River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1905-08-10
the comparatively weak, yet cruel, lash
scanned 70 him child,s nlav

the comparatively weak, yet cruel, laSh
seemed to him child's play.
Talk about the punishments Of to-
day." complained the inspector. They
were different in my days. Formerly
the punished convict had to thank the
inspector for the knout."
"But why?'
sFor the instruction. 1t was the
custom formerly. He had to get up,
bow down to the ground, and say:
Thanks. your honor, for teaching me,
knave and fool
"Now things are different There's
no system. It's the fault of the hui
manitarians."
There are many inspectors who can
not imagine an unwhipped convict. A
Convict who has never been whipped
is in their eyes no convict.
One of these inspectors, called the
Iron Nose. left memorable reputa-
ton.
In the morning at roll call he used
to muster the convicts to see who had
escaped the knout longer than it was
healthy for him.
well, sonny, why are you standing
so disrespectfully? You have one foot
an inch ahead of the other. Come,
noW, my son, lie down.
When the convict behaved himself
well-that is, stood without seeming to
breathe, and perfectly motionless, so
that the Iron Nose could find no fault
with him, he used to say:
Here, you Sunday-school boy, come
here. Lie down, my dear. Execution
err, give him few. but real hot ones!"
but why, your honor?"
''You dare to speak? Lie down."
The only unwhipped convict in the
place was his cook, who really under
stood cooking to perfection. For this
reason he was under the particular pro-
lection of the inspectors wife.
Don't you dare to touch Gregor,"
she warned her husband One day she
went on a prolonged visit, and when
she returned her husband looked at
her sheepishly. "You had Gregor
knouted?" exclaimed the wife, in
horror.
Eyes, my angel, l had to have him
dashed; don't be angry, my darling!"
l.. was considered one of the most
heartless inspectors in the service.
When he was sober there was no soft
err spoken man on the island. He was
in the habit of addressing the convicts
as dear boy" little brother, "angel,"
and hardly said anything without add
ing: ''The Lord be with YOU
He used to beckon a convict with
his little finger: Come here, my dear
fellow, lie down; we shall sprinkle
you some"
The convict fell at his feet. "Why,
your honor? Pardon me-"
Tut, tut, my beloved; what are you
saying? Am / angry with you?
have nothing against you. Lie down,
my good boy And because you spoke
we will add five more" Mercy, your
honor" well, now, my dear boy
This is not at all nice. Your master
says: Lie down. and you do not rush
to obey. Five more. Lie down,
brother"
Nov, that's better, my dear. The
Lord be with you. Sprinkle him, Ivan.
Slower, harder. Don't hurry. Take
your time And when the convict
howled with pain he would add: Never
mind, never mind, hold out. The Lord
suffered, too, and we must follow
Him.
Former Methods.
"When l used to come to roll cal"
boosted K, 81 was in the habit of say
ing: Good morning, dogs. Good morn
ing, jailbirds And they always re-
piled, joyfully: Good morning, your
honor. For they knew that / was in
good humor If I came and did not
call them dogs they knew that some
thing was brewing. When I ordered
knouting they tainted with fear. fused to
say: "Knouts and spadesto dig grave.
| wanted to make them believe that
some one would be knouted to death,
My assistants pretended that they wer0
calming me. The convictS were wall
lowing in the dust before me, and
wept for mercy. But corporal pun.
ishment is no good In my opinion
nothing beats solitary confinement.
Worse than knouting. Two weeks OF
solitary brings them all to their
senses. Come, and / will show you."
We entered a gangway which was
narrow and dark On both sides were
narrow cages, with tiny windows in
each door. The air in the gangway
made breathing impossible. 1t smelled
like a dog kennel. The moment wa
entered the gangway blood-curdling
oaths and cries were heard on all
sides. The convicts howled in frenzy
and attempted to burst their doors. /
was reminded of madhouse and Of
Dante's Inferno.
LET Gussoff out" commanded the
inspector.
The guard approached his cage
From the cell arose maddened roar:
Don't come near, don't come near;
I will murder you!"
well, perhaps you'd better leave
him." calmly remarked K.
Don't you see now that this is mors
effective than knouting? Knouting il
nothing
w. DORASHEyITSCH