Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-07-05
SIGHTS IN A BIG PRISON.
4 LOOK THROUGH THE ONO
STATE PENITENTIARY.


STATE PENITENTLARY.
THE WAY A CONVICT is INITIATED
AMONG THE UNITED STATES
PRISONERS IN THE INSTITUTION
ARE MANY PAMOUss COUNTER
FEITERs AND OTHER GRIM
INALS.
The Ohio State penitentiary
stands on the east bank of the
Scioto River, says the Columbus
correspondent of the Washington
Post, and occupies an area of TWEEN
ty.eight acres. 1t has accommoda'
tions for 1000 prisoners, and its
population ranges from 1900 to
800. Quite number OF the con
victs are Uncle Sans prisoners.
AS we entered the guard.rOom, a
large cage.llke apartment, from
which the cells branch out, a
couple of deputy marshais arrived
from Tennessee with seven-foot
moonshlner condemned to serve a
term of three years. 1t was sug-
gested that perhaps the best way
to become acquainted with the
routine of prison life would be to
follow him up in his progress to the
workshop to which he would be as
signed.
The handouts aud shackles be.
ing removed from the prisoner, he
was surrendered to the warden,
who, upon receiving his commit
ment, turned him over to a subor-
dinate. BY this officer he was
searched for valuables and contra.
band articles. The old fellow didn't
have anything worth retaining.
From the guardrOom he was es'
corted to the deputy warden's
office, which is situated IN the front
side of the chapel building. Here
his description was taken, down to
the minutest detail. HIS name,
age, place Of birth, nationality,
lamily connections, height, color OF
hair, eyes, and every distinguishing
peculiarity of form and feature in
cluding an ink.mark, was regis
tered in a book kept for this es'
pecial purpose. Measurements OF
the arms, hand, fingers, feet, and
great toe were also made and noted
IN this book. This was done to
aid in his recapture should he ever
escape. In less than twenty-four
hours his description would be in
the hands of every police officer of
/ the state.
! The descriptive notation con-
/ cluded, the convict was taken to
the Office of the chaplain, where
his name, age, and religious faith
we're noted. lie was informed by
the chaplain that he could attend
Sunday school and prayer meeting
if he desired to do so, by having a
ticket to that effect placed upon his
door. He was also gwen num-
Der, by which he was to be known
until his release. He was then
taken TO a tOnsOrial artist, who
gave his halr the regulation cut
and removed his mustache. This
required mutilation of his pbysiOg
nomy seemed to annoy him, Tor he
turned TO the convict barber with
an appealing look.
The next point in the initiatorJ
journey was the State shop, ;wher(
the novitiate was supplied with
suit of regulation stripes Before
donnlng his new clothing he wal
taken TO the bath.house, frou
which he emerged in few min
utes. cleansed and clothed in thu
dress of a full -nedged convict, an'
looking so different from his forme
self that it would have puzzled hi
family or friends to recognize him
A visit to the hospital was mex
in order, for the purpose of de
terminlDg what class OF labor hi
physical condition best fitted hin
for. The medical examination con
cluded the initiatory ceremony ant
then the moon sinner was assignee
to one of the shops.
There is quite a variety IN tn
number OF ind ustrles pursued with
in the walls of the institution. Th
best men physically are assigned t
the fOundries, of which there ar
four-twO for the manufacture o
hollow ware, one for stoves, AM
the other for saddlery hxlng'
: These shops are run both upon tn
piece price and contract plan. Mel
p OF lighter build go to the Dol
works or hoe shop, and for the sic
and in6rm there Is a char Gaming
cigar making, toy manufacturing
and various other light emplo.
ments.
The Federal prisoners cannot
employed upon contract labo
which makes their lot more plea
ant than that of the ordinary col
vict. a great many of them al
employed on the State account
the WOODEN and Touring mills,
the State shop where all the co
, vict clothing is made and repaire
in the yard and stables, hosplt
D., halls, and in Offices and other u
productive positions.
Il. i. Harper, who is the king
;. the convicts, was found at work {
. roll-top desk in the secretary