The San Francisco call., 1897-10-21

sixteen barrels OF sugar are used every
month to sweeten the tea and coffee for
this army of outcasts. In return they
produce 14,OOO jute sacks daily (from which
the State derives an income) and most Of
the farm produce they consume
In the jutemill there are not looms and
other necessary machines enough 10 give
full employment TO all the men that are
daily assigned to Captain Alden. Yesier-
day he had 975 convicts in his charge
with the result that many were 1ounging
idly around, while a few were actually
reading newspapers or 10-cent histories Of
the Indian troubles, under the very eyes
of The guards. All the machines were
runninr to their tull capacity, but there
were more workers than work could be
nrnvided for. In consequence, by or
2:30 o'clock the men were turned loose in
SQUADS to sun themselves until supper
time.
Gatekeepers, kitchenmen, scavengers,
sWeepers and those employed in the other
departments and in clerical positions all
seem TO have an abundance OF time to
rest and gossip with their fellows. Nor
were they entirely lackingI In the Injuries,
for tobacco is one of the articles supplied
by the Stale, and a liberal allowance is
furnished each prisoner, SO that while
they Iounged and chatted they chewed or
smoked as their tastes dictated They
were contented-ap lot, and since
the three days riot several months ago
not murmur of discomfort has been
heard.
Then there is opium in plenty for those
conV!cts who use the drug, and most of
them do, although the Prison Directors
90 not provide for 1t in the com mi ssariat
1he conylcts, however, find ample oppor-
lunlty 10 smuggle it through the gates
and the officers candidly confess their in
abiiity TO stop it.
Every prisoner who passes through the
outer gate. II he only goes to the Captain s
Office and returns in a few seconds Is
searched by the two guards at the gate,
Dut II must be confessed that the search is
purely periunctory, to which the conyicts
submit willingly, even cheerfuly, and
they go back to their quarters with a SUD-
ply OF the drug stored away in some Sc
cret recess which is seldom discovered.
If convict has friends-and most of
those at San Quentin have somebody who
cares enough for them to visit them
they can visit HIM at almost any
time, although the prison rules provide
that convict shall only receive lvisitors
once u month. This is one thing the Off
GERS complain of bitterly. The proximity
of the prison to San Francisco, which con-
tributes large percentage of the inn ties.
gives the friends of the latter ample
opportunity TO visit the prison at will
and with the great number of prisoners it
is impossible 10 keep track of those O
receive visitors or the frequency of the
visits.
The eight condemned men awaiting ex.
ecutlon In San Quentin are showered with
iaVors. 10 labor of any kind is required
OF them, while instead OF receiving the
same fare as the ordinary conyicts thew
are served from the officers mess. which
means the best he market affords Their
cells overlook the beautiful yard-fairer r
lnan the private garden of any million
alre In the Slate-and for an hour or two
each day the murderers are permitted to
stroll through one end of this fairy bower
Yesterday DuIrant and his fellows we're
out enjoying the sunshine and perfume
discussing varous topics among them
serves ana with the guards and apparently
as little concerned about their future as
the shortest termer behind the walls.
During the afternoon Mrs. Durrant Wis.,
tied her son ana was conducted 10 the Of
flee of the Captain of the Y ard. Dnrrant
was then sent for and strobe acloss ths o
yard, arms folded in true prison repula.
lion, but in his fingers he had q buncb ~
pansies he had plucked during his walk
and these he pre~entcd to his mother al.
most with the first greeting The con-
Vlcted murderer OF Blanche Lamont has
not worried himself into shadow.
During the interview Durrant learned
from his mother that the Supreme Court
had advanced the hearing of his case. but
he was not in the least perturbed over the
news. At the expiration of an hour Dur
rant kissed his mother good bye, and
again folding his arms across his breast
strode back to his cell, while she waited
outside the gate for the bus TO convey her
to the train, her hand tightly clasping the
little bunch OF pansies her first born had
brought her.