The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-12-12
StillzUater Minn., Thursday Dec. y, 1889.

of the State one hundred thousand dollars a
year for the privilege. When some Northern
ers at the recent Prison Congress expressed
horror at the renewal of this contract in the
light of modern knowledge on the subject
of convict mines. they were met with the
reply, ''ThiS company is almost entirely
made up of your NOthern men; and if there
is special cruelty in connection with it, it is
the Northern fOremen who are the most
brutal, as were the Northern slave drivers
and Overseers in the days of slavery"
Access to these prison camps, or "branch
prisons" as they are commonly called, is
not easy. We met in Nashville a judge
who had long wanted to see the inside of
stOckade where many persons whom he
had condemned to prison were confined. but
had never been able to do SO. A newspaper
man, who had spent his entire life in the
State, and was well known as courageous
Confederate officer, and everywhere re-
Spected for his manly worth. had been many
and many time to the entrance but had
never had chance to cross the threshold
till last week. Perhaps it may be welcome
news to the people who hate to be inter-
viewed to know that there is one spot on
earth safe from the intrusion of the news
paper reporter.
During the session of the Prison Congress
an invitation was extended to the members
to visit the branch prison at Tracy City. at
the summit of the Cumberland Mountains,
about hundred and ten miles from Nash
vile. 1t was an all day trip; and transport
tatiOn each way and dinner at the mines
were included in the invitation.
About twenty-five accepted: and the start
was made early, while the clouds we're
pouring down floods of water on the still
sleeping city. Several times during the day
the sun broke out and gave us charming
glimpses of the hills and valleys. The
mountains were thickly wooded; but the
trees were bare, except the oaks. whose
rustic leaves shivered in the cold wind
The wellwashed leaves of the ever-present
laurel fairly shOne, and the mOsseS and
lichenS and mistletOe all looked their best.
The coal mine is horizontal one directly
at the top of the range, which is about
twenty-five hundred feet above the sea level.
Only three hundred convctS are worked
here; while the great bulk of the labor is
done by whites and free niggers." as they
are significantly called, showing that there
is an innate consciousness of bondage
more than mere Imprisonment implies,
which the other negroes suffer.
The cOnvlcts are divided into groups ac-
cording to their work. Some 90 into the
mines and dig down the black coal and pile
it up in little cars, which are drawn out by
mules; and some burn it in great coke ovens
which line the way for more than half
mile. The men are all in striped clothing,
and are guarded from watch-houses where
all day and night sits man with loaded
gun in his hand.
The work is not arduous. Able bodied
men would not be hurt by the task assigned
so we are assured by the physician in
charge. There has been an improvement
in this respect in many mines. though men
are everywhere whipped for not accomplish
ing their task. This failure may be from
lazineSs or ugliness or from disability 1t
is fact, according to DR.. Cunningham of
the Alabama prisons, that very few cOlored
convicts are physically we'll when received;
and life in the mines. with the attendant
modes of existence, does not tend to
improve their health.
The stockade is a barren bit of ground
surrounded with a high wooden fence,
within which are coarse, rough buildings
for cooking. eating. bathing, and sleeping.
The company had had forty eight hours in
which to clean house for the reception of it's
guests and had evidently made the most of
its opportunity. All that white wash could
do within and without had been done. 1t
had had hardly chance to dry. and we un-
Intentionally robbed them of more or less
which we carried away on our clothes; but
it gave sweetness to the place which was
doubtless an agreeable change to those ca
pable of appreciating the difference The
kitchen was small room, with great caul-
dron in which several bushels of onions
were simmeriDg in bacon fat. This, with
corn bread, was to be the dinner, and it
smelled very good; but it would have been
more inviting to the taste if the stick with
which the black cook was stirring it had
not been so near his own color. Unfortu-
nately. they could not whitewash that!