San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-03-14

those OF 2492, and then he loses MS
personal identity and by that
number he is alone known. This
plate Is about 2X4 inches and is al
ways borne prominently on the
left breast. His moustache and
hair are then shaved, unless he is
there for less period than one
month, and he is escorted to the
cell that he is to lodge in during
his term of imprisO nment.
This cell has a number
and a piece of yellow calico 4 in
ches square with large black letters
and figures indicating the number
Of the cell, letter of the ward, is
sOwn in the centre of the back of
his coat. He is then given the
supper according to his diet card,
fixed to the back of his cell door
that details his name, age, crime,
sentence, cOnVicting magistrate,
and has a column for the record of
the good and bad marks earned
each day by the prisoner. He is
locked up to solitary rejecting, and
often tears for the night"
"At the sound of the prison bell
at a. m. next morning he has to
rise, put away his bed and clean
his cell. This cell is of brick and
iron, with arched roof, black as
phaltum floor, and is supplied with
water closet, connected wash
basin, brass hydrant, and brass
gas Jet. In some cases, when not
otherwise entitled to hammock
and bedding, a wooded plank bed
is on the floor. The cell is furnish
ed with a small square wooden
table, a three-legged stool and in
the corner is three triangular state
shelves. The first is for the ham,
mock and bedding neatly strapped
in a roll. The second is for the
Bible, prayer and hymn book,
which is all he has to read unless
he is entitled to the privileges of
goodie-goOdie "library." On the
third shelf is his wooden salt box,
spoon, tin plate, and towel
folded in a small box
are his cleaning rags and
utensils. By Z o'clock all must be
clean and tidy, brass work bright,
all wood work clean, the asphalt
um floor polished and everything
in its place or he is fined at inspec-
ton. Then he gets his breakfast.
At o'clock some are let out for
work. Some are fortunate to have
work at their own trades or in
cleaning the interior of the prison,
that is the easiest task. Others
make mats or brushes, but these
are confined to their cells, all day,
with exception of one hours ex-
ercise in the yard each day. Most
other prisoners have to go to the
mill or pick Oakum in their cells.
The strongest, or most vicious, are
selected for the mill-that is the
tread mill-and that ! tell you is
an awful punishment. The mill
yard has two big wheels on either
side, and on this wheel are shelves
that are as steps, and the prison
ers, by stepping on them, cOntinu-
ally keep the wheel in motion. In
front of the wheel are boxes about
two feet wide, and in each are two
prisoners, alternately one goes on
the wheel for ten minutes and then
sits down. Ten minutes don't
seem long, but it is just
like walking up stairs, and
you imagine doing this every al
ternate ten minutes for seven and a
half hours each day, and you will
realize what this means. 1t is so
severe that even strong men give
way under it, and men who cannot
do it are at once excused to see the
doctor, but if he is playing off he
gets punished for it. This wheel
grinds the wheat for prison bread,
or wind with frightened gear. Few
men are kept at this punishment
not more than three months, and
many are excused at one and two
months. Long termers" are eX-
cused, as prejudICial to their
health, and are taught a trade, so
as TO help themselves when re-
leased. The next worst punishment
is picking oakum, for this means
solitary confinement, and the per-
fOrmanCe of an arduOus task. Three
pounds Of old ships ropes are
given each day. These ropes have
been tarred, used at sea for years,
and as hard as iron, and yet every
thread Of fibre has to be separated
by hand, all the tar removed and
the fibre to be returned as fine as a
hair, or the prisoners are punished
by reduced diet and the loss of
good marks, and consequently of
privileges they would otherwise
I enjoy. This nunishment is so hard