The southern sentinel., 1903-09-18
PRISON WITHOUT WALLS.
p.,rr,hIe California Penftentiafy,
from Which 1t II Difficult
to Escape.

A penitentiary without wall is Re-
p.esa, one of the two great penal lnsu-
tutions of California Despite its lack
of the usual outer barrier, Represa is
yet a most difficult place to escape
from. as some half dozen incorrigible
feIons have found to their cost, says
writer in the Philadelphia North
American.
1t is a tradition among the criminal
classes of the Pacific states that TO De
sentenced to a term in Represa means
the worst possible fate. They tremble
when they stand in the dock and ar
IDENTIFY hope that San Quentin may De
the institution named instead. But 1t
is singularly enough an absolutely un-
founded superstition, and the lot OF
one convicted to this dreaded spot Is
in some respects even better than at
other prisons.
For one thing, the authorities are
accustomed to allow outdoor games to
be played on the grounds by the in
mates. Baseball is naturally the IA
vorite and almost every Sunday there
is a contest on the diamond. Some
times two or three mines are in the
field, watched and applauded by a
throng of their fellows.
Ninety per cent. of the younger and
middle-aged men are striking speci-
mems of physical development. The
rugged outdoor labor of the prison de-
velops tissue in the weaklings and
tends to perfect the physique of the
brawny. Naturally among men so
constituted there is desire for ath-
letic recreation. Games, wrestling
bouts, QUOT pitching and running con-
stitute the pastime of the prisoners
Some of the paraphernalia used in the
games is given by friends of the pris-
oners and some of it is deftly made
by the men themselves.
Newspapers and magazines from San
Francisco and the east sometimes find
their way to the prisoner. They are
examined, however before they reach
his hands, lest there be articles in
them that might excite a rebellious
spirit among the men.
The first question of the visitor Is
Invariably: How can you guard these
prisoners when you have no wall
around the grounds?" The answer is
simple.
The grounds are studded with nine
teen guard posts that are built of stone
and wood and resemble variety of
Z srht hv,;l co1i
points of observation and are armed
with gatling machine guns, Winchester
rifles and shotguns.
These posts are from 40 to 60 feet
high and are placed at varying dis
tances apart. averaging 800 yards. No
convict is allowed to pass between the
posts unless he has permission or is
accompanied by an officer or guard.
Each post is manned by a clever
and is only accessible by a
draw ladder. which is pulled up after
the post is occupied. Sometimes it Is
necessary for convicts to work as far
as two miles away from the line Of
posts. Two guards, each armed with
a Winchester rifle. are often sent this
distance with a gang of Is or 20 con-
victs.
Of the 7s4 convicts there are now
105 serving life sentence. There are
81 negroes. 25 Chinese and four jap
anese. The system of paroling pris-
oners began in 1892. All convicts ex-
cept those serving a second term are
eligible after one year of good be-
havior. Those serving a life sentence
may be paroled after seven years of
good behavior. Thirty-two men have
enjoyed this privilege since the sys-
TEN was adopted.
Represa has remarkable prison dis
cipline. There is practically no re-
striction on the association of convicts
with one another. Tobacco and cigar
cite paper constitute the currency of
the convict. Tobacco is furnished for
the men by the state. But the cigarette
paper is obtained covertly from vari-
Gus sources. despite the efforts of the
prison officials to suppress its use.