Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-02-25
RACING oockRoAcHEs.
a Queer PastIme Among the Prisoners In
Uonstantinople Jalls.

- -
Uonstantinople Jails.
Racing cockroaches is the latest de
vice of the prisoners who are languish
ing in the Turkish prisons. These
men are locked up for indefinite terms
often not knowing themselves what are
the crimes of which they are accused
and in many instances being entirely
forgotten by the officials as soon as the
, doors of the prison have closed upon
them.
The prisoners perform no work, and
are given considerable freedom If they
have friends who supply them from the
outside with money. In this way the
prisoners meet daily in the halls and
corridors of the prisons of CONSTANT
nople. Here they discuss the news OF
the day, smoke and read, and do what
they can TO while away the dreary
hours.
The prisons are overrun with cock
reaches. The more intelligent of the
prisoners make friends with these in
sects.
Infinite patience Is required to train
coclroach. But man to whom time
is nothing, like these Turkish prisoners,
who may spend years behind the bars
without coming up for trial, can easily
afford to undertake the difficult task OF
educating g cockroach in the way he
should go. Only the wealthy prisoners
can do this, for by bribing the guards
they are enabled to secure bread crumbs
and pieces of sugar, which are eagerly
sought for by the cockroaches.
By enticing number of cockroaches
into his cell every day, one Of the pris-
oners discovered that they were pos
sessed of rare intelligence and could
easily be caught, if they were pro-
pitiated with molnsses. After few
weeks work he astonished his friends
in the prison by bringing out for their
edification O corps of trained cock
reaches.
The cockroach fever at once spread
through the prison. Every man who
could beg or borrow molasses began to
train q company of coclroaches. twas
found to be most diverting and eX-
citing pastime.
When the prisoners met daily they
recited the feats of their pets, and re-
ported the progress they were making
in teaching them new tricks. Out of
this grew the cockroach race. Two of
the most highly trained cockroaches
were pitted against each other, and
the prisoners ranged themselves on
either side of the corridor to watch the
race.
Bets were made of pieces Of tobacco
and looves of bread, and great excite,
ment arose among the onlookers as the
new and novel contest was started.
The prize for which the cockroaches
raced was small platter of molasses.
The owner of each insect prodded him
with o piece of straw. AS the cock
reaches raced along the floor the en-
element among the prisoners and Jail
ers rose to fever heat. The insects had
been so well trained that they devinted
neither to the right nor left, but kept
straight ahead.
The one that was beaten lost the race
because he stopped to scratch his leg.
The race between these two cockroaches
was the most exciting event that has
occurred in the Central prison of Con-
stantinople since Armenians were cut
down in the corridors there q year ago.
The prisoners at once started trlin-
ing coclroaches, and now races occur
on the floor of the prison several times
each day. Thus is afforded welcome
break in the monotony of the lives of
the prisoners.-N. Y. Journal.