The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-12-22
PRISON LIFE.
A C0nvict's First Day in the
Saltwater "Pen."
Clocklike Regularity Enforced, Plenty to
Eat, and q Popular Night
School.

as the papers are turned over to the
prison officials, the prisoner realizes
that this is to be his home for term OF
years and in some cases for the balance
of his life. After the papers are signed
he is taken in charge by the deputy
warden and with ''come on" he is
taken to the cell house where his
pockets are emptied and note of all
articles he is relieved of is made by an
official, which are then, with his
clothes, if he desire to keep them, prop
erly stored. Next the prisoner is taken
to the bathroom, after which he is in
troduced to suit of stripes" After
having his hair closely cut and his face
smoothly shaYen he is taken to the
Office of the deputy warden, where his
personal description ETC., is taken and
entered upon the prison records. He is
given a register number and also cell
number, he is shown how to make up
his bed, is furnished with a tobacco,
writing and visiting ticket, and is in
formed that set of printed rules will
be found in his cell and which he must
study diligently, for only by observing
and obeying them can he make good
record as a prisoner and become eligible
for parole and the diminutation of his
sentence which the law allows. The
deputy will have talk with him rela-
tive to what his business was on the
outside, and he is then turned over
to the keeper of the shop to which he is
assigned and in all probabilities he will
do the work to which he was first as
signed until his term expires. How
ever, changes are often made, and are
very much appreciated by the prisoner,
as he gets weary of the same "old
thing" all the time.
The routine of day commences at
600 o'clock in the morning; however,
all those employed in the kitchens, etc.,
leave their cells at 500 o'clock. At the
ringing of the gong at 600 o'clock, he
must turn out promptly, wash. dress,
clean his cuspidor, make up his bed and
be in readiness to march out. At $50
the signal for leaving the cell is given,
he marches from his cell to the bucket
grounds and from there to the dining
room, where the breakfast is served.
The manner of serving food for large
company of men in prison is very in
teresting but must be seen to be appre-
ciated. The "bill of fare" consists gen.
orally of bacon or sausage, gravy, pota'
toes, bread and coffee A change is
made daily. The time allowed for a
meal is about 90 minutes. The meat
and potatoes are issued in given quaint.
ties as ''rations," but the prisoner is
allowed all the gravy, bread and coffee
he desires. Officers are stationed along
the aisles while the men are eating.
Strict silence is enforced. If prisoner
desires more bread he raises his right
hand, if coffee his cup. if meat his fork,
etc. Walters pass up and down the
aisles and attend to their wants. After
the meal is finished the nen are
marched to the different shops in COM
panies in charge of their respective
officers. After their arrival there, at
the command of the officers, the men
go to their several duties and regular
days work is begun.
oSa1ool1 ooYoac GEfioH oo11' on6 oil
those desiring to consult the prison
physician fall into line and are marched
to the hospital by an officer, where their
ailments are attended to by the prison
physician.
Dinner is served at noon and usually
consists of soup, meat, potatoes, bread
and "greens" when in season. After
dinner the same routine is gone through
as in the morning. At 600 in the even
ing the days work is ended. The men
are marched to the cell house and at
the entrance are handed a tin plate
with some sort of dried fruit, tapioca
or rice. From box standing close by
they help themselves to as much bread
as they wish and then march to their
cells. where they must remain standing
with hand upon the door, until the
double count is made, of the correct
ness of which they are notified by the
sound of a gong, After supper from
the hours of $50 until $50, in the
months of October until June, comes
the call for school, The value of this
feature of prison life cannot be overes-
timated. The classes are in charge of
an officer who is generally the Supt. of
the public schools of Saltwater and is
assisted by convict teachers. The stu
dies range from "two times two are
four" to algebra and bookkeeping.
The men very seldom complain of the
school system. They all seem to appre-
ciate these advantages very much.
Many of them work very hard to obtain
an education. There are cases where
men have entered the prison who could
neither read nor write and who are to.
day capable of writing very intelli-
gent letter At the sound of the gong
three times at p. m. he must undress
quietly and Immediately retire. Thus
ends the first day of his prison life,