San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-11-17

my self resp6J--Lnd determined TO serve out
my sentence patiently. The penitentiary
was at Huntsville, 400 miles away by rail,
and there were eighteen OF us TO GO. The
method used in transporting us is the method
still in vogue in Texas, and challenge penal
history, with the exception of that of the
galleys of Toulon, to furnish a parallel to it
in brutality. Iron collars, weighing at least
five pounds, were riveted around our neclSs,
we were stood in double file and then yanled,
two and two, to a long chain that ran down
the center. Imagine a vertebra with eigh,
teen ribs, and one has a fair idea of the ar
rangement, but no words can convey the
sense of degradation, the brutalizing horror
and shame that even the most callouS feel
upon becoming part of this sad and sinister
procession. Handouts were snapped on
each man and, bending and stumbling under
our chains, we were driven through the jeer-
ing crowds up to a smoking car side tracked
for us, and the journey began
1t was a terrible one. The central chain
was long enough to stretch from seat to seat
as we sat, two abreast and nine rows deep,
but If any man moved his head he would jerk
the necks of those before and behind him,
and a quiver would pass along the whole
tine. In fact, the last two men were chained
up so short that they could barely sit on the
extreme edge of their seat by craning their
necks as far front as possible, and in this
posture they rode the whole 400 miles To
sleep was out of the question, and when one
moved the whole clankIng, cursing, miserable
mass moved with him. We got some bread
and meat once on the trip, which lasted ex-
actly twenty-six hours
Hnol ly r
trembling like child, tears of sheer agony
were running down my face, and 1 tried as
best could with my manacled hands to hold
the cruel collar away from my neck, which
it had chafed raw. The rest OF the men were
in scarcely better shape, and our joints were
so stiff from sitting nearly motionless for a
day and night, that we could with diff
Guilty walk AS we were getting out of the
car stumbled and pulled over ano her man,
half strangling myself at the same time
Instantly the nearest guard rained down
shower of kicks upon me.
"Pve noticed you shamming," he shouted.
Wait till we get you in the walls"
The walls WIS the slang name for the
prison and tins lutte episode fixed my status.
| was reported as sly, cunning rascal, fond
of subterfuge, and III this light my conduct
was viewed, and all my little mistakes and
failures were prejudged. 1t was not long be-
fore the constant misery of my life blotted
out every sentiment except a dull determine
ton to escape at the first opportunity.
was put TO work for while IL the stove
factory at Huntsville, but as the summer
opened gang of us were let out to a con
tractor to work in a wood camp about fifty
miles away.
'Be careful Of this man." said one of the
deputies, pointing me out to the contractor;
hes a slick conniver and apt 10 make you
trouble
"Ill bore hole through him if he does"
replied the other.
So with this recommendation / was intro
duced to the camp. 1t lay in the midst Of
thick belt of woods, and was guarded by q
Gordon of sentries, exactly as a military post.
The men slept in log barracks, and the work
consisted altogether of chopping and c0rdiLg.
The tasks were severe the puniShments ex-
cessive and the food and sanitary arrange
ments of the place abominable Although
chains and shackles were dispensed with,
there were no escapes, for not only were the
guards instructed to fire unhestatingly in
such q case, but in one corner Of the camp
was a kennel containing twenty blood
hounds. None of the convicts were allowed
to give these dogs food or become familiar
with them on pain Of a flashing, but l often
saw them, and they looked very much like
settlers, dead liver colOred, small in size and
sleek of hide, with rather sharp pointed
noses Thier was nothing at all formidable
about their appearance, but dreadful stories
were circulated of their ferocity.
Fan Was coming on ana II wGS getting
"Dsu waeI one evening | escaped 1t WIS
unexpected EGd Sruvi.2teI into q water
:arlhI, amt had gone, just about dusk, to Il
SPRING neu the Outskr,s Of the camp. AS
nearei it the guard at that point passed me
~nd said as he passed me: Jim, Pm glad
n"re I've upcn feeling sick " Then
it faShe! on me that Ge mistook me in the
gloam for the relief guard, it was a chance
that might never come again dropped my
bucket and quickly walked away.
Now, this WAS my position; | was in
wO0d in a strange, tbjnlE settled country
that did not know haSct0nvict's stripes
on my back, and rot a c2u,Sty ~'-aapon in
my pocket. and knew thy
sure 10 be discovered il
when the roll would De Sence.
long c,ances, hut deatr SS$oroceed-
would he Preferable to - = today
ishment. The thing = =
space as possible betN s&;S~pear-
camp before the alarm, ai> IS csadY
taking a southeasterly dne\ - ord e
stars chose the thick Of the "ooSc,, ,er
chan the open, for from the time %, The
guard The hloodhounds had nerer beet at of
my mind an instant, and knew
that the trees would sPiOusly hrhar
rasS the riders v-hO Cnlb-s,- thoS' mack
1t is generally supposed that blood