Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-19

while near the center of the room there
is a handsome table which was made by
any, ash and Oakland contains about nine
hundred pieces Of wood. Smaller tables are
placed about the room, and 1t is about these
tables the prisoners sit while attending
school. While plans for the library were
being discussed Warden Hawk concluded
he would appoint Rody O'Meara, a WASH
inston prisoner, to serve as librarian
OMeara is an intelligent man. who seems
particularly well adapted to the work, and
suggestions made by him proved to be very
acceptable.
When the room had been fitted up and the
contributions of books received, Warden
Hawk notified the prisoners by sending
each circular, which set forth its objects,
and included a c9lES of ITS rules.
Talk with the Librarian.
In conversation with a Star reporter IL
brarfan O'Meara said the prisoners from
this city are, as rule, brighter and more
intelligent than those from the states They
seem particularly anxious to get books
from the library and are not so much in
need of education as are many others.
l. During the time the library and school
have been in operation. only one prisoner
has been reported for a violation of the
rules, and he merely marked a book While
at school, the librarian said, the prisoners
the benefit of the teaching The school is
made up OF classes of thirty, and one class
Is under instruction each night Arith-
metic. spelling and writing are taught OF
the prisoners In the penitentiary there are
210 ilfterates-120 colored and ninety white
School is held six nights of each week The
exemplary prisoners are permitted to visit
the library Sunday afternoons and read At
night reading in the cells until o'clock is
The Prison Fare.
The meals are served in a dining room
in 10 nd baHo
goods as those served In any prison in the
country. The men get up in time for
breakfast at $50 o'clock, and when this
meal is finished they go to the workshop
Butter is served twice day at meals and
soup twice a week. Good, wholesome food
is supplied and the prisoners are given as
much as they want to eat. Sundays, at
dinner, extras are served. The bill of fare
at this meal always includes roast beef
and during the winter season mince pie
forms the dessert Dinner is served at
noon, and the last meal is ready shortly
after 4 o'clock, When the days work is
over. Nine hours constitutes a days work,
and cash is paid when the men make over
time. In one shop nearly 200 men operate
sewing machines IN making trousers for
New York firm. Leather goods are made in
another building. Whips and nets for
horses are the principal articles manufac-
tured. .. -,
There is also an immense broom factory
III .othIectioH WIFI tne prison and a shop in
which female wearing. apparel is made. The
conviets form in companies and drill in the
grounds after working hours
warden Hawk has novel way of punish
ing those who violate the rules in addition
TO giving them clothing distinct from those
worn by the. others. The method is to give
the prisoners who have earned punishment
nothing but breade and water on Sundays,
and they are required to do their eating in
the big dining room, where they can see
the others diSpoSi1g of the roast meat and
mince pie. Reading iftthe cells is permitted
each evening until O'Clock. when the
Fights are eXting1nshed and they are re-
quired 20 retire for the night.
Condemned, Murderers.
The death house in which condemned
murderers are confined and executed Is
decided Improvement S'over the cells at the
local Jail. Four large cells are provided for
such persons, and the guard who is serving
at the death watch is able to see what Is
going on in all of them. In a small room
adjoining this is the place where the ex-
ecutlonj occur. The condemned man does
not see the spectators until he steps upon
the platform. Electric signals are used by
the warden, and it is not known who
presses the button that sends the trap
from beneath the condemned man. for there
Is live and dead wire. used. and nobody
knows which connects the different wires
Bloodhounds are kept at the prison for use
IN the event Of convict making his es-
cape.
There is IN one building a drug store, a
doctors office and hospital While, the gen.
eral health of the prisoners is good, there
Is occasionally a death among them. Last
year out Of a total of 100 prisoners there
were only six deaths.
1t is a noticeable fact that Washington
prisoners fill many important positions in
all parts of the institution.
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