New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-22
TERIEs OF THE CITY.

TERIEs OF THE CITY.
Lima July 2i-An Impressive ceremony was held
AZ the National Penitertiary OF Peru last Sunday
afternoon when Bisnop Medina Of Trunllo. con-
rrred nt;esn Chinese convicts-"Asatcos inf
teles as they call them-and one American.
Thomas Bridges Of Boston Mass who is serving
,even years time for having attempted 10 set Are
to schooner AZ Mollendo years ago Thomas
says ne was drunk and did not know what he was
doing and that he tried 20 pat the fire out as
soon as ne realized the enormity o. his act He
has been exemplary prisoner and is allowed
Unusual liberties. Having learned the Spanish
language. he Is employed an interpreter and
messenger about the Office % the warden and con-
sucted US through the institution. which is mod
ened upon the Moyamensing Prison Of Philadel-
mia and which is one of the most complete well
KEEP; and humane refornatories in South America
The prisoners employed IN workshops during
the day as in our own prisons, except such as are
sentenced 10 solitary confinement are under
discipline. They make boots and shoes saddles
harness and similar goods for the army and are
paid for what they produce. that each has
a considerable balance Of money to his credit when
he is extraordinarily sufficient TO maintain him
until he find honest employment At night
they shut in their cells which open upon long
corridors that run like the spokes OF wheel from
the central gusTdroOm. where officers are always
stationed. BY turning in his chair guard
Inspect every corridor All the cells in the same
row are locked with single lever and the prs
orors move out and in. rise and retire. prepare
themselves for their meals and the duties OF the
day the sound OF a bugle
They are called at o'clock IN the morning and
furnished with tin cups Of coffee and rolls If white
bread which are carried in buckets and baskets 10
the cells They then 20 10 prayers IN circular
chapel. which occupies the dome Of the building.
From there they march in single file in lockstep
10 the workshops and are employed until Il
o'clock when they have a hearty meal OF boiled or
sr~0N
etables and plenty OF bread At 6 o'clock they
have another meal Of lighter food and for both
they sit al long tables which occupy the centre Of
each corridor Each prisoner has tin cup tin
plate md knife, q fork and spoon. The walters.
the cooks and al other attendants prisoners de-
tailed for that duty The Commissioners say the
food is good and abundant that II is great
temptation for destitute and lazy criminals 10 COM
nit crimes that Will bring them back TO an institu-
ton in which they much better clothed, fed
and cared for than when at liberty. This criticism
has frequently been made, and the labor unions
are now endeavoring TO secure an act OF Congress
prohibiting the employment OF prisoners on any
labor that will come IN competition with honest
artisans outside
SILENCE. OBEDIENCE. INDUSTRY.
over the arched entrance OF each corridor and
each workshop in large letters the words.
"slencio Obediencia. Trabajo." C'Slence Obedi-
ence. Industry. which are the sum and sub
stance OF the regulations OF the institution.
Nearly 50 per cent OF the prisoners are Indians,
either full bloods or half breeds with a consider
able sprinkling OF Chinese who constitute about
fifty thousand OF the population OF Peru and all
come from the most ignorant classes. saw three
or four white who IN for murder. In ad-
oition 10 the regular discipline Of the institution
the spiritual condition Of the prisoners receives
careful attention from the monks OF the Descazos
or barefooted brotherhood The Chinese are at
tended by priests OF their own race. There are
three or four Chine7e Catholic priests In Lima. all
OF whom came TO this country as laborers, were
converted educated and fitted ror the priesthood.
They labor among the Chinese population In the
city and on the plantations by. but not ex-
clusivey. One OF them is connected with promi-
nent parish church.
The rules OF the prison prohibit torture The
means Of discipline are solitary confinement dark
cells. bread and water. what are known as the
bars" which keep man in a standing posture
and the dropping Of water upon stone, which is
the most severe Of all in It's effects upon the
nerves and mental faculties, and is only used as
las, resort There used 10 be great deal OF
cruelty in the prisons Of South America some
years ago, and the police are still guilty OF brutal
practices. not only upon persons who are arrested
for crime but also upon witnesses who refuse TO
testify against their friends and other persons who
are arrested either on suspicion for the purpose
o. securing Information.
The laws OF the country prohibit this under
severe penalties and the Chief Of Police OF Lima
latinF them Some time ago a man OF the name
Of Fidel Carceres a tailor Of Lima. while detained
as a prisoner in OF the police stations, Wit
messed the torture Of woman. and when ne was
released gave the inforns ton 10 the newspapers
which denounced the authorities for permitting
suco an outrage whereupon Carceres was again
arrested and confined In dark cell without ven
ulaton or drainage. He was convicted on some
fictitious charge and sent to jail After MS Hoera-
ton he reported his experience 70 the labor unions
which took Up the matter and preferred charges
against the police OF Lima for false imprisonment
and for the torture OF the woman referred to Inc
CHEZ is now under bonds 20 appear before the
criminal courts with several officers who are I'M
picateo with him.
Horrible tales are told Of outrages inflicted upon
prisoners by local police in the country towns ana
villages but the national authorities make care
ful Investigations whenever charges are preferred
an3 punish the guilty severely
There is a separate prison for women which is
IN charge Of the Sisters OF Charity
A PENITENTIARY CHAPEL.
Tbo chanel Of the penitentiary is a noble room OF
circular form with high dome, ana IN the centre
surrounded by a iron railing. IS well "hlch "a
tends 20 the guardroom below. Ihat IS no" CIV
sred with an iron grating because some years ago
while The prisoners were engaged In rehgious eA-
ercises mu,iny broke out. and the guards "eIe
thrown over and fell seventy feet upon the pave
uent below.
The altar is handsomely decorated h'Snop
Me5na appeared in his richest episcopal Vestineh's
a. the services last Sunday. He was assisted DS
three monks from the Descaizos monastery, %
whom the prisoners had been converted IheSe
monks we're types Of the best blood OF feru' anu
n heir manners and demeanor they showed 'heii
gentle h,aed,ng One OF them Friar Saavedra' Is
considered one Of the handsomest men III feru.
and might ST, for p portrait Of St Anthony OF
Padua lie belongs TO one Of the ola p"''icia
fam rs OF Lima and his father was appraiSe ~
a.
yas ktued Nv accident several years ago. PACK
Ing case rlled with explosives was accioeh'""S
dropped and COS, the lives Of six men another OF
the monks was Frtar Cnaco- Montufar, OF an emil