The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-10-20

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steal" he cried. Anyone in Yuma
steal. What would be the use? Where
could the robber hide. There's only the
desert to run to, and a man Is easily
tracked and caught on the open stretches
OF sand.
Opposite the prison proper are the wood
en- houses OF the prison officers. A few
privileged convicts are lounging about Dy
the gate or by the shade of the trees by
the officers houses. They have so nearly
served out thei rterms that they can
safely be entrusted with some liberty. 1t
would not be worth the risk 10 attempt
to escape on the very eve of legitimate
release. These are the men that i have
seen SO often driving the mule carts and
bringing loads of rotten granite Tor
the prison walls. They all know me, LOT
the road to the quarries lies past our
house and they have seen me every day.
They lift their hats quietly in response
TO my glance OF recognition.
The warden, a kindly man with an hon
est face. unlocks the great iron door in
the prison wall, and Texan and l enter
the penitentiary proper. There are an
omen court and a patch of green where
palms are spreading out their tropic
beauty in the glare of the Arizona sun.
Can this he an American prison? Surely
II is a fortress of medieval Spain. These
dark-faced men in striped clothes are not
Americans; to my fancy they are the
Spanish retainers and men-at-arms OF the
lord of this high castle. The chief mas
gathered all his subjects within his walls,
as in time of war The drawbridge is up;
the ynoat is full. Yet there is no besies-
ing army without the castle Mysterious
irony, These men are here not TO pro-
tect themselves from the outside world
hut that the outside world may be pro-
tected against them.
Within the prison walls is world ex-
listing Independent, as it were, OF all eA-
ternal life 1t is a world of peace, OF law
system cleanliness, of ceaseless activity,
and healthful toll. But today is Sunday,
co the hum of busy life is stilled. The
prisoners are lounging about the court
or, in the doorways of the dinereht puii0-
;nes. They are all clad in clean and
crisp shirts and trousers; even their Droao
felt hats look extra white and clean TO-
aay. A number, in black characters
stands out on each mans back The men
are mostly Mexicans, though there are
some Americans, and the warden points
ont here and there still another type ana
saws Apache" IN their uniform cos
tune of white and blue stripes these men
look more like an opera chorus than
gang of conyicts. Their heads are not
shaved: there are few who bear the stamp
of what we know in the East as the crHi-
inal class. Indeed. such a class scarceiy
exists in sparseiy peopled Arizona. here
most of the crimes have been committed
ON the omen plains. The criminals are
not the professional bern of the seethins
life of great cities. Yes. says the war
den the majority of those fellows, es-
necIally the Apaches, are here Tor muir
der" What does an Apache know OF inc
sacredness of human life? His wafiihe
race is still in the same stage OF develop
ment as were our own ancient forefathsrs'
The Apache holds his own life cheaply'
and to him the life of man is no more
than the life of an animal or insect
am intensely interested in the men
Geo here, The higher the grade of inteiii-
sence. the more subtly evil is the express
sion of the face. The man OF lowe ftype
looks one in the eye with far more honest
glance. The more british have slnheu
largely through ignorance and lack o.
awakening TO the moral law Inc hishei
tyne knows good from evil and hos chosen
the dark path. Whateve rthe actuaA
crime the sin of the more enlightened Is.
I know. the greater wrong. This thought
a,,, mo with a despairing sense OF the
miscarriage of Justice as administered oy
men But there is divine justice, work
ing unseen in the laws of cause ana erect
that react upon consciousness.
IF is visiting hour, and the yard IS fnh
of strangers The prisoners are olsPoSi"e
eagerly of their wares for in their leisure
hours they make many beautiful Things 10
sell Thus they lay up neat niue SUMS
against the, time of their release OF Io'
fbe purchase of prison Injuries. 1he
Nexicans make jewelry and horse trap
n;nes. Wonderful indeer are the brides.
whine and ornaments Of braided horse
hair.
As We wander through the dlnereht
buildings the warden answers my many
questions Yes" he says, "ali the WORK
Of the prison is done by the prisoners
See here is the bakery, for instance. no"
do Won like the look of our bread lie
uncovers a pile Of crisp. golden-pro"p
leaves. They are indeed inviting. our
.baker was a baker by trade; he has also
taught the trade to the other bakers here.
oh yes trades are learned in the prison
Ca here is the shoemaker. He is not
working today because it is Sunday. but
YOU can see the SHOP. All 'ile u
shoes are made here
The chapel. the schoolroom ana iiDfalS
are visited each in turn.
Yes The warden answers me. those
men that want to learn have plenty oil
opportunIty here for schooling inc
teachers? Why. the educated prisoners
teach the others See, that is one OF the
tutors there-that man reading that mag
azine in the corner"
We are taken to the Inessroom- II IS
nearly dinner time, and the long bare
tables gre set neatly with blue and white
agate ware.
Texan" I whisper to my companion.
how clean it all Is, wish they wouid
ask US 40 dinner here
In the kitchen the convict cooks are
busy getting dinner. Pots and pans snIne
as nats and pans rarely shine in Yuma.
And I'm the pantry and storercom the
dishes anad spplies are stacked with an
oraerliness that is decorative as well as
nrecise Visions of the Chinese restau-
rants in the town rise before me IN dihgE'
Ay-ridden contrast 10 this neatness-
Texan. il cleanliness is next 10 sodii-
ness-''I begin
then convicts i cherubs feNsn
cuts in promptly. This son OF the plains
also. IS impressed BY the splendid system
of the pr9on. Such tanks for dish wash
ing: sue steady row OF running water
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