Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-09-22
THE COLD WATER CURE,
In the Oregon state Penitenti0ry ~
Has Proved Effective.


Has Proved Effective.
The cold water cure has recently
been adopted at the Oregon state pcni-
Tertiary, with apparently satisfactory
results. For all practical purposes
foggng has been abandoned. No rule
has been established prohibiting fog
gng, and if case should be presented
In which all other punishment failed
the lash might be resortcd TO- but this
is n contingency not deemed probable
The cold water cure has been found ef-
fectivc Ia some very obstinate cases.
The cold water remedy consists Of
stripping the prisoner to the skin and
turning upon him stream OF cold wa
ter from an ordinary garden hose. The
infection Of the punishment is not as
brutal as hogging, IL leaves no scars
or permanent injuries, and the punish
ment ends the moment the water is
turned Off. prisoner who has been
subjected TO the punishment once
wants no more Of it, though he may
be smiling within few moments after
the ordeal Is over. Governor Chamber
lain and the prison authorities are
experiments, for they have been de-
sirous of abolishlng the whip.
Only one prisoner has been logged
during this administration. That man
was a trusty and had run away and
upon being captured was given the
penalty always imposed III such cases
up to that time. Since then two prison.
ers have been punished with the cold
wafer remedy. One of them was Il
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. lie was
taken to the bathroom, stripped and
stood in a corner. The first squirt of
water from the hose brought out a
shrek that was evidence Of the cffec-
tivcncss OF the remedy. After trying
for half minute to dodge the stream
Of cold water the man gave W. and
began to beg and make promises. The
punishment ended. he went to work
and has given no further trouble.
The other prisoner subjected to the
water cure was white man. For sev-
eral months he had been giving trouble
and seemed to find enjoyment in dis
obcying rules even when be gained
nothing by il. Small penalties did no
good. and he was finally warned that
another offense would bring severe
consequences. A few days later he
deliberately violated an important reg
ulation and was sent to the bathroom.
He began to beg before the water
struck him, and before paiful of
water had been used he was complete
~ subducd. Before he had dressed
again he was laughing over the punish
mcnt but his subsequent conduct has
proved that he doesn't intend receiving
q s. cond dose OF water cure.
There are men in the Oregon peni
Tertiary who bear fogging 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 inflicting pain,
Many prisoner has sworn that II he
ever gets an opportunity he will take
the life of the officer who laid the lash
across his back Flogging was de
grading 70 both the prisoner and the
nun who imposed the punishment.
/ The prisoner was stripped and bound
and logged 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 offend
ing prisoner with cleaner body and
apparently more peaceful mind
Portland Oregonian