Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-04-18
OUR INSTITUTIONS.
An interesting History of the VEST
Virginia Psnitentiary.
Its Management, Condition, and Inmates
--:Tales of LawIess Life Told
by Life Prisoners, ETC.
81. IA, oorrs,poudsuos Of The Sunday Rsgis'r.

uulu VI -
p~enitsntiary and its workings it will ot
apropos TO give the names and positions O.
the different offices and guards IN oraei
t that the reader may more readily unaer'
s.andits management and condihon.
OFFICERS.
, The whole institution ia under the man
agement OF a superintendent and assistant
superintendent, subject only to the rules
and regulations OF The prison and the
Board OF Directors.
The superintendent and his assistant
Col Peck and Capt. Wilkinson, have been
already introduced to the reader.
Next in order may come the gusrdmen'
which consist Of I. j. johnson, Capt; j.
r. Perry, hall guard, and j. F. Ferguson
W. Ftzsimmons, f. Ryan, j. c Israel,
samuel Ferguson, Fred Bauer, Jas. WOOD,
". II. Willis, q. ]. MonahaD, George
O'Neal, John Doran, c. G. Reynolds, K
W. Msupin, j. Monahsn, G. 81. McCar'
raher, and j. Z. Hogan, night guard. W.
b. Humphreys, Esq is superintendent OF
the works 10 the shops.
Major C. ". Wickhsm is chief engineer,
and has held that position for a long series
of wears. The Msioc is wellknoWn through
oat the State, aud is csrtaiOly a very popu-
lar fellow. His Fslstafian figure, good
ustured face and extreme delight in getting
he Joke on the other fellow" is q SOLID
fac. no. easily forgotten By the other tel-
low, (uutil he gets even with the coon
THEIR LABOR.
To return TO the subject in hand. Within
the gloomy walls are situated o number of
long brick buildings, within which the con-
yicts perform their daily tasks. They are
sold under contract OF a series of years to
different frms. The Webster Wagon
Works is the largest couce7n, aud employs
most of the men. Here the men, after the
morning meal, are marched into the differ
ent shops; the blacksmith, paint, machine
AID wood works. They have each "a a
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,
eau still continue to work until the hour
for knocking off arrives. Foe all extra
work they are allowed q certain amount,
and in a number of instances. your report
er found that prisoners had taken advau-
tsge of the privilege to gain extra pay in
order to secure certain luxuries. such as
reading matter, &c.
THEIR TASKS.
In order to learn whether their tasks
were heavy or not, your reporter was al
lowed to ask one OF the prisoners a few
questions upon the subject. He selected
Raymond, who had been sent up for q num-
her of years for postofice 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 vent to the door of the eel
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:
an the wagon factory.
How many pieces have been allotted
you as q taskf'
Twelve"
How many did you make today
"Twenty-three.
HOY many could you readily make in
work hours2'
Two tasks
Raymond's cell, like a number Of othera,
vas fitted up at the farther end with shelves,
upon which we're piled books, papers and
pictures. BY this means the more intefii-
gent prisoners while away the tedium Of
the hours of evening before The command
10 put gu. lights and retire is given.
yAEING WHIP.
The broom factory and whip factories,
under the management OF Messr5. Weaver
& Bardall, are CONDUCTED upon tie same
principles. Here, however, the sma Ter
and weaker O. the prisoners, who could
not stand tins heavier lsbor, are employed.
Each room has The appearance Of a busy
hive Of beer. The long benches in the
whip factory are filed with men and boys,
who are kept busy at making whips of all
kindg, fron the dog whip" destined to
Gil the delicate hand u taper nugers of
the Boston belle, as she fastidiously glides
along the fashionable p-omeuades OF the
city OF "Calcha and Baked Beans" accom-
panied By her skye terrier or her more
~hydrophobic spit, to the long cattle whip
of the cowboy on the Texas plains. Whips
in all stages OF composition, from the thin
strips as long as one's band to the finished,
oiled and vsrnishol whip, ready to ship
are constantly going through process OF
manufacture.
OLD HABITS.
Among the ~convicts are many experts,
whose han diwork are mGryels Of skill and
| schooled patience. Indeed, it would seem
that after years Of toll and confinement
and with the e of obtaining an hoL.
est, honorable living aud competence,
these men would never return, but crimi.
nsls glide back TO their old hsuuts and old
companions with a fatal facility. Let there
be seemingly the fairest hope of retorna-
ion the frost work OF new habits appear to
melt away at the ftst FIRE OF temptation.
Victor Hugo exhibits a keen insight into
human nature. when ne makes Vatican rob
he little S~avoyard of his two pence, even
after the forgiveness and generosity of the
good 5ishop. AS al evidence Of this there
are a number of prisoners here who have
been here before AID several now serving
life sentences who have been cent q 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 years, but the Law, in its wisdom,
deems a man who has been convicted a
third time in this State to a lie sentence.
Il ENGINE ROOM.
Near the workshops stands the long en-.
CINE house with Its immense boilers and
massive engines which drive ell the ma
chinery and pump up the water supply for
the prison. This department ia presided
over By Major Wickhsm, who is one of the
best engineers in the State. Under his
supervision and care the huge machinery
is kept polished and bright IS q mirror.
BIG JoHY-A VALUABLE PRISONER
Under Mr.. WIckhau, the assistant en-
pineer is Big John, a life convict. John Is