom used. All minor O. enses
are punished by depriving the prisoners
OF the privileges of seeing friends and
receiving packages from home, the usual
monthly privilege. New York World.
How n Panorama Il Painted.
Albert Richtar of Drasden. Haina