The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-15

WALTER SiLLERs,
l.. IL. MooRE,
o. G.. MCGUIRE,
]. NJ DuLANrY,
FoNTMNE JONES,
c. NJ. HULL,
john l.. GILL.
Gov. Lowry answered the same day MS
follows
JACKSON, Miss, Dec. c, 1883.
Hon. W. sillcrs II. Moore, o, g. Mcclure and
Others:
/ handed your telegram to the Board OF
Control, who will send an agent at once.
ROBERT LOWRY.
Mr.. Walter McIaurin left jackson the
same DAY and arrived in Bolivar County
the next day. lie spent three days in the
investigation, and it is understood that
his report will be
FAVORABLE TO THE H., n. o. 4 T. RAILROAD.
A similar report can conscientiousiy be
made by the APPEAL representative, in
matters for which the Louisville. New
Orleans d Texas Railroad officials are di-
rectly responsible. 1t is conceded on all
sides, and notably by the conyicts them.
selves, that they have never been Treated
hall ~ well as they are now treated by
the Louisville. New Orleans Il Texas Rail-
road. They have abundant food, ample
rimcnt, good shelter for sleeping, and as
skillful med cal attention rs the neighbour
hood can furnish. Each convict is pro-
vided with pair OF stout shoes, two pairs
OF socks, two suits OF underclothng and a
warm suit OF outer garments, besides q
wool hat and an oil cloth jacket for
use in rainy weather. Upon the points
mentioned, there is not only no cause for
complaint, but even matter for praise.
Mai. j. NJ. Edwards, general manager OF
the road, can Justly claim the credit OF
having broken the record in point OF feed
ing aud clothing convcts. Ii there has
been and is cause for complaint in other
directions IL is through no fault OF his.
The mischicf-and there was much OF it
was done by u subordinate to whom refer
ence will hereafter be made.
The Appeal representative arrived in
Rosedale on Tuesday, December II, at
| o'clock pm, and found the convict ques-
ton the all-absorbing topic OF discussion.
| On inquiry he learned that Mr.. Walter
! Mclaurin. Railroad Commissioner and
member OF the State Board OF Control,
had completed his investigation and left
the day before. II appears that when he
first arrived in the county he proceeded ut
once tn Beulah, where the convict camp
Is located, and prosecuted his inquiries
/ there without notice to the gentlemen who
I hud sent the telegram to Gov. Lowry.
! Right here II may Ice well to state upon
what facts that telegram was predlcated.
The village OF Bculah, in Bolivar
| County, il situated six miles from Rose
dale the County seat, aud its population
is composed OF merchants, professional
men aud the usual elements that go 10
make up the life Of q village in the Delta.
! lls inhabitants have abundant leisure, and
some Of them, when the convicts engaged
in railroad building came along. concluded
il wouldn't he bad idea 90 20 down 10 the
track and watch the novel operation OF
laying cross ties. aligning rails and driving
in spikes. so down they went, in pairs,
or thrccs, or singly, rs the case may be,
and watched the work.
THEY SAW MORE THAN THEY HAD BAR
GAINED FOR.
Curiosity changed to interest, interest u
amaUmtnt and anazcment 10 horror,
mingled with specifies indignation. Thu
is what they saw:
A gang OF men. some siXly.fiye In num-
Der. working at n prodigiuus rate, every
|
tension. They moved about - rapidly ~
the heavy burdens they bore would allow,
and Il fatigue asserted itself in n rclixation
Of speed q timely whack OF the lash acrOs,
the face and shoulders spurrrd the iidcd
n,sh 10 qnickcncd motion. In racing par
lance. Il was whip and spur from dawn 10
dark, with an interval at noon for rest and
food. In the midst Of the gang, whose
4 II. NU.HH a. uN ffHF Al a.
demonstrated, we're but the ont
ward signs 81 deeper stripes branded
into 'hc skin. moved tall young
man of slim build and graceful cauiagJ
welding strap attached TIA handle, and
welding Il Xiih unsparing force, ccasclcss
activity aud mefcilcss severity. At irc
auent intervals one OF lhe striped gang
would bc taken aside and subjected e
spccial treatment. The trembling yiciimi
knew what awaited him and with thuii
own hands barred their skin 81 the tor
turing lash. The tall young man applied
the lash and neither the tears, pleading
or uroans OF the tortured victim would stay
that remor-clcss hand. When the punish
ment was over the victim was sent bach
trembling 10 his task, his hide wHthinl
with pain, his body sore and smariin.
with agony. his manhood stamped ant
crushed out Of him. liut woe bCtidc him
II sore rs he was, hc failed Ia keep up will
the standard rate oi speed. AZ the ycr'
slightest sign " failure another shower o
lashcs upon the already tortured Skin
would warn him that the fortunes Of hcl
would be- child's play 20 his suilcringu, un
les bis o,cfiaXcd flesh was strained to III,
very ntlcrmOst limit u human endurance
! This il no fancy picture and but iccbly cX
I prosscs lhc truth, ~ will hereafter appear
Of course the story ol lhcio doing sprcai
among the people, but gained 10 crcdcnc
until one day two respectable citizens a
Rosedllc, men Of unnpyachJble Ncmciiy
came back with
tab THAT PROBE Tus BLOOD
OF ils hearers. The. names Of these gentle
men are J. i. PpagrOvc and Wauoi
Ca,chings. II was on Wcdnc day, the 5d
day oi December, that they had occasioI
, Ia plss by the spot vi here thu c0nyics Wcr
at work. ncar Byulah, aud they stopped &
witness the proceedings. While Their
they saw convict hll o. the earth. seem
! ingly from exhaustion. The tall s rgCau
: in charge, the task.mastcr aud executions
In chief, a young man named Joe lomux
rushed mp TO tho PROSTATE figure, kickc,
! him AMI lushCd him iiil, byarupfemc effort
. the poor wretch manbycd 10 siagguf 10 hi
, feet bat q was no use. The human ma
chine had been shattered. Nature gay
. way. The man icll again, a limp, quiyoi
{ Ing, but unconscious, mass. lie WI
, picked up by the scigcanrs orders an
dumped on the Hat ear, there 10 rcinai
) until the construction train moved back
! asutn hours aifaFwarl Tho guuVipt