Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1888-04-20
CAPTIVE SOLDIERS.
How They Are Punished For
Desertion and Other Crimes.
A Prison With Considerable
Freedom for the Prisoners.

Situated on tho highest point in Fort
Lcav,nworth, Kan, and overlook
ilg the Missouri river i, the Uaited
Stat military prison--tho bottom to
which the dtegs Of the army ottlc. The
law says the prison Is "for the confne-
ment and reformation OF offenders
against the rules, tegu atio1s and laws
for the government Of the army Of the
United States; in which shall be securely
confined and employed at labor, and
governed in the manner hereinafter di-
rccted, all offenders convicted before
any court martial or military commits
ZION in the United States and sentenced
according to the law to imprisonment
therein."
Unlike institutions Of similar chara6-
ter, all possible liberty is allowed the
convict'. The 'sient system is not
in vogue except in working hours,
and even then speech Is allowed be-
tween the men on matters pcrtaining
to their tasks. Tho use of newspapers
and books Is not denied at times when
prisoners are not employed and uncifi
cial visitors are admitted to the prison
two days week. The prisoner may
| communicate with his friends on the
outside by letter and receive mail sub
ject to inspection by tho chaplain
Once week the convicts must bathe,
and they are supplied with an unlimit-
cd quantity of clean clothing. This
clothing is uniform OF gray the dis
tinctive marks being large red nun
Der placed on the blo1.
When a convict epters tho prison he
Is treated much II tho way usual to
such institutions. His face i3 shaved
and hair cut; he is bathed and given a
mum Der, which, while he is conf led is
his only cognomen Hencelorward he
is no longer Smith or Jones, but SAY
mo. 800" The prison physician then
takes him in hand, and even the most
minute personalities are noted
Oacc in tine rison the convict is in
charge of the provost guard, party Of
men assi.-s~d iv he seeretary Of war Or
- cd with aspecill eye to their fitness
sor the duty. Few of them are under
six feet in height AMI a majority are
men who have seen year, of hard service.
| These are the subordinate officers, and
tie only ones, excepting the chaplaia,
surgeon and comnandant. The latter
is Captain james w. Pope
Despite the easy discipline there are
few escapes from the prison. Perhaps
the law has something to do with the
vigilance OF the guards, as it makes the
escape of th3 prisoner pcral off9 s for
the guard.
Although there are 400 prisoners con-
fined, there are but thirty-six cells, two
of these being dark These dark cells
are the only punishment inflicted on the
prisoners, further than the cutting off
of "good timo, )"
New men are first placed in the cells.
If, after a while they m rit the favor,
they are sent to the dormitorios where
greater freedom Is allowed them. Pcs-
oners are divided into three classes, each
class being designated by di tinctive
badge attached to some coaspicu US
part of the outer garmo Of the prison
dress. On Icing assigned to a class
the prisoner is made acquainted with the
rules relating to the conduct and treat
ment of prisoners. Prisoners Of the
third class whose conduct may warrant
it arc promoted after ten days to the
second class. Prisoners Of the first class
arC<hose whose quit, orderly habits and
general good conduct in class second has
gained them the confidence of the Off
GERS. Promotions are made by the com
mandant.
The dormitorics differ little from the
quarters OF common soldiers. A row of
| iron cots. around which a broad aisle
runs, and separated from each Other by
a space of two feet, constitutes the
furniture. Daria: the day the beds are
made up Eich pli onor is allowed to
keep a box, provided by himself in
which he places such mcmentocs from
tho outer wor as be chooses, besides
some articles Of apparel other tha1 those
furnished by the prison. A grating
cuts off the guarl room from the sleep
ers, and at the same time furnishes an
easy view of the whole sleeping room.
/ During the day the prisoners are en-
/ ployed as the commaadant may elect,
but the greatest number at one employ
ment are in the shoe shop. This is in a
long room in the third story Of build
ing two hundred feet long. There is
made all the footwear for an army Of
fifteen thousand men, The enormous
number of shoes consumed may be seen
from the number made last year, when
II, 700 pairs of boots and G5, 421 pairs of
shoes were turacd out. A pair of cav
airy boots costs the government about
So 20, and pair of brass screwed calf
skin shoes 50. -
Next in order comes the harness shop,
where Uncle Sans amlulances riding
saddles, wagon saddles, aad incidentals
are made. The tin shop turns out tin
i plates, cups and all the ware needed by
the army, including COPPER boilers and
kettles 1t is all hand work, except
power cutting and stamping m~chine
The broom shop manufacturer these e.
ful articles, and no less than 90 600
brooms are turned out per aunum. The
prison carpenters manufacture barrack
chairs moss tables, benches, company
desks, ca.t sadll's, supporting sticks