The National tribune., 1902-01-30

hurried, muffled rattle of their ascent at
Il trot, of the stairways. Then when each
had gained his cell. and the locking-in
commenced, the most Internal clash and
clane, as huge bolts were fastened. would
be- heard that ever startled the ear of
sane man. When Satan receives fresh
lot of prisoners he certainly must tor
tUre each half by compelling it To hear
the other locked into cells with iron
doors.
The food, although exceedingly coarse,
was always sufficiently abundant. After
about 10 days the restriction, previously
imposed. preventing lis from purchasing
o. receiving from our friends articles cd
ih!n or of any other description, was re-
PealCd, and we were allowed to receive
everything sent us. Our Kentucky friends
had been awaiting this opportunity. and
for fear the privilege would nc soon with
drawn. hastencd to send cargocs of all
sorts Of food and all kinds Of daintics.
For several weeks one or two soldiers
were hIhitually kept in the hall with MS.
during the day. The turnkey. rarely alb
sent, passed back and forth. prying and
suspicious. He was on duty only during
the day. Scott was his name, but We IA.
miiarly called him 'Scotty' AT night Il
special guard went the rounds The gas
burners, with which each cell was fur
nishcd. were put into use as soon as We
were locked up, and we were allowed for
time, to burn candles for an hour after
the hour far which the gas was turned
OH had expired
I'VE We're permitted to buy books and
keep them in our cells, and for some
weeks were not restricted in writing let
tiers. Indeed. for a period Of nearly three
months our condition was uncomfortable
only on account Of the constant cOnfnc-
ment within the walls of the prison-thc
lack of exercise. sunlight and fresh air
and the pcnning up at night i'll the close
cells. To a man who has never been
placed in such a situation no words can
convey the slightest idea Of its irksome
ness. There was not one of us who would
not have eagerly exchanged for the most
cOmfOrtlesS Of all the prisons, where he
could have spent the days in the omen
air, and some part of the time have felt
that the eyes of the gaolers were not
upon him.
KILLING TINE.
Every conceivable method of Willing
away the tedious hours and every practi
cable recreation was resorted to- For
many days marbles were held in high cs.
timatinn, and the games were played first
and discussed subsequently with keen in
tercst y long ladder which had been
left il the hall, leaning against the wall.
was perfect treasure to those who most
craved active exercise. They practiccd all
sorts of gymnastics on the ladder, and
cooled the fever in their blood with IA
tiGuc. Chess finally became the standard
amusement, and those who did not under
stand the game watched it nevertheless
with as much apparent interest as if they
understood it. Chess books were bought
and studied as carefully as any work Oh
tactics had ever been read by the same
men, aud groups would spend hours in
discussing this gambit and that, and un
admiring audience could always be col
lected at one end of the hall to hear how
Cicero Coleman had Just chcckmated an
antagonist at the other, by a iudicious
flank movement with his knight, or some
other active and effective piece.
EFFECTS OF IMPRISONMENT.
'In spite, however, of every effort to
sustain health and spirits, both suffered
The most robust could not endure the life
| to which we were condemned with1ut in
| jury. am satisfied that hard labor, fur
nlshlng at once occupation and exercise
alone prevents the inmates of these Dris
ons, sentenced TO remain many years. from
dying early. The effect of this confine-
ment is strange, and will doubtless ap-
pear inconsistent. 1t affected every man
of our party with, at the same time, a
lethargy and nervousness. While we
| were physically and mentally impaired by
it-and every faculty was dulled and all
energy was sapped-every man was rest
less without aim or purpose, and irritable
without cause or reason These effects of
Imprisonment became far more apparent
ant eificuit to repress after a few months
had elapsed.
1.-The method for Furnishing the refrac-
tory and disObedient was TO confine them
in cells called the dungeons and dun
geons indeed they were. Capt. Foster