Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1904-10-06
The Cold Water Cure.


The cold.wster cure has recently
been adopted ptthe Oregon State PEN
itentiary VIII apparently satisfactory
results. For all practical purposes
fogging has been abandoned. No
rule has been established prohibiting
a7gging, and if case should be pre-
sented in which all other punishment
failed the lash might be resOrted to,
bat this is a contingency not deemed
probable. The cold-water cure has
been found effective in some very OBJ
stinate cases, says the Portland Ore
gOnian.
The cold-water remedy consists of
stripping the prisoner to the skin and
turning upon him stream of cold
water from an ordinary garden hose.
The infiction Of the punishment is not
as brutal as hogging, it leaves no
scars nor permanent injuries, and the
punishment ends the moment the
water is turned off. A prisoner who
has b zen subjected to the punishment
once 7ants DO more Of it, though ne
may be smiling within a few moments
after the ordeal is over. Gov. Cham
berlain and the prison authorities are
highly pleased over the result of the
experiments, for they have been de-
sirous of abolishing the whip.
Only one prisoner had been AOgged
during this administration. That
man was a trusty and had run away,
and upon being captured was given
the penalty always imposed in such
cases up to that time. Since then two
prisoners have been punished with the
cold-water remedy. One ofthem was
big, burly negro. When he came to
the prison he was assigned to work IN
the shops, but refused to obey orders.
He asserted that he didn't have to
work, and wouldn't work. He was
taken to the bathroom, stripped, and
stood in corner. The first squirt of
water from the hose brought out a
shrek that was evidence of the ef-
fectiveness of the remedy. After try
ing for half minute to dodge the
stream of cold water, the man gave up
and began to beg and make promises.
The punishment ended, he went to
work, and has given no further trou-
BILE.
The other prisoner subjected to the
water cure was an obstinate white man.
For several months he had been CIV
ing trouble and seemed to find enjoy
ment in disobeying rules, even when
he gained nothing by it. Small pen
alties did no good, and he was finally
warned that another ohense would
bring severe consequences. A few
days later he deliberately violated an
important regulation and was sent to
the bathroom. He began to beg be-
fore the water struck him, and before
a pailful Of water had been used he
was completely subdued. Before be
had dressed again he was laughing
over the punishment, but his subse-
quent conduct has proved that he
doesn't intend receiving a second dose
of water cure.
There are men in the Oregon peni-
tentiary who bear hogging scars that
they will carry to their graves. 1t is
but fair to say that the scars were not
received during this administration.
Some Of the men thus punished are
still unconquered, and are perhaps
more vicious and more desperate be-
cause of the method of inficting pain.
Many prisoner has sworn that if he
ever gets an opportunity he will take
the life of the officer who laid the lash
across his back. Flogging was de-
grading both to the prisoner and the
man who imposed the punishment.
The prisoner was stripped and bound
and hOgged until, in many instances,
the blood flowed down his back. Not
so with the water cure. The prisoners
are not bound nor cut and bruised.
The cold-water cure leaves the of.
Tending prisoner with cleaner body
and apparently more peaceful mind.