The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-27
Copyright, 1895

experienced the horrors of Portland to
conceive what those immured there have
TO endure. This is especially true in the
case of political prisoners. After convic-
ton. which in all instances has been car
ried out by the most unjust and unfair
methods, they are placed in solitary con-
finement for a period Of nine months.
They are allowed half an hours exercise
daily, walking around the Jail yard in
single file, ten feet apart. No converse
ton is allowed, nor indeed is any con-
versation permitted from the time a pris-
oner begins to undergo his sentence un-
til he is released. The penalty for speak
ing is ten days on bread and water-a
scrap Of bread at night and morning and
a swallow of water. Talking back to a
warder leads to fogging. the number Of
lashes being determined by the directors.
who visit the prison once a month, and
oftener when hogging is demanded.
Edward O'Meagher Condor.
Capt Condor. superintendent of con-
struction of the fire department of New
York city, was confined for eleven years
in Portland prison. When released he was
on the verge of insanity but a rugged
constitution enabled him to rally. He was
sentenced in Manchester, England, in 1867.
to death, but this, at the repeated de-
mands of the United States government.
was committed to Imprisonment for life.
After eleven years Capt. Condor received
his pardon and returned to the country
of which he was a citizen.
DR.. Gallagher, who reached here two
weeks ago. is now almost hopelessly In
sane in a private sanitarium on Long Is
land, and Albert Whitehead, released
from Portland at the same time, arrived
here last week in the same shattered men
tai condition. The horrors which the men
had to endure during those years at Port
land left them alive, but robbed them OF
mind and any semblance to health.
Rugged Irishmen as they were, with the
blood of Erin's Isle running fresh in their
veins, they became poor crawling, broken
down creatures, little better than the low
est of beasts, from the inhumanities Of
their Imprisonment.
Portland prison is situated upon an ISL
and. The Isle of Portland is promon-
tory, one vast, rocky cliff without vegeta-
ton and sheltered in no way from the heat
of summer or the cold of winter. Both
extremes are felt keenly. The island is,
properly speaking, a peninsula, for it is
connected with the mainland by a long,
pebbly strip called Chesil Coach. This Is
twelve miles long, forty feet high and one
hunderd yards wide. The island is about
four miles long and three-quarters OF a
mile wide 1t separates the English chan
mel from Portland harbor. Three sides
are inaccessible from the sea, rising 4pJ
feet in mid air. Upon one of these cliffs
the prison is built. Its plan is such that
escape is impossible. Not one escape has
been made within its history.
The journey from London to Portland
is 16O miles. The prisoners travel in re-
voting garb packed together in cars
marked Reserved" At the Portland rail-
way station they are met by van
marked "V. r." and into this windowless
vehicle they are hustled and jounced
along the rocky road to the prison. From
the time of setting out on their journey,
often, with its delays, fifteen hours be-
fore they have had nothing to eat, and
in this hungry condition they arrive at
their future home, only to be stuffed into
the dirtiest of cells to await the further
pleasure of the keepers. Often no atten-
ton is paid to them until next day. They
are left withot food or drink or necessary
attention, and thus the ruddy-faced Irish
man gets his first taste OF Justice.
Next day when the official get around
to looking into the cases of the new ar
rivals he assigns them to cells. These
cells are mostly under ground. The one
six of the eleven years he spent in Port
land was under ground and without air
or light In the summer II was suffocat-
ing; in winter unspeakably cold and reek-
ing with filth. Between seasons the
dampness was so great that mould &C
cumulated upon the floor and ceiling,
which we're OF stone The walls and doors
were Of iron. The furniture of this cell
consisted of tub. In simplicity this was
highly to be commended, as II could be
used as a table, or a seat; or again as a
bed. for the prisoner could snatch sleep
by placing his tub against an angle of
the wall. No notice was taken OF holl-
days, and thus immured in a living dun
geon the prisoner lives on as best he can.
When the convict closes his eyes. at
night upon darkness and Oblivion he
knows that he will awaken in the MORN
ing still in darkness. No prisoner in
Portland has ever been awakened by
the morning sunshine.
At in the morning a rough call is
given little later a keeper stuffs in
through the door of the cell the break
fast. This consists of six ounces of
barley bread. A mug Of water accom-
panies this unsatisfying repast. At
the men are led out to the quarries, and
there they stand all day breaking stone
without speaking word. They are
clad in the same garments all the year
around, ana IneTt they MOIk III lns
sweltering sun in summer and the biting
cold Of winter. ALL without exception,
are burned a vivid brick red, and It has
been commented upon that the faces of
the corpses that are brought from Port
land still preserve this awful reddish
brown, as though the sun had roasted
the flesh.
At noon time the guards relieve each
other going back to the prison to din
ner, but the men have nothing TO eat;
and IL by chance any prisoner. thinking
discipline a little relaxed dares to raise
his eyes or stand erect minute, he
sees a threatening gun leveied at him
from the peaks Of the rocks. Portland
is defended as though II had the national
guard to fight, instead Of mere hand
full OF poor, puny, half-starved crea-
lures.
At night the procession goes back 10
the prison again, the men limping and
tagging behind as their weary feet re-
fuse to carry them. But the quick lash
OF the guards upon their lacerated limbs
hastens their steps. Into their cells they
are driven like cattle without water or
food. Not even the cheapest Of Injuries,
a bath is allowed them. Into the colo,
damp cells they 90 and wait for the
evening meal
Tbta a. apain the six ounces Of harley