Wichita eagle., 1888-11-08
A JAPANESE PRISON.

A JAPANESE PRISON.
TIE INTERESTING THINGS SEEN BY
IAN AMERICAN CORRESPONDENT.
The Prison Buildings Of Toikio-An Emrty
punishment CeH"-Ths worsshops--A
Curious Fact-rhe women's Quarter at
Iciligawa-A Case.
With the exception Of the Yoshiwara, Of
which plenty hereafter, the two prisons of
Toxic are the most interesting things have
seen in Japan. These are, first, the great
prison upon the Island Of Ishikawa, ct the
south Of the city, and, second, the convict
and female prison OF Ichigawa, in the center
of the city itself. The former is completely
isolated, all communication with the main
land being by police ferry. and contains
2,052 men and boys. all of whom are serving
terms Of ten years or less The latter con-
tains AGO men and ITO women, among
whom ere many serving life sentences.
There is a convict farm attached, and it is
here that capital punishment is inflicted
Otherwise the two prisons resemble each
other SO closely that it is not necessary to
distinguish between them in description.
The entrance is through massive wooden
gateway into guard room, adjoining
which are the Offices of the director and Off
Gals. The prison itself consists of a score or
more of detached one story buildings, all OF
wood and some OF them merely substantial
sheds, under which the rougher labor, like
stone breaking, is performed. The dorni-
tories are enormous wooden cages, the front
and part of the back formed of bars as thick
as ones arm, before which again is narrow
covered passage where the warder on guard
walks at night.
THE PUNISHMENT CELL.
On leaving the dbrmitories we passed a
small, isolated square erection, peaked and
gabled like Ii tie temple The door was
solennnly unlock ed and flung back and was
motioned to enter 1t was the punishment
cell, another spo.less wooden box, well ven
tilated but perfectly dark, and with walls SO
thick as to render it practically silent. ''How
many prisoners have been in it during the
last month"; | asked. The director SUM
moned the chief warder and repeated my
question to him. "Htori mo gozaimasen-
mono whatever" was the reply. what other
punishments have your "None whatever
mo floggingp When this question was
translated the director and the little group of
officials al laughed together at the bare idea.
could not help wondering whether there
was another prison in the world with no
method Of punishment for :, 900 criminals ex-
cept ono dark cell, and that not not used for
8 month. And the recollection of the filthy
and suTocating sly used as punishment cell
In the city prison of San Francisco came upon
nle like nausea.
a japanese prison may be divided into two
parts-dornitorie and workshops. OF cells
or prison buildings, properly speaking, there
is nothing whatever. Walking across TIE
yard we entered the first workshop, where a
couple Of hundred prisoners were making
machinery and steam boilers One warder,
armed on'y with sword, is reckoned for
every fifteen men, ard here the prisoners were
working On contract orders for outside firms,
under tho supervision Of one skilled teacher
and one representative Of the firm giving the
contract. So it was il the fine art depart
ment and every other Of the score OF work
shops.
CURIOUS FACT.
Prisoners employed at the higher classes of
labor are credited with one-tenth the sum re-
ceived for their hardiwork. But as the work
was SO good and the running expenses seemed
50 light was much surprised to learn that
the prison was not yet self supporting, only
seyen-tenths of tho total cost being realized
from the sale Of prisoners work. Another
curious fact is that every adult prisoner is
detained for six months after his sentence eI-
pires il he is not claimed il the mean time
by his friends, and until he is of adult age il
be has not reached it and is unclaimed.
These prisoners wear blue instead Of red,
after their sentences have expired.
The women's quarter at Ichigawa is sepa-
rated from the mems by high wooden fence
and gateway guarded by a sentinel, and con-
siSts Of two or three dor,nitories and one
large, comfortable workshop, where all the
10 are employed together at labor lot out by
contract. When | was there they wcre ell
hemming silk haldkeTchiefs, each seated
upon the matted floor before q little table
and very neat they eli locked and very pretty
some of them, with their loose red gowns. and
simply twisted hair. 'sThose are forgers,"
said the officer, pointing 10 three of them; Il
Go not like them to be 50 pretty" One Of tbs
women had q young baby playing beside her,
and another of them, as shc glanced up at
US, showed q face entirely different from tie
rest, pale, sad and refined, and I saw that
her hands were small and very white 1t
was Han2i Ume, the once famous geisha OF
Toxic, famous for her beauty, her samisen
playing, her dancing, her pride, and most
famous Of all for her affaire d'amour.