The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-05-28

SEQ that nothing contfnbnnd has bsen
smugglsd In, and that tho interior h.s been
kept In roper order. The food for the
p%.,;oIe.s = p M whols " ~ s, Enc nosl ,",s.
sionets prescribe tho Bill Of fare for break.
fast. dinner ind suppsr for e0ch day 81
the week. ~ provides toy 80 much brand
and 90 much meat and 80 much everything
else for each prisoner. md IT ~ riRtdly 90.
hersd to. Where thcro 10 any departure ~
~ IN favor Of tho %convlcts.
A prison IN \ prison all tho world over.
Some are bctter managed than Others. no
houbt. but tho we'll meaning people WHO
dAvote much nf their time TO thsoriss about
the Improvements OF the conditions sur.
rounding prisons md ths .efo,mssion o.
thins In tho Montana penitentinry TO dis
cusa from that standpoint. and that y
the enforcsd idlensss. That, however, y
not the fault OF tho prison contrActorA nor
OF tho prison bo,rd. Frank Conlcy and
Thomas McIague. who hnvo tho contract
gained their knowledge through years OF
prncticAl experience. Thoy see TO u that
discipline 10 mnininin6d, and that u 10
done without any Unnecessary hnrehns.s.
Their close contact with the convict eIe-
ment has shown them that the large msjcr-
ity are men who can only DO restrained BY
tho strictest OF discipline. There are
misfortune and bad associations have been
brought to their present position. One and
nil are treated with the Same consideration
80 long rs they behave. and II 10 only with
the rules that ha'sher measuTes have to be
used. When a convict once realizes that
good behavior meaDs : month OF the
first year, Two from the second, thtsa
{ ON the third. four from the fourth.
five from the fifth. and ei1 from each suc-
oesdinR year, they see that II 10 better TO
behave and shorten their terms. Good be-
hsvior means even more than thst ~ times.
II means promotion from the idleness Of Z
call to the work which has to BE- done about
the place. whenever there 10 4 vacancy Ia
the kitchen, or about tho guards quarters.
or the other few odds and ends OF Jobs.
An attempt to escape folieits Al good tins !.
tho proper term. for II nevsr gets far be-
yond that. Though the walls are Of wood,
active and vigilsnt RuaIds are stationed In
the sentry boxes, with rifles. shot guns and
revolvsrs. should the prisoner even suc-
coed in burrowing under or climbing ever
his leave Of absence will be short. In a per
nenr one Of the watch towers are Frank
Conley's bloodhounds. A convict. no mat
tor how mysterious his disappestancs. II
sure to be missed in a short time. Ths
hounds are taken to his cell, allowed tc
bmoII Mn DSuuIIlXs 2uV WOOL 1tO RlV0u Wv
scent. They will follow IL unit.
they have the runaway freed. and
their loud and constant yelpina
will attract the pursuing guard TO the spot,
Only one Of the few who have succeeded IN
escaping has ever fooled the hounds. HI
must have taken to the waters OF the Deel
Lodge and thus destroyed the scent. HI
was finally captured, however. Another
thing the contractors deserve great credit
for is the cleanliness Of the prison. +.
The first wing of tho present prison al
Deer Lodge was built BY tho government
about twenty-two Years age. Before shat
time the territory had very little use tol
penitentiaries. Nen who stood in need Of
the corrective or restraining influence Of
prisons were generally, in the absence Of
such institutions. either hanged or sent out
of the community. TO send them to De
troit was too expensive. To the first wiuG
has been added a central or Administrative
building and another wing. As the two
wings filed up other buildings wore ersotet
in the enclosure. They are mostly Of logs,
but are both comfortable and strong.
The women nave a little building all Il
themselves. as have the ''trusties." A long
log building which accommodates the
overflow from the main building is fol
tho use of the short term men. The LONG
term men n the life term men are KEEP,
in the main building.