The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-06-10
Conflicting Statements in Reference to
Their Comfort, Cleanliness,
Clothing and Food.
A Nice Wrangle on Which We
Can Look With Perfect In
difference---We Present the
Testimony on Both Sides,
and Only Hope That the
Truth May be Known.
Serious Charges Against the Man
agement of COnvicts.
Watchman and Southron.

Mr. r II. Baker came rs far as Sumter
yesterday In charge OF sixty seven conVicts,
who have been working at tho construction
camp Of the {. >. n. Ralroau lot some
rhe line is now only within a very short
distance of BennettSville and during hi"h
water is impossible for the Railroad Con-
slruction Company to carry on the earth
work.
The State requires pay at the rate OF sl.25
per day for every convict whether thty
work or are idle, therefore II does not pay Inc
company to retain them at such heavy en-
peuse for so small n job and consequently
they are returning them to the Penltcntiary.
Having for some time past heard reports
from the highest authorities That the con-
victs under the present management were
being ill-treated and cared for we went down
to the depot with view of seeing ourselves
the condition Of those returning TO Colum-
We found them huddled together under
the shed at the depot, some lying on the
rough floor, some upon sacks OF guann ana
some leaning against the posts OF me shed,
dirty, detected dismal wretched look Ing,
nppnruntiy half starved creatures. One OF
them we were told by those in charge, named
William Gray, died yesterday afternoon SIX SIX
miles the other side OF Darlington near Pee
Dee He had been sick for several days pre-
ceeding his death with what was supposed to
be typhoid fever. The body was left with
colored man to whom was paid 81 burial ex-
penSes.
We are told that the wretched condition OF
these convicts is due to the miserable ana
meagre fare that Is do!ed out To Them by the
Penitcntiary authorities.
During Colonel LipScomb's Time that hn-
name and noble hearted gentleman gave his
immediate and personal attention 10 me
wants and necessities of these unfortunate
people. Hc made IT his duty to see that they
were provided with proper food ana drink
and that there was enough. He also made
It his special duty TO see to it that their diet
was frequently changed, and in Spring ana
g., hat nnplSInnlllv
provided cor them, ,
We are informed on the best authority thai
for months past these convlcts nave Deeh
given only the planest and coarsest corn
bred and very mean bacon, without any occa.
sional delicacy or change OF any SORT, bnt
this is not all. the fare is not only oi the
poorest and most indifferent character, bCt
half the time there Is such scanty supply
that the convicts don't get enough to cat, as
their Looks all too plainly indicate. Two OF
the men, Alex Wright and John Steele have
had cases of eropsy:, William Brnton's right
side is pnralyZed. Not to mention the nu-
mcrous other who have bad colds. There
are not more than half II dozen who have on
shoes and what they have are so worn and
broken as to DC unServiccable.
People can readily imagine what pain, and
hardship 1t must he to these poor creatures To
trump barefootcd through miles of country,
In all sorts of weather, over the roughcst
their way over the hills, through rocks,
canes, clay and brlars, grading, ditching.
shovclllng, hauling etc., without proper food
and clothing, and Il sufficient supply OF
either.
Not the slightest provision wns made by
the Pcnitentiury officials for their expense on
their return trip. There were no pots, no
pans. no meat nor bread nor anything. The
party left the railroad camp about noon
Monday, and the only meal the convict got
was breakfast Mt Darlington. absolutely
nothing, else, except what fell on them
through the charity of the people along the
way, and the gentleman who accompanied
ihcm MS far as Sumter.
Anyone who doubts the correctness OF the
above statement should have seen what the
writer saw at the Sumter depot yesterday
There was the unmiStakable and general
look of sQualor, misery and wretchedness
perrading the whole group and the lack o
humanity, and attention. were but too plain
ly visible. 1t was n sight to use the words
Of our dictator at which "The mind revolts
and the Imagination sick cnS.'
We have time and again seen the cOnvicts
at work on the canal In Columbia sometimes
as often as two or three months. We know
what their general condition was then. We
never saw any OF them anywhere look like
those did who passed through Sumter yeSter
day.
The Superintendent Lecturer, as we took
occasion 10 remark before had better STOP
gullivanling about the State, and attend tc
ikc business of the Penitcntiary. This mat,
ter should be Investigated AT once. and Il
the treatment of all the cOuvicts has been
like that in the case of those at the railroad
camp, he should be forthwith removed
such Il state Of things Is blot upon civiliza
ton.