The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-13
GALLEY SLAVES OF GEORGIA.
, NEW EXPOSE OF THE HORRORS
OF THE CONVICT CAMPS.

a
the subject 10 the LegisIature-Ac-
.ompanying 1t is the Report of n
sneciaI Agent Appointed TO Make
an InvestigatiOn-The Prisoners in
MANY Instances Half Starved and
without Proper Clothing or sleep
tpr Accommodations No Fires
provided in Winter and Medical
attention Almost Entirely Lack
ing.
Atlanta, Ca. Nov. 12.-Just before the
.7i5urnment of the lower House of the
f.gtslature to-day Gov Atkinson sent in
a special message on the subject of mis-
5.r7eanor convicts. The message, which
t7cludes the report of the special agent
endowed by the governor to make the
srvsstiga ton, is a highly important docu-
rs-nt. As an official criticism of the man
aasment of the chain gangs it is sensa-
-ional. and will undoubtedly provoke wide
sa~aad interests. Gov. Atkinson was NOV
II to have the investigation of the chain
~4ngs OF the state made by a desire TO
rsredt the condition of the unfortunates
Who are sent there, and by laying the facts
before the legislature secure the reforms
that are so sadly needed. Mr.. Wright
VINO was employed to conduct the investi-
cation. is a man of unquestioned integ-
-ftv and ability. He served four years as
assistant principal keeper OF the peniten-
tfarv and was well equipped for the work
The message and the report made deep
impression on the House, and prompt
stems viii without doubt, be taken to
effect the reform of the system and put
stop TO the horrors that now prevail in
Ali he
sage IS as follows:
The governor opens his message as fol-
lows:
Gentlemen of the General Assembly:
Tn my communication to you in 1894 l
recommended that provision be made for
state supervision of misdemeanor con-
viets. After the adjournment of the gem
eral assembly. reports reached me touch
ing the management of these convicts,
which indicate such a state of affairs that
/ felt it my duty, as the chief executive
of the state, charged with the obligation
TO see to the proper enforcement OF the
law, 10 investigate and place before you
facts showing the true state OF atalrs,
that the subject might be ntelllgently
considered and wisely acted upon by you.
To perform this important work, 1 en-
gagged the Hon. r. +. Wright, who had
faithfully and efficiently performed the
duties of assistant keeper of the penlten>
tiary during the term of my immediate
predecessor to visit each camp III ,, me
worked, and make a thorough 1nVestiga-
tion and report TO me.
This task he has partially completed,
and | herewith send you his report upon
the camps visited. 1t reveals such inhu-
man and barbarious conduct upon the
part of some of those engaged in working
this class of conVicts that comment by
me is unnecessary to induce you to act
promptly to save our state from longer
submitting to this burning shame.
There is but one remedy for the deplor-
able conditions now existing, and that IS
through state supervision by which uni
from treatment can be required under
one set of rules, enforced by our penlten-
tiary department..
Since my employment l have visited
thirty-three chaingangs, located in the
following countless: Oglethorpe Coffee,
Dooly Wilcox, Lowndes, Echols, Laur-
ems, Baldwin, Putnam, Wilkes, Newton,
Jasper, Morgan, Berrien, Lee irwin, Pu-
Emanuel, Jefferson and Greene, and to
the best OF my ability, INVESTIGATED each
thoroughly and conscientously, with
the single idea of ascertainng and re-
porting the true condition of each, and
of the systems under which they are OPP
OF the thirty-three camps visited, TWEEN
ty-six are worked by private individuals,
and are of that class which the supreme
court has recently held to be Illegal and
of the remaining seven, five are regu-
larly organized county chaingangs, and
TWO are worked JOinlly ny COUNTY anu
municipal authorities.
Generally the whites and blacks are not
chained together, nor are the males and
females, but they are worked together
indiscriminately, and in many of the
gangs practically no provision is made
for a separation of the races or sexes
during the day, or at night IN sleeping
quarters.
There are among this number many
convicts still under their majority, and
] found eleven under the age of fourteen.
Very little attention is given to the
comfort or sanitary condition OF the
sleeping quarters; some sleep in rude
the bare ground, and few in hunks. The
bedding is generally scant and hlthy. ire
quently fun of Vermin. In a number of
he camps no fire is allowed even in the
coolest weather. The ventilation gener-
ally is very poor and insufficient; in
many instances in summer the sleeping
quarters are veritable sweat boxes, be-
ing constructed only with view to pre-
venting escapes, comfort and sanitary
conditions being entirely ignored.
With few exceptions, / found no hospital
buildings for the sick, and no preparation
for their care, comfort or medical treat
ment
In fact, it seems to be expected that mis-
demeanor convicts never get sick, or re-
qure no treatment if they do; one su-
1erintendent having boasted that in his
gang which averages twenty-five con-
yicts, ''he had not had physician in
i've years." and yet, in one gang Of
eighteen men, l found there had been
eight deaths in the past twelve months.
I'm the vicinity OF a few camps, found
physicians residing, who are called in
when needed, but most of the gangs are
practically without physicians, one being
sent for only in extreme cases.
In a few of the camps the convicts are
fairly fed, but generally the food, which
consists of cornbread and fried meat,
with no change from day to day, is scant
ana meager and really insufficient to sus-
tain health and strength.
The clothing is generally scant and
filthy, some convicts going weeks without
change; hence vermin of all kind are not
nlreQuent.
AT some camps only cotton clothes are
used, winter and summer, and at a num-
her of camps, the convicts had no clothes
except what they were then wearing.
/ found female prisoners working side
py side with their male confederates,
dressed in full male attire, the authori-
ties claiming that. this mode of dress
was less in the way, and besides it seemed
70 be the tendency of the new woman"
with one or two exceptions, no record
sept showing name of convict, crime
Of which convicted, term, date received,
ate discharged, or record of daily con-
quot upon which the good time allowed
~ law should be based