The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1892-11-30
STYLES Is MAD,
AND MAKES GRAVE CHARGES
AGAINST THE DADE COAL MINES.

AGAINST THE DADE COAL MINES
Prisoners Are Afraid to Talk Because
What They say Is Caught Up by the
Guards, and Used to Their Detri-
ment Thereafter.
From the Atlanta Constitution.
Styles, the colored member from Lib
erty county, is a member of the peniteu-
tiaIy committee.
He is so full of his subject that he can
not await the report of the full commit
tee, and presents the following on his
own account.
Atlanta, Ga, November 20, 1870
the Public Press: have just returned
from an inspection of the Georgia pen
itentiary. We visited the Dade coal
mines and the Chickamauga coal miRe
camps.
4 Close Examination.
We, the.committee, examined very care
fully the condition of things here. On
entering everything presented apparent
ly fine appear ance, considering where
the prisoners are generally kept. But
on examination we found their condition
was sad, sad sight to look upon. Great
numbers of them were sick from having
to work in water in caves two or three
hundred feet under the ground, where
the water trinklNs down upon the ground
upon their heads and whore they stand
in water from ankle to knee deep all
pleG coal which falls upon them from
ine blastings, from which they cannot
escape. The smoking gases are 50 stag
nating that il is utterly impossible for
the poor benighted convicts to get pure
air to breathe. The majority of them
were clad in new SUITS" as the author
tiles knew Of the coming of the legisla-
tive )mmittee. Others were nigh naked
and had to work and sleep in the same
meager apparel in wet condition.
"Thev Would Give Him He'll"
This immediate information was given
me by white prisoner, who said he
E'knew they would give him hell when
we left, but he did not care if they did,
for he would rather be dead and in hell
than in there, for it could be no worse
This white convict is well known in the
state, and l would call his name
were it not for the fact that he would be
severly punished for having given me
this information.
1t is impossible for our committee 10
get the full information desired by the
state of the condition Of the sufferers,
for fear of their punishment when we
are gone.
Watched by the Guards.
The contractors and guards follow the
committee all through the camps, 50 as
to know what each poor sufferer has to
say, and the cunvicts are afraid to give
us all the facts for fear of cruel treat
ment after the committee has gone.
If there is any hell on earth it is the
Dade coal mines, where these poor I'M
fortunate prisoners are So inhumanly
treated.
The laws of our great state upon whose
shield is inscribed, "Wisdum, Justice,
Moderation,' were not enacted to allow
or permit her prisoners TO he 50 brutally
dealt with, and feel well assured that
were the facts known, were the condi-
tioE of the camps well understood by
the people, Georgia would rise up in her
majesty and crush out the system that
tOierates such cruelty to human flesh.
At the Chickamauga Camps.
At the Chickamauga camps the CON
ditious are the same, except in the con
dtion of the quarters and the clothing.
The prisoners are allowed to change
their clothing at night at this camp.
In both camps the food is too scanty
for the hard labor they have to 80.
Now, l want to say that do not at
tempt to make a report for the commit
tee in what have said, but l am only
giving my individual impression of what
I heard and saw.
Finally, in justice to humanity, l de-
clare that these things ought not so to
be. | close now till the committee re-
ports, after whic you will hear from
me again. Very Respectfully,
W. T.. STYLES, Of Liberty.