The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-04
THEY USED CAVES
FOR PRISON CELLS
A Hundred Years Ago the Methods
Used Were Very Crude.
USED A FAMOUS COPPER MINE.
Humanity Has Steadily Grown Better
and Cervera's Lot Compared With
That of Prisons Long Ago is
Really Very Happy one.
USED A FAMOUS COPPER MINE.

Nothing marks the growing humani-
tartan side Of warfare TO a greater degree
than the treatment given 10 prisoners
Of war. Ceryera and his men were for
tunato that they did not become prison.
ers on this side Of the Atlantic during
the Revolutionary War. Instead OF be-
ing treated as hOn0red guests. and made
TO feel entirely az home, the me o!u
Spanish admiral would have Deeh taken
many miles inland. through Forest uai *
and Wild. there 10 be shut in darkness
in q cavern many rect uhueI siV"'u'
says The New York sun.
There is such a prison on the western
slope Of Talcott Mountain, In the town
OF CRANKY. CT. High. jagged rocks are
to tho east. a beautiful view OF the
FarminetOn Valley t0 the west. III is
within an easy wheel trip OF Hartford,
twenty miles to the northwest, ana D.
visited by many persons from various
parts OF the land. auOrdng al least an
instructive lesson on the advance ia
civilization in. the treatment OF prison.
eTs Of war.
So startling is the FIRST glimpse Of ;he
prlson-called NeWeats after the famous
prison in England-lnat tho eye refuses
TO recognize 10 In keeping vain the com
monnlace objects of New England laAd
scaDe.
III first Glance the place appears 10 be
large barn covered with straw mis-.
But the deep woods throw the tumplea
and ,fne-clad walls into such bold relief
that soon IL IS perceived that ruins OF
"A remarkable and picturesque character
are near. They stood close 10 the west
side of the road. and just across the
way from an ordinary farmhouse, max
ing the ruins more remarkable by con-
trast The entrance IS gained by cir
eular gateway I'm the east wall 10 "a sort
Of courtyard surrounded by ruined walls,
and I'm the center is the former keeper
lodge now used as an once Duliulhs.
In Revolutionary days the building was
a bl0ckhOuse.
Here was the state prison OF Connect
cut between 1870 and $50 On the slleS
Of the Enclosure were the WORKSHOPS lor
the convicts. The only remaining prison
building proper Is at the southwest cor
ner and was used Tor cooklhs, iyop'ns
ana hosnital apartments. small SEN
,r,, nv, from which the guard appear
81 IN shoot escaping prisoners, partly re-
r,oins on the wall 10 the left Of the en-
trance.
No SHELTER BUT CAVES.
Rut the Revolutionary prisoners had
no norI sne', zines which extend beneath the
togpei e. and cut into the adjoining
tields Just how the entrance was oo-
toined 10 this subterranean lookup Is
toid NV two escaped prisoners IN an IN
tery,ew in the Gazetteer a Tory paper
n~hlished in New York. SAID they:
Pup'i9'i'V -. bt,e. this hOrrid dungeon
mo !" we're ere, frst conducted through the
e,,,rtroents OF the guards. then through
"f'' Indoor downstairs into another.
,'oon the same floor with the kitchen
w ulJ,h was divided from II by very
s.rong partition door. In the corner OF
,,is outer room. and near the front OF
, me-, stairs. opened another large trap
Ioor covered with bars and bolts OF
IN which were hoisted mp by two
anards by means OF tackle. while the
Stnges grated as they turned upon their
hooks. ana opened the jaws and mouth
~ what they called hell. 10 which We
desccnded by means Of ladder about
slr feet more. which led to large IRON
gate or hatchwax. locked down si1~r =