The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1907-10-17
A GLIMPSE OF THE LARGEST FEDERAL
PRISON IN THE UNITED STATES.



ovens. Among the men who help in
this kitchen are thirty-two life prison
ers. George G. Buchanan is the stew
ard, and his Office between the pantry.
bakery and kitchen proper is enclosed
In glass. BY this ARRANGEMENT he
may look into any of the departments
at any time without leaving his desk.
The menu, while not elaborate, ls
composed of substantial food, we'll
cooked, and served in far better style
than the meals in a cheap boarding
house. The breakfast on the day of
my visit consisted of oatmeal, butter,
bread and coffee. At dinner roast
pork, gravy, potatoes, rolls and water
were served, while a supper of buns
and coffee completed the days meals.
On that day 500 pounds of pork,
150 pounds of rolled oats, and 100
pounds of sugar were consumed. The
average cost per man for that days
food was trihe over twelve cents.
The average days rations cost eleven
cents per man. Many OF the vegeta-
bles used are grown in the prison gar
den, and last year eighty tons of cab
bage were raised. Some of this crop
was made into sauerkraut, and seven
ty-five barrels were used at the pris-
oners' table. About 375 bushels of
peaches were gathered from the
orchard and "put up" in the prison
cannery, and the same amount of to-
matoes was canned for table use,
Food supplies, such as coffee, tea,
sugar, flour, meats, etc, are pur-
chased quarterly. This is done by
samples, the name of the firm being
unknown at the time the selection is
made. A complete cold storage and
Ice plant is maintained in connection
with the kitchen. Condensing pipes
carry the vapor away, and the usual
smells found in the culinary depart
ments of large institutions are en-
tirely absent. The floors are scrubbed
daily, and the dirty water swept into
an outlet which runs into the sewer.
Church and Sunday-school services
are held on each Sunday morning,
and the afternoon is generally spent
In reading. There is a library of
5000 volumes, and ten per cent. of
the prisoners are reading scientific
and technical books, thus showing
that they are preparing themselves
for some useful and lucrative en-
ployment after their release. Books
on electricity seem to be the most
popular. A printing office is main
tained, and here all the prison print
ing, including the reports upon the
workings of the institution, is done.
A man confined at Leavenworth
will not lose his health from lack of
ventilation or sanitary arrangements,
as special care has been taken in this
line, and the cells are models of SAN
itation. There is complete hospital
and an isolation ward for use in case
of an epidemic.
Some of the prisoners are good mu.
sicians, and an orchestra has been
organized, which frequently plays on
Sunday in the little gallery during
the dinner hour. Baseball and racing
are recreations in which well-behaved
prisoners may indulge occasionally.
The mere fact in being able to take
part in games is an incentive for some
OF the prisoners to obey the rules.
Several of the men are expert in
wood-carving, and the large wooden
eagle-the emblem of the DEPART
ment of Justice, which is on exhibit
tion at the jamestown Exposition
was carved by a prisoner at Leaven-
worth. Another is an artist, and has
decorated the safes throughout the
buildings with beautiful marine
views, and also lettered the doors of
the different departments ir gold.
The story OF the downfall of this
young man-if true-serves to show
how easily one may go wrong. He
was struggling artist, and was
called upon to paint picture in
which $40 note was the central
figure. A So bill was the nearest ap.
proach he could afford as a model. so
he raised the two to a twenty. and
did 1t so skillfully that he almost de-
ceived himself After the picture was
finished ne carried the raised note
In his pocket, until one day by mis-
take he gave 1t in payment for some
article at shop. On receiving the
change, he failed to correct the mis-
take, fearing arrest. For several
days he hourly expected to be arrest
ed, but the counterfeit was not de-
tected. Later he began to raise notes
Tor his own amusement, and finally
It became a business, until one day
he was discovered. Conviction soon
followed with sentence to the Leav-
enworth penitentiary.
In 1901 there was a mutjny and
a number of prisoners escaped after
killing one guard and injuring sew
eral others. Nearly all of them were
recaptured, and 10 avoid a repetition
Oh this fort-like watch-tower has
been built, from which guns may be
used in any direction without the men
behind them being in danger. The
gates are all carefully guarded. and
every wagon passing through them,
either empty or loaded. is Thoroughly
examined by the guards to see tbnt
no person is concealed therein.
The warden is Major r. w. Nc
Claughry, an officer who served with
distinction during. the Civil War.
Shortly after its close he became in
terested in prison work. and since
that time has served in the capacity