The Saint Paul globe., 1903-07-26

Not only is Minnesota'S state prison
old enough to have history but 1t
has legends as well. The most inter
esting of these legends concerns the
very first prisoner in Minnesota to be
supported at the peoples expense. He
was a negro and had been convicted
of horse stealing.
The prison then was a little frame
structure, the nucleus of the present
one located in the deep gorge of the
ST. Cro1x river, a gorge that has since
been enlarged to fit the present build
ings. Time hanging heavily on this
negro prisoners hands 1t was sug-
gested to him by the first prison war
den that he take a handsaw and tour
the st. Croix valley in search of wood
to saw. He acted upon the suggestion
and was careful to obey the injunc-
tion Of the warden that he report at
the prison every night at six sharp.
But one night his work detained him
until 8 o'clock and when he arrived at
the prison and raped for admittance
the door was not opened.
He went to the wardenS house which
was located in the same gorge, but the
warden and the members of his family
had gone out to spend the evening.
Deeply changrined and feaful ow rheu-
matism, for it was late in the fall, the
negro curled himself up in the little
entry and endeavored to snatch some
sleep. But the more he pondered on
the situation, the more convinced was
he that he had a right to feel deeply
Injured. The state owed him supper,
also it owed him a nights lodging. He
was defrauded of BOTH
- The prisoner survived the discom-
forts of the night but he took steps
'sthe next day to have the matter
brought to the attention of the govern
L -
matter and finally came to the conclu-
.ssion that the negro was entirely within
his rights, that he was entitled to ad-
mission every night. So the warden
was reprimanded and neither during
the remainder of his administration
nor any other wardens administration
has such an incident occurred.
That is one of the Saltwater prison
legends. The officials over there tell
it with twinkle in their eyes when
they are asked what has been done
for the lettering of the prisoners con-
-dition during the life of the institu-
ton.
Are Not Locked Out Any More.
"We don't lock them out over night"
the warden solemnly assures the ques-
TONER
But when the criminal class began to
grow in numbers in the upper valley of
the Mississippi not only were the ones
who were apprehended locked up Sc
scurely every night, but they were
made to realize to the uttermost that
they were considered by the state as
dangerous to the welfare and the peace
of the states Inhabitants as any wild
beast that today PAGES up and down
insthe steel cage Of circus menagerie.
The yconvict'S shaven poll, his hideouS
striped suit, the dark cell for punish
ment, the degrading lock- -step-not
only were all these refnements of tor
ture introduced when another convict
Joined the negro horse thief, but they
remained in vogue, as the fashion edi-
tor would say, until the early nineties
of the past century.
In the prison armory, which is locat-
ed on the right Of the hall which leads
into the prison part of the adminiStra-
ton building, there hang on, the wall
the heavy ankle cuffs and hand cuffs
that We're used to secure the prisoners
less than decade ago. These feel
heavy enough when held in the hand,
and when worn for any length of time
about the ankles or the wrist, the skin
soon began to blister and peel and fes-
tering sores resulted. Although these
ankle cuffs and wrist cuffs still hang in
the armory, both have been discarded
and nothing has replaced the former.
Light steel hand cuffs are used to fas-
ten the convictS hands together, but
these cause no discomfort to the pris-
oner, though they keep from mischief
the strongest and most intractable
convictS.
In this same armory hang the weap-
ons that are used by the guards for
capturing escaped prisoners. The man
who PAGES the high stone wall that de-
fines the prison boundaries formerly
used the Winchester rifle which car
ries half a mile. But eleven years ago
this was replaced by the double barreled
shotgun which has consedarbly less
carrying power. The long distanced
gun was considered dangerous weap-
on in the hands of an excited or reck-
less guard, for eyes cannot see as far
as such gun carries and fatal mis-
takes were apt to be made. But for
the past ten years, at the Saltwater
prison, no guard has been called upon
to shoot from the walls, nor has any
prisoner endeavored to conceal him
self for the purpose Of escape in the
work shops after the days work is
over.
Relic of Cruelty.
In the cell buildings there is one
cell that is relic of Stillwater's inhu-
name past. There were once two 9TH
erS OF the same KIND, but they nave
been trasferred into modern punish
ment cells and bear no resemblance to
the hideous, dark holes which were
considered ten years ago the best re-
straining influence for the unruly pris-
oner. The sample that remains COM
ports better with ones idea of prison
than do the sunny corridors, the park,
the outdoor hustle and the actual
cheerfulness that seems to pervade all
the rest of the Saltwater prison. More
over the gloomy cell is blood stained,
for twenty years ago guard shot a
convict in the cell, and this has sup
piled the prison with another Of its
legends, a ghostly one, this time.
The prisoner, a homicide, was re-
garded as a dangerous criminal, and
was one Of the most intractable men in
the institution. Frequently he was
placed in this dark cell, which is with
out a flicker of light, or rather was
then. for the steel inner door has since
been removed. Air was admitted,
through small hole in the roof but
not in sufficient quantity, or pure
enough in quality, to prevent the dun
geon from being noisome. During the
night the prisoner was permitted to lie