The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-17
.LIFE N THE "GARCLL'
By Which Is to be Understood
HaVana'S Common Jail,
SPANISH DIRT AND GLOOM
What the Garrote Is Like, and
How 1t Works.
CsDeoial to the New York WORLDLY

AoyeCldi " l4iC -NCn AOAh fNO-NAsl
Havana, June 16.-At the foot of the
Prado aand just east Of the Preside, in
Havana, is located what is known as The
'1caTceI, Tor county jail.
4 certain degree Of darkness prevades
the whole prison, which is quite contrast
to the Preside; the latter is quite sur
prise as a Jail. 1t is light, healthy and
clean throughout. The clothing t the
carceI is the same worn by the person
when arrested, and, they are often unclean
and ragged.
My first visit was to-the kitchen. The
cook, a convict, was busy preparing
meal consisting of soup and bad bread
He had an undershirt on which was as
dirty as a coal-heaver,s.
All types of criminals are to be found
here-even to the typical American, who
is quickly sGpplanting the Spaniard. The
depraved looking Mango appears in great
numbers. The whites and blacks conSre-
gate together Two of the Americans
were Dr. Jo1f and c. NJ. Barton, who are
waiting trial in connection with the mys
terious death Of Mr.. Balk, and who after
many experiences in the courts are now
| imprisoned here for the first time on form
al charges. Old ''Jack" Carter, who while
drunk. shot a soldier Jack is near on to
/ seventy, has spent most Of mis- time in
prisons and viii no 5oubt die there
All Of the Americans seemed ashamed 10
meet fellow countrywoman," and would
suIk off, except in the case Of the soldiers
who were all begging small favors. The
number of inmates registered on the day
! ST. hundred There
! IS. however. one division in the carceI set
| apart for those who are willing to pay for
such couveniences, as they are better fit
! ted up and cared for than the rest. The
usual charge for this luxury 90 is twenty
! five cents per day, Spanish gold. United
| States soldiers, too, have an apartment
separated from the others. Several well
! dressed Americans were enjoying the
privilege Of the courtyard and occupying
light, healthful apartments, for which they
were, no doubt, paying heavily.
A short walk around the gloomy corridor
discioses. narrow stairs reaching from top
to bottom of the building. We made the
tour. Stopping off at one Of these tiers we
were compelled to gropc our way through
what resembled a subterranean passage,
everywhere meeting groups Of dark
| skinned criminals that crowded closse in
upon us.
A small chapel was one Of the most in
trssting points visited. In it very few
can kneel at one time. Some one Chart
ably inclined built it to redeem lost
soul"
Coming out across thechapel we saw a
large room in front Of (which was a statue
OF Justice. In this room the judges hold
their preliminary examination of prison
ers. The are also tailor, carpenter. barber
and shoe making shops with but few at
/ work. -. -
The kitchen and cook Mouse Is on the
had not been secured or polished this sea-
son. All of the attendants in the kitchen
were no cleaner than those lying about
the corridors. Several pet chickens and
cats were running loose in the corridors.
The baths, of which there were several.
looked as if they lacked patronage.
On the second gallery is a dungeon Of
five cells, into which disturbers Of -disc-p-
line are thrown for punishment. All OF
these were occupied by some Of these mis-
cradle Hretches who We're caught gamb-
ling by the guard. The cells were abso-
lUtely bare. Three Of the men were lying
curled up without any GOVERN gon tha
stone floor, while the other two peared
helpIessly through the bars.
On the walls Of several Of the rooms
We're various paintings and drawings. The
subjects were generally the leaders Of the
instruction, General Maxine Gomez be-
ing a special flvorite. The work Of two
different prisoners showed considerable
merit
We visited several cigar and cigarette
factories, on a small scale, the inmates
being allowed to manufacture for sale or
receive work from the outside. one or
TWO were fairly clean, the others present
ing a dark and uncleanIy appearance. The
> operatives who take work from outsiders,
{ are paid % cents for $500 cigarettes, At
- WHICH rate man can make, Il very in
e dustrious 40 cents a day. The money 50
c earned is usually spent at the stand"
D.. IN the prison, WHICH is licensed by the
. government, and where the prisoners can
4 purchase various ed.b.es but no intox.-
l. cants.
5 The most interesting Objecttat the Ca-csl
q is the "Garrote.' the Spanish INSTRUMENT
e for iuh.ctins the death penalty. 1t IS kept
a in a separate room in q special box ana
f"thrS away ae' q l.ttc O. l-siNN.4---ti2 e
70 Valentine. The cchiet "Esrroter," who has
$ earroted over Two hundred men, put ina
@ machinery together and explained tie
II m5dus operaad. OF an execution.
% The garrote consists of a heavy wooden
j post ss-and.ug up back Of a chair. both
of vhjcho are firmly fastened 10 a heavy
platform. In the front and At the trp Of
= the post IS strong steel bar twelve
81, inches long. shaped Ike an Indians 5ovy.
- except that in the center Of lbs steel DOW
IS small steel knob about quarter o.
an inch nigh ana half ara inca in diameter.
- This knob is made TO nj into the hollow @.
= the back of the head at the base OF ,ha
, brain. Two IRON bars connected with a