Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-28
AN ASTONISHING JAIL
A WEST VIRGINIA TOWN MADE A
DREAM OF LAW AND ORDER.
THIRTY-THREE-BARREL OIL TANK.
In 1t Was Thrust HowIing, squirm-
ing Mass of Humanity-On the Out
side Were Legends in Heroic
Sized Letters.
Correspondence of the Dlspatch.)


munity in the world that has succeeded fl,
securing and maintaining order with no
more formidable means of furnishing law
breakers than locking them in big iron
tank. We recommend the tank idea TO
the mayors and police authorities OF
every town in the United States where
the ordinary methods Of keeping the
peace have failed. 1t easily beats stone
jails, reformatories. iron bars, silent cells,
wooden clubs, and six-shooters and dou-
BILE discounts the terrors of the Spanish
inquisition.
We are very proud OF our iron tank, for
1t Is our town Jail, and no jail is more
respected and feared by evil doors. We
don't hold out as a threat over our local
disturbers of the peace that IL they don't
behave they will be put in the cooler"
That expression conveys no adequate idea
| OF the awful fate in store for the man
who breaks the law. We tell him we
will put him in the tank and If he be
not mentally and physically incapacitated
| he usually lights out for distant parts
| before the threat can be carried out, or
| gives bonds for his good behavior in the
future. The story of how we acquired our
treasure of a Jail is well worth telling.
Waverly, w. Va, is an oil town on
the banks Of the Ohio river, and was
chiefly famous before the advent OF Oil
for its native snake-hunters and snuff
rubbers Snuff-rubbing is fine art, but
its merits have not been appreciated by
the new blood from the upper oil-helds.
They love whiskey better. Water has
not been a beverage in Waverly for more
than two years, and seven fights day |
was once the average. |
But all is now changed. The snake |
hunter no longer spins his boastful yarn, |
while the accomplished snuff-rubber goes |
his guileless way without word pro-
yocative OF war with the hated 'oilers."
The "toolies'' and drillers, Jumpers, and
buns have ceased to become boisterous
with alcohol and quiet now reigns In the
little town.
All this change has occurred since the
arrival of a thrty-three barrel iron tank
One night the town was fierce with
fights. The town was full" but not |
all who were full Of whiskey were full OF
fight. The jolly DRINKS who loved liquor
but not rowdyism espied the tank 1t
suggested an idea which was Immediately
acted upon. The fighters were corralled,
and filled to overlooking with the town
beverage. 1t may be added that no force
was necessary.
The iron tank was then rolled out into
the public square, and all was ready. A
mighty chorus of Put them in the
tankp' rang out on the night air. The
quarrelsome DRINKS were seized and hus-
tied to the tank where the work of
thrusting them through the man-hole was |
soon completed. The bowling, squirting
mass of humanity within was deprived
Of any way of escape. A beer-keg was
procured and fastened so as to bar the
while yell of satisfaction went I
up from the crowd.
A local artist then came with paint :
Ind marking-brush. On the ends of the '
black tank soon appeared these inscrip- /
ions In white: Town JAIL" "All DRINKS
70 in here" put him in the tankg' ;
jag cure" There is hot time in the :
I'D town to-nightW while over the man | b
lole was Inscribed, Main entrance" e
Fierce noises from within the iron 3
all soon made II apparent that a fight u
vas in progress, and when the local ar n
list stepped up and wrote on the .
cylindrical side Of the tank, Roll the n
ank and mix the fghtp the citizens 8
luckily took the cue and the tank was y
DON on its way around the town,
ushed by as many hands as could | 81
each II, and dubbed by as many sticks "
s could find space to increase the din n
The noise within was deafenng, and | =
he rolling, tumbling mass OF sorry | ~
runks were soon yelling murder" But | n
was OF no avail until the crowd at | a,
Ist tired OF the noise and rolled tho | n
INK back into position on the public Al
Iuare. Then they disbanded and wen -
ONE. When the town had, at last, be :
ome quiet, friends OF the prisoners sill =
ed out and liberated them. Two of tn, |
umber have not been seen In tho tow | g
nee that night. The others swore out |
ssault and battery warrants for
ore than half of the remaining ctl-
ms, but when the trial took place the
cal squire decided that the COM
alnants had received well-merited pun.
hment and endorsed the tank idea
he sufferers from sore heads and y
visited joints were made to pay the
'sts. &
Since then no quarrelsome drunk or
zy bum has escaped night in the | g.
nix, and very few who have once served | ;
me have ever remained 70 be q
'ssible subject for a second sentence. q
wo fighting neighbors who were put in =
o tank together and rolled about the 8.
wn are now living as neighbors should. II
10 tank has worked wonders, but its -
" has passed in Waverly. =
)ne recent night two local toughs who n
1
nix, and remained to get sober and II
unk and be tanked again, concluded 10 e
] their most serious troubles by dis -
sing of the jail. Accordingly, after X
dnight, they rolled the tank TO the bank CO
the river and dropped IT over preci- r
% thirty-seven feet high into the water "
low. mile down the river the tank =
IS caught while floating by the local Y
lstable whose business on the river q
h a light at that time has not yet q
IN explained. He towed the tank back y
Waverly.
he toughs were next day held by the y
rkersburg grand jury on something ike @
enteen indictments each. The tank ~
not been injured. and II was sent 10 u
'kersburg TO do service In their prison, =
we have been Informed that they ~
Id not keep even the iron tank from q
ting to pieces within the walls OF their 81
KY jail. This much Is certain. how
r, the tank has been ciyilizer for a
verify, and when another Is needed II "
be speedily rolled into position. Local q
breakers know this and Keep very -
4 w. J. RODGERS :