The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-12

ing. About ten prisoners representing q
dissatisfied element appeared in the board
room with formal protest, and the result
is there will be q change for the better in
the food supply OF San Quentin Prison.
Fruits and mush will be served regularly
as a medicinal measure and a strict watch
will be kept on the kitchen.
The complaint was in substance that the
potatoes were soggy and waterlogged, the
bread usually several days old beans un-
palatable, poorly cooked and served
twenty times week; pork rancid and
never supplied in sufficient quantities; tea
SO bad that nine out of every Ten tins
were untouched; steaks provided every
morning were cut thin, fried hard and
served cold. A request was made for a
change and closer inspection of the cult
nary department generally.
When the complaint was read Director
Neff asked:
How often do you get fruitP''
'Don't get it at all, exclaimed the group
OF prisoners in unison.
'At no timer"
''No, sir, except raisins in the pudding
twice week"
"You complain about beans ?" remarked
Neff.
"They would rattle in the pan they are
so hard.''
One of the prisoners stepped out in front
and offered a full explanation of how he
and his companions happened to be before
the board. captain Edgar" said he,
''forced us up here. We didn't want to
come before the board. Captain Edgar
came to ne and said, i understand there
is going to be riot in the jute mill; you
boys intend to strike over the food / told
replied, you and any OF the dissatis-
fed boys take your complaint to the board
and see the warden about it. The papers
will get hold of it and then there will be
an investigation
"My statement is, gentlemen, 1 don't
want to carry the onus, but if others do
there are many of US who must protect
ourselves"
Director Neff remarked that what the
convicts stated about the kitchen was true,
but the board could make no change, at
least for some time to come, owing to the
lack of funds,
How about the pork in the beans2" he
asked.
There is no meat in the BEANS" replied
a convict.
1.-The meat is always boiled" added an
other prisoner. They have good ovens
and might roast it sometimes. But it is
boiled often day ahead and not lit to eat.
1t smells and makes US sick. The convicss
are for peace; they're afraid to kick, as
there would be an aftermath"
Warden Hale assured the couvicts there
would be no aftermath" but he was glad
to hear them speak. They knew his senti-
ments. and the board would treat them
humanity. He stated that the bread
served the prisoners was fresh every day.
but one OF the convicts insisted il was fire.
quently seven days old. Captain Shappe-
lere, the steward, admitted that the bread
was often thlrty-six hours. old when
served. A prisoner in the bakery stated it
was commonly four days old. The cues
ton of resembling a rule prohibiting fruit
to be presented to convicts was discussed.
but the board would make no change as
opium had been struggled into the prison
in fruit.
A convict with delicate stomach pro-
tested that the prison doctor had said
there was no hope Of curing prisoners with
stomach troubles unless the regimen of
diet was changed. He also said that large
quantities OF food were wasted. The pork
in particular was bad
Captain Shappelere was called by direc-
tor and asked if this were true.
1--WE have had a good deal of bad pork.
sir" was his answer.
at should not have occurred a second
time, said Director Hayes rather angrily.
bad pork should be sent back eyery
time"
Il am going to come here twice week
soon" remarked Chairman Wilkens, land
snail look into this matter, and If find