Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-16
walled Up I'm . Living Tomb During the
Term of Their Solitary Confinement-Most
Of Them Die or Become Idiots OF Lunatics-
Some Specimen Cases.

hNE OF IhE iNSIIIb Or his
" famous capital to which the citizens point
with pride is their model penitentiary. It's an
enormous structure of red brick-a rare build
ing material in these parts, the houses being
universally of stone or adobe, covered with
grayish plaster-surrounded by q massive wall
of the same, on top Of which soldiers are con-
tinually pacing to and fro. The visitor hardly
knows whether to be most impressed by the
immensely of the concern. it being nearly large
enough to hold the entire population, its scrup-
ulous cleanliness or the dead silence that pre-
walls, as unbroken as if there were not a living
creature within hundred miles, though at
present there are about 1000 human beings in
side the walls
Asour little party filed in, between a double row
of glittering bayonets and the great iron gates,
closing with a crash of bolts and bars, shut us
in among the criminals, the usual stale jokes,
common to such occasions, were exchanged.
First we were conducted into a large. well FUR
nished reception room. lined on all sides from
floor to ceiling with thousands of photographs.
Every prisoner must have his picture taken
on entering this place and again when he
leaves. and these are put IN cases on the walls,
each labeled with its number. During his pri-
son life the convict is known by that number
only, and never hears his name. The records
are kept in a score of big bOoks-eaeh man
number being followed by his name, the par
ticulars Of his crime and everything pertaining
10 his history that can be ascertained.
THE RoGUEs' GALLERY.
Gazing around this rogues' gallery my atten-
ton was attracted by two fresh and handsome
young faces, evidently those of husband and
wife, and asked the superintendent who they
were. II will soon tell you all about it." said
he. Taking down one of the big books he ran
his finger down the pages till the number on
fha rRhn NH WA
continued This case, i remember, was a
rather interesting one. They were newly mar
ried, down in Valdivia; q couple who stood high
socially and Of whom everybody thought we'll.
Want of money was their undoing. For a
small amount of it the husband murdered an
aged relative and the wife assisted in hiding
the corpse. They had funds enough to fight
the law in all the courts, but after repeated
trials he was sentenced to be shot, she to be
compelled to witness her husbands execution
and then to remain in prison tapyea longer"
The sentence was carried into effect and the
story may be clearly read in the photographs.
Next to the youthful couple Is a picture OF the
criminal taken on the day OF his execution, the
wild ewes and haggard face showing that he
realized his doom; and beyond that Is the face
Of the widow, ten years later, prematurely
old woman, with the expression of one who has
nothing to hope for. F. 49,.
An rNNoczyT-LooKINe MuRDERKn.
Another face was that Of an innocent-looking
hghtheartsd school boy, apparently not more
than seventeen years old. Certainly this was
never criminalg' said l. "He was one Of the
worst ever knew, replied the superintendent.
'.In 1t Of rage he beat his fathers brains out
because the latter refused to let him ride
fsvorite mare; and then deliberately murdered
his mother, because she knew Of the facts and
might tell them He WAS condemned to be
shot seven years ago..
Truly, this gruesome art gallery upsets ones
idaaa ab0ut the face beln o an rda M oh
eyes the windows Of the soul, and all that sort
Of thing, for the most hardened wretches of
the lot wear looks Of baby innocence! There
are great many women in the collection and
We are told that the so-called ''gentler'' sex Of
South America commit large proportion Of
the murders-jealousy being the moving cause
IN THE WORKSHOPS.
Then we went to the workshops, through
huge iron gates with ponderous locks and bars,
each guarded by soldiers with loaded muskets
into an immense circular patio or inner court
yard, surrounded by massive arches. Each
arch. closed by another iron gate and guarded
by soldiers, IL the entrance to a smaller ward
in the rear of which Is the shop: Between
these minor patios are high walls of red brick
like those outside, and on the top Of them
watchful sentinels are forever pacing so that
no man could stir out Of his place in any part
Of the grounds without being instantly COW
cred by gun barrel. There seems to be no
tendent said that during the seventeen years
he has been here not . single attempt has
been made.
In the shops everybody was working silently
and steadily, his eyes bent upon his work, not
awhisper being permitted or a moments pause
of the busy fingers But when we entered, at
signal from the overseer Of each department.
every man made . military salute and remained
standing until permission was given to res me
work. Among the hundreds Of prisoners one
- " all w had faea and -
seem to have been made so by some Careless
ness Of dame nature in cutting out their fea-
lures There were q few with the Cain-mark of
crazy Guiteau-abnormal creatures born 10
crime, and therefore perhaps NO more reepon-
sible for their deeds than other lunatics
Doubtless the iron hand Of environment-the
force Of circumstances that none Of us can "a
cape-led most Of these into error II ia a
question sad As pulling whether crime should
be treated as disease, sort Of mental or moral
leprosy, and . cure sought rather than a pun
iahmept
BErrER TREATED THAN BEFORE
Certain it is that if the majority Of CHILEAN
Rotos (tbe word literally translated meaning
ragged people" here used to designate the
poorer CLASH, we're confined for Q term OF
years in santiago peritentiary, their condition
would be vastly bettered. They would be sure
Of shelter, sufficient food and clothes enough 10
cover their nakedness-very uncertain bless-
ings in their present state; besides being com.
PEELED TO keep tolerably clean for the first time
In their lives. and made to work at some thino
useful All are obliged to learn trades-black.
smithing. carpentering. shoemaking, &c. There
IL q school, also, where even the oldest and mos,
densely ignorant are taught to read and write
and . chapel where all receive religious in.
struction- After year or two here the Rotc
who came in ragged, dirty and worthless 20 !
degree, may 60 forth clothed and in his right
mind, having formed new habits Of industry
and with Q resource against future want in the
trade he has learned
How THEY EARN MONEY
Nor is this all Those who never in thei,
palmiest days Of freedom possessed doIla,
that they did not steal, may setuaIIy have
money laid up with which to begin life anew
Good conduct does not count here toward
shortening ones term. but extra diligence in
veLt-doing u paid for In money. The men arr
kept steadily at work, but By exer<ina them
ssives they may easily accomplish much more
than the amount required, and for eyery EFT,
bat thsy are fairly paid. In the shoe depart
ment for example, the contractors, Who IA,
the government so much per annum for work
ing the prisoners, encourage the men - thei,
best efforts BY keeping careful account o.
exactly how much each accomplishes ever,
day. Asrpulated sum 10 paid for 90 much work
and II . man doubles or trebles the amount. y
many do, 10 v % much better for AL concerned
A workman easily makes from 20 4.
Wssss dAy, aud The amount u charged /