Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-01
TIE DIFFERENT WORKSHOPS.

The different workshops Of the institution
were then visited. In one shirts were being
made. the most intelligent male prisoners be-
ing put upon this work, and the speed and dex-
terity with which the machines were run showed
no little skill In addition to the keeper in
charge the men were also under the instruc ton
OF regular shirt manufacturer. Near by was
the laundry, where the shirts were starched
and ironed. Forty shirts day man was con-
sidered capable of ironing, and this amount of
work was exacted. In this shop life convict
from Washington by the name Of Williams was
seen busily at work.
The chair shop was next visited and on the
way former prominent bank official Of Nor
foik, Va, was noticed teaching a number Of
simple-minded. decrepid negroes their B Cs.
In the chair shops cane-bottomed seats were
being made by the men, and another life man
from the District was observed instructing n
newly arrived man. In the adjoining shop
backing brushes were being made, in another
the prison clothes were washed and
noned The first impression made upon
the visitor in visiting the workshops was the
perfect system and discipline maintained and
the yigor with which every convict labored.
All work is done with not word spoken by
keeper or convict and when prisoner wishes
to make a request he first obtains permission
by holding up his right hand. The hours of
labor average eight the year round. Breakfast
IN summer is eaten at $50 am, dinner at noon
and supper at the close Of the days labor, the
latter meal being regulated by the season
OF the year. OF the us convicts which the
penitentiary contains ffty-one were females.
The women are clothed in blue and white
striped dresses, made exceedingly plain, and are
Tor the most part utilized as seamstresses,
cooks and chorewomen. Among those engaged
In sewing was white convict from Washing
ton doing five years for arson, and another was
one Of the two noted shoplifters sentenced Q
year or so ago, the other having escaped on a
technlcality. The superintendent private
cook was bright mulatto woman from Wash
inSton doing a second term for larceny.
THE HUNGRY CELL.
What are known as U. 8. prisoners formed
no inconsiderable number of the inmates The
q. s. prisoners usually come from the entire
south and east, and the District convicts
largely predominant in this class. Uncle
cents day for the board and
custody of each prisoner he sends there
and receives nothing in return. Inspectors
from the Department of Justice regularly
visit the prison and to them the gov
eminent convicts make, unheard by
they may have. II one might judge from the
appearance OF Superintendent McIntyres
charges and from all which was seen and heard
In the prison one would have no hesitation in
saying that there was no just ground for COM
plant. There is but one mode of punishment
inflicted, and that is incarceration in what is
called the hungry cell" This cell is small,
narrow one, utterly bare of furniture, with
no bedding but hard plank floor, and
as dark as the regions of evil. Dry bread and
water is the sole food given the occupant and
he Is visited but once in twenty-four hours. So
salutary is its effect that rarely is confinement
for more than twenty-four hours therein found
necessary.
view Of one of these dark cells completed
the tour OF the prison. and bidding the genial
and his wife goodbye We were
driven to the night boat for New York behind
ms hnest team. As we left the grim old prison
a young colored man who had Just completed
a three-years' term for robbery did also A suit
OF new clothes, railroad ticket to Washington
and 20 in money was furnished him, and as he
left In company with the officer who was to see
HIM on the train the superintendent shook
hands with him and said that he hoped never
TO see MIN there again. X. W. u.