Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1889-02-09

L
who was on visit East. He inform
ed me that he was holding lucrative
position in Leadvile and was also pro-
prletor of a cigar store in that town.
His brother Mesh" was with him as
manager of his store. Both boys are
noble fellows, and the eX-inspector of
coal mines can justly be proud of such
sons. Another one of his boys who
promised TO visit me few yeaIs ago
Is Thomas. Who does not remember
Tom Bright, shrewd, and genial
companion, | am sure there is not IL
man who has ever met him but liked
him. He is now in Texas, and you
can put it down that he is doing we'll
am about through with the boys
and will endeavor to write about some
thing else.
Let me just here congratulate your
paper and It's correspondents in expos
ing to view the so-called school system
of Allegany county. | agree with
them and will say that here is at least
one Baltmorean who desires to see IA
change there and live people put
where the dead-wood now exists.
visited the State penitentiary yes
.
the spacious reception room by deputy
warden Purnell we were placed in
the hands of another bluecoat who
safely plloted us throughout the va
nous departments. | say we
for there were twelve in the party.
Before we passed through the inner
gate we each contributed % cents to
he support of the library and then
the gate was opened and closed behind
us with "a click which meant that tol
The time being we were prisoners.
The first place to which our guide
took us was the foundry, where num-
Der OF convlcts were at work moulding
and finishing large iron kettles. Their
prison suit was the black-and- d-white
stripes with cap of same material.
Some looked bright and happy, others
looked despoudent, while many had
vicious faces. Our guide would point
them out with the remark hes here
for murder or "that fellows cot 10
wears for arson :" "he killed his wife :"
"he is Il burglar y ''he is bigamist.'
and so on al Hbitum. AS we approach
ed them they would remove their caps
and staud bareheadcd until we passed.
Visitors are not allowed to speak to
them. but they have the privilege of
talking to each other provided they
do it III subdued tones.
From the foundry we visited the
marble shops, thence into the wood
and wiliow-ware department. This is
in charge of &. h. Brewington, one of
the peasantest fellows | have ever
met. The men under him seemed to
love him fondly and he was kind with
his severity.
From this department we crossed
the yard and passed into a building
where the convicts who are not under
contract work are allowed to congre-
gate. The room was II large one and
the men were sitting around with Il
listless and dull expression on their
faces. Passing near the stove | saw
seated in big chair John Shaw, of
your place. He was the picture of
abject misery. He is far from being
well, and his confinement is telling
on him. To his right was sitting Il
man who few years ago was known
us the Jesse James of Carroll coun-
ty." He is short in stature and lame,
yet he has killed his brother and at
tempted to kill his mother. He was
the recognized leader of Il gang of
roughs, nearly all of whom are "doing
time" for the State in this institution.
Passing through this room we en-.
tered IA court and then we climbed up
into the dlningvroOm. Here we saw
several prisoners getting the tables
ready for the 62O convicts. Among
them was ''hfe man." an old colored
man named Scott, who is serving a
life sentence for poisoning his wife.
Everything was scrupulously neat and
clean and each man had quart cup
placed before him for his coffee. The
supper consists of bread and coffee
and salt. Breakfast the same with
the exception that molasses is given
them ON tin plate. For dinner they
have bread and a quart of soup, and
lin the soup Is liberal allowance of
meat. The food is nutritious and well
cooked.
Above the dining-r room is the Sun
day School room and library. The Ii.
brary contains a large number of
splendid works by the best authors.
There is an absence of trashy stuff
and light reading, but it embraces his
torical, scientific and biblical liIera-
ture. One of the most popular works
there is ben Hur" Such works as
THE Quick or the Dead She" and
others of that ilk cannot be found in
the prison library. Above the Sunday
School room is the chapel. 1t is used
alternately by Protestants and Catho-
hes. 1t is well lighted and cheerful.
The pews have cushioned seats and
backs, and IA handsome pipe organ
stands in the corner. The choir is
composed of convlcts. and we were in
, formed that there are some magnifi-
cent voices among them.
Descending from this room we pass
out into another yard and thence into
the kitchen, where three large vessels
holding hundreds of gallons are plac-
ed over the hot pipes. In these the
meals are prepared. An old white
haired man is chief cook aud has a
number of colored assistants.
From the kitchen we entered the
dormltory, or penitentiary proper. for
here is the home of the inmates. Tier
upon tier of cells rise above us. AT
some of the gratings peering at US
were the faces of such noted criminals
as Hungry Joe," the bunco steerer /;
Spencer, the Allegany murderer, and
many others. Directly in the centre
is the desk of the chief deputy ward