Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-03-16
COMMUNICATED.
MouNpsvILLE. March, 10, 1888.

Editor Reg1Sfer. your reau
ers would enjoy short communlca-
ton from an old Shepherdstown boy,
who has been located for the past
wear or two in the historical city OF
the Mound in connection with the
guard force Of the Penitentlary'
Moundsville is quite lively place,
notwithstanding the rampant Repub-
licanism predominating in politics,
but the number of live, progressive
Democrats in the place is sufficient to
keep the boom in the ascendancy, or
it would be dead town sure enough.
The Penitentiary is the centre OF at
traction to all visitors, and brief de-
scription will doubtless be of interest
to the readers of your valuable paper,
who have not been favored with an
opportunity to visit this institution.
The main building is massive and
imposing structure four stories high,
the first floor of which is used as OIL
ces for the Supt. and other officials
The second floor is the Directors room
and State parlor, and the third is fur
nished for sleeping apartments OF SIX
(single) Guards, they being required
to sleep in the Warden's building, and
the remaining story is fitted up as a
residence for the Supt. Wings ex-
tend from each side of the main
building two hundred feet long and
forty feet wide, in one of which are
224 cells 7X4X it., constructed OF
stone. with an iron floor and grated
door. ventilators in each cell, 16 large
windows 16 TT. equal to 12O ordl
nary ones to admit light and air, no
sign of dampness, dirt or discomfort
in the clearly looking white washed
little rooms with their beds, stools,
Bibles, some few books and perhaps a
picture of the dear and loved one
whom the inmate hopes TO hold again
in fond embrace. Heated by steam,
each cell has its lamp and ample bed
clothing is given. No conversation Is
permitted and each inmate is left soil
tary and alone, suffering no interior
ence with his musings, his books, his
prayers, or his sleep. The food given
though coarse, is ample and sufficient
and as good perhaps as many an hon
est man would wish to be assured of
for life. The convicts are divided into
gangs, of which the Webster Wagon
Co. employs 10O the whip shop OF
Weaver s. Bardall, have so, and the
broom shop of Humphrey y Weaver
80. Sunday and holiday mornings are
devoted TO religious exercises and
songs in which many join with
hearty good will. The local preachers
exchange Sundays for service at the
prison and every possible encourage
ment is given to those religiously and
morally inclined to turn aside from
the evil paths and inclinations, and
many heart is touched and eyes
made to weep at thought of evil which
has torn them from home and kindred.
West Virginia has erected large, COM
modious buildings, in which ourfelons.
but still human souls, are comfortably
fed. housed and clothed, with enough
privation and restraint to remind
them that crime must be expiated,
atoned for or avoided. The prison
ward contains seven acres and is sur
rounded by massive wall of stone
twenty-six TT. high. There is a turret
Cor tower in each corner of the wall
IS g Stationed Gait on arr armed With Winchester
repeating rifle keeping watch on the
human beings below from the time six
hundred eyes see the peep of day until
they are locked up for the night. The
kicking jenney, shoohy and bullrings
have long been done away with. The
mode of punishment adopted by the
Board for disobedience to the rules is
the forfeiture of privileges, tobacco,
Sundays and holidays, reading, writ
ing or seeing friends, put on short
rations, confined in dark cell, hand
cuffed TO cell door, and for refractory
prisoners buck and gag in dark cell.
The Penitentiary was never under
more prosperous and satisfactory man
agement than that combined under
the administration of Supt Robertson,
and Governor Wilson displayed wis
dom in getting the right man for the
right place when he entrusted this re-
sponsible office to the present APP
pointee, who is winning golden opin-
ions as an executive officer. Capt.
Johnson also, who has charge of the
guard force, is most excellent officer
and thorough and wide awake bust
ness man and gives efficient support
to his chief. The guard force is com
posed of choice men, and their duties
demand regulation time and no fool
ishness, and they have all proven
themselves eminently qualified TO fill
their stations to the utmost satisfac-
ton. The general oversight of the
Prison affairs is in the hands of a
Board of Directors, and Gov. Wilson
can be congratulated again for the
honorable representatives he has thus
chosen. The President H. r. Howard
is himself out to lead the Democratic
Ticket in 1888, and Hon. j. p. Marcum
is prominently mentioned for the office
of State Treasurer. The high charac-
ter of these gentlemen gives assurance
that the Pen will be run all o h and
it is fulfilling their expectations.
Moundsville has some pretty girls, but
| will have to close now and write of
them some other time. With best
wishes for the REGISTER, adieu.