Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-03-21

sSSh ~ Wv OutldAhE liCNh olh @SANbts
Ewenty-one hundred and nine prisoners
were there on the day visited. At
they consume 80 bushels Of pota-
toes and 1,2U0 pounds of fresh beef. On
fish days it takes 1900 pounds of fish.
We went through the kitchens. The |
cooking Is done by convicts. Indeed all |
of the work incident to housekeeping
seems to be done by gangs of convicts,
and place among the cleaners, walters,
cooks, Sc, would appear to be, if not
exactly q soft snap, at least a softer
snap for prison bird. noticed
darkey With his banjo, sitting in the cor.
ridor with four or five darkeys around
him-all in their striped suits. A small
gang OF men, who were in the dining
room were also at their ease.
The eitchen, with its huge caldrons
for boiling meats and vegetables and
with other extensive cooking apparatus,
WIS interesting. The bake oven had
2s0 big double loaves in it. The bread
was good, but cannot lavish praise on
the butter. The meat was as good as
we see at home in the market. The
cold storage room was filled with quar-
tiers Of beef. The authorities buy their
beef on the hoof and do their own
butchering.
As bookkeeper for the superintendent
of the kitchen, found convict who
interested me greatly because he was
newspaper man, formerly editor of a
Columbus newspaper. He is Bill Elliott,
and he is in prison for life. His brother,
Patrick Elliott, is in for 90 years. Mr..
Elliott received me with fraternal
courtesy. Apropos of the State from
which hail, he remarked that he had
met Mr.. Bayard. In the campaign of
1884 when Mr.. Bayard came 10 Columbus
to make a speech, Elliott was detailed
| by the committee TO escort Mr.. Bayard,
and pilot him through tue courtesies and
demonstrations by which his presence
was honoced. That was long before
4 Elliott's pistol had undone him.
Elliotts paper gave prominence to
sensations and scandals. A newspaper
war sprang up between him and another
newspaper man named Osborne, aud
Osborne published something scandal
Gus about Elliott's dear ones. Not able
himself to endure what others had often
suffered from the columns of his paper,
he swore that he would kill Osborne
| III hhb blObANA hbIASh hlllGA hllL
on the crowded streets, and in doing SC
wounded and killed others who had nc
share in the quarrel.
Elliotts gift in saying sharp things
flashed out in our short interview. MIR
Miller, the steward, said:"I was saying tC
Mr.. Handy that among those who CONT
here we sometimes get good fellows
His tone was patronizing, though kindly
meant. Elliott took il up instantly ant
said to me with significant emphasis
"And we sometimes get good steward.
Then turning to Mr.. Miller: snow W,
are even"
The number of Misunderstanding
well-spoken, honest.appearing peopl
who were wearing stripes amazed me
A fine specimen OF s.alwart young man
hood is life prisoner named Smith
His case is notorious in Ohio from tn
fact that he four times got ready TO b
hung and was four times respited Tn
last time, he was on the scaiTold wit
his legs strapped together when tn
news came that Governor Campbell ha
committed his sentence to life imprison
ment.
In the tailor shops they make th
striped suits which convicts wear an
the neat going away SUIT of citizen
clothes. No bride | fancy, takes create
joy in her going-away gown than a cor
, Wet does i'll his going away clothe!
When discharged prisoner gets me-
I suit of clothes, ticket TO the place froi
, whence he came and So in cash. Varne,
by profession an architectural draught
man, and once at least IA diamond THE
is head cutter i'll the tailoring depar
ment.
! In an adjoining room tobacco
q manufactured into chewing plugs fl
! the convicts. They generously CAV
me a sample plug, like those distribute
n to the prisoners twice week. Smol
n ing is not allowed, but chewing ls
, permitted consolation. | shall brin
\ home the plug that my friends ma
i, have chance to test the quality of t.
4 bacco they may use when Justice
e given them in Ohio.
4 Within the outside walls OF the Oh
=. Penitontiary 20 acres are filled vii
!. shops OF various kinds. The State pu
i. up the buildings, contractors put in Il
il machinery and bargain with the Sta
for so many men for 50 many years
:. SO much per day. The contract pri
/. for the convict labor has varied from
IL to rs cents day. We went throuc
lie fnrnSr;ns snoS.s wbnrn hrjIa II, :.
:, r1oJo 81 n,t9r, f,,r $3.50 ~ Di'' :"
y ",iti a"nthnr sl,t,n tbaH ~. ~" ~. :,
al rl,,j onaI;,y ~ chair9 y III MAJ aH'
4 i'm rnrS,arly sn,,mnrt"i iteclf r. pI ny,
~ +" isa3 thora ,Sas sIrtlns n e., 81 - M
- III, voar tbrrc w.s Gatiri, ~ sS0i
a. Th;s ynS, thn Jntn;t Is n~nnct t -, r roo
Us siN0 iG9 go - 80 " ="
r.. Tt5iTJ ~ r,,s,ro h,. coma fro,, tho oo.i
Il oe nv. Torjs Iotmro IN rnanir;nr 81" Ill =,
ru "a 'tiS ~ 5'7t"'ut" a. '~i"i,tHS H'.