Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-04-19
OUR INSTITUTIONS.
An interesting History of the West
Virginia Psnitentiary.
Its Management, Condition, and Inmates
--TaIes of lawIess Life Told
by Life Prisoners, ETC.
Special Correspondence Of The Sunday Rsgi'ter.

/ Special Correspondence Of The Sunday Etg"k''
t [Conclpded.l
: MoUSDsvhLE, W. Va, April l6.-ln r.
suming a history o. the West Virgini
pepitentlary and its workings it will D
spropos TO give the names and positions o
the different Offices aud guards IN orde
that the reader may more readily under
stand its management and condition.
OFFICERS.
The whole institution is under the man
!, sgemeut OF q superintendent and ssslstsn'
superintendent, subject Only to the rules
and regulations OF the prison aud tn'
Bos,d OF Directors. e..
The superintendent and his assistant
Col. Peck and Capt. Wilkinson, have beer
already introduced to the reader.
Nextin order may come the guardmenr
which consist of I. j. johnson, Capt; j.
R. Perry, hall guard, aud j. F. Ferguson,
W. FItzsimmons, E. Ryan, j. G. lsrselr
Samuel Ferguson, Fred Bauer, Jas. Wood,
". II. Willis, e. j. Moushsn, George
O'Neal, John Dorau, C. G. Reynolds, K
W. Maupin, ]. Monshsu, c. H.. McCar'
raber, aud j. Z. Hogan, night guard. W:
B. Humphreys, Esq is superintendent OF
the works 10 the shops.
Major C. W. Wickhsm is chief engineer,
and has held that position for a long series
of years. The Major is wel[known through
out the State, and is certainly a very popu-
lar fellow. His Fslstafian figure, good
nstured face and extreme delight in getting
the Joke on the other fellow" is a solid
fact not easily forgotten BY the other fel-
low, (uutil be gets even with the coon }
THEIR LABOR
To return to the subject in hand. Within
the gloomy walls are situated a number of
long brick buildings, within which the con-
vicrs perform their daily tasks. They are
sold under contract of a series OF years 10
different firms. The Webster Wagon
Works is the largest concern, and employs
most OF the meu. Here the men, after the
morning meal, are marched into the differ
ent shops; the blacksmith, paint, machine
and wood works. They have each man o
task to perform, which is estimated at two
thirds Of an ordinary days work. After
the Accomplishment of their task they are
allowed to stand at ease, rest beside their
benches or machines, or, if they choose,
can still continue TO work until the hour
tor knocking eff arrives. For all extra
work tnsy are allowed a certain amount,
and in a number Of instances, your rspor,-
er found that prisoners had taken advan-
tage Of the privilege to gain extra pay in
order TO secure certain ~luxuries, such es
reading matter, &c.
THEIR TASKS.
In order 10 learn whether their tasks
were heavy or not, your reporter was al
lowed 10 ask ons of the prisoners q few
questions upon the subject. He selected
RAYMOND, who had been sent up for a num-
Der Of years for pos;oficc robbery. After
the men had retired to their cells and the
clang of the heavy iron bars, of which each
one closed a tier Of cells, had ceased ring.
ing with its cold steely sound in his ears,
the reporter went 10 the door Of the cell
occupied by Raymond and said;
Raymond, where do you work.
In the laconic prison tones, which in
long years OF silent labor became second
nature, he replied:
I'm the wagon factory"
How many pieces have been allotted
you as O taskr'
Twelve"
How many did you make today
"Twenty-three."
How many could you readily make in
work hoursH'
LTro toaEa'b
Raymond's cell, like O number OF others,
was fitted up at the farther end with shelves,
upon which were piled books, papers and
pictures. By this means the more inteili-
gent prisoners willis away the tedium OF
the hours Of evening before the command
to put out lights and retire is given.
MAKING WHIPS.
The broom factory and whip factories,
under the management OF Messrs Weaver
& Bardsll, are conducted upon the same
principles. Here, however, the smaller
and weaker OF tho prisoners, who could
not stand the heavier labor, sre employed.
Each room has the appearance of a busy
hive of bees. The long benches in the
whip factory are filed with men and boys,
who are kept busy at making whips Of all
kinds, from the dog whip" destined to
ell the delicate hand and taper fingers Of
the Boston telle, as che fas,idiously glides
along the fashionable promenadea OF the
city Of "Culchs and Baked Beans" accom-.
panied by her skye terrier or her more
~hydrophobic spit2, to the long cattle whip
oil the cowboy en- the Texas plains Whip5
in all stages Of composition, from the thin
strips as long IS ones hand to the finished,
oiled and vanished whip, ready to ship,
are constantly going through process Of
manufacture.
l. HABITS.
Among the ~convicts are many experts,
whose handbook ore marvels OF skill and
schooled patience. Indeed, it would seem
that after years of toll and confinement
and with the e Of obtaining an hor-
est, honorable living aud competence,
these men would never return, but crimi.
nails glide back to their old haunts and old
companions with q fatal facility. Let there
be seemingly the fairest hope Of retorLa-
ton the frost work OF new habits appear TO
melt away at the first FIRE OF temptation.
Victor Hugo exhibits q keen insight into
human nature. when he makes Vatican rob
The little SsVoysrd of his two pence, even
after the forgiveness and generosity Of the
good 5ishop. As an evidence of this there
are q number OF prisoners here who have
been here before. and several now serving
life sentences VINO have besu sent . third
| time for some offence, which had it been
the first or even the second offence, would
have been perhaps for not more than two
or three yesrs, but the lsw, in its wisdar,
deems a man who has been convicted o
third time in this State to a lie sentence.
THE ENGINE loon.
Near the workshops stands the long en-.
CINE house with its immense boilers and
/ , lii " II IL. :,