Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1907-07-03
TIE PRISONS m CHINA
Fearful State Of the Criminals
Confined In Them.
ALL PRISONERS FerTeRED.


Puuishment, For Purposes Of Exsor-
tion, That Kills Many.
: The first thing which imprcsses the
European visitor TO the Chinese prison
IN the absolutely flimsy character OF
the structure itself. III one gets per
mission to visit the prison Ina Canton.
and shoals OF globe trotters do wend
their way thlther after they have seen
the execution ground. Il will be found
to be ramshackle building OF no pre-
tense whatsoever.
The question will be asked. by
what means are the prisoners held In
safety IL the structures in which they
are incarcerated are so flimsy aud in-
secureI' The answer. says the East
or Asia Magazine. is brief Without
exception the prisoners are fetiered.
Many have chains on the legs only.
These are the less dangerous and have
been guilty OF the less important
crimes. Others. in addition. have fet-
ters on the arms. which make II i'm
possible for them TO Escape.
Lastly. q few prisoners were not only
manacled ON the ankles. but wore n
chain around their uecks. at the dan
Cling end OF which was attached block
OF granite. The prisoner would walk
from place 10 place within the court
yard, but ere lac could move beyond
the length of his chain he must stop
and lift the stone ana. carrying it I'm
his shacsled arms. drop it again where
he wished TO stop.
ol1sff.,,, a., a.,
day. all the male prisoners are further
shackled at night. BY means OF two
heavy beams. IN which holes have been
made for the ankles Of the prisoners. a
rude but effective method is discovered
for OBTAINING the prisoners I'm absolute
security.
The prisoners, who during the day
have been loafing In the courtyard,
are I'm the evening driven into the
wards and made TO lie side by side on
a raised platform. The upper OF the
two beams Is then raised. and each
man is compelled TO place his ankle in
the hole made TO receiyc It. whereupon
the upper beam is replaced. and the
prisoners are held 10y the feet in these
rude stocks. There is no possibility
OF escape. They are allowed bricks
for pillows. aud in this uncomfortable
position they pass the hours.
In addition TO this. however. special
cruelties are perpetrated on certain
prisoners who. for some reason or
other. are exempted from capital pun
ishment. Prisoners. there are whose
appearance becomes as wild as the
hRoCfG nf lao q. -A,
canEues on their shoulders, are incar-
cerated In filthy dungeon Tor the
term OF their natural lives. | have
seen them moving TO and fro like Gagged
hyenas I'm their dens ut a menagerie.
Their appearance Is revolving.
Night and day. as far as remember
both asleep and awake. this heavy bur.
den rested on their shoulders. though
how IL was possible 10 sleep therein |
was unable 10 understand. On the
other hand. in n prison visiteda few
weeks ago was Informed that the
cangue was removed at nights that the
prisoners might sleep. a crowd in the
prison quadrangle. with their unshav.
en- heads. their unwashed faces. their
clanking fetters, their hopeless looks
their diseased bodies aud their BEIRUT.
ed souls. can never be forgotten.
But. although under the recognized
system Of punishment Chinese prison
ers must live life which To us OF the
west would be unbearable. Il lvould
not he SO To- them ie they were fairly
treated and were saved from the exac.
lions and barbarities to which they
pr~sa 81 .,e =
pacious keepers.
When n prisoner FIRST goes into the
wards the warders claim his clothes
and his money. and he Is left with the
barest rags TO cover his nakedness
He Is robbed OF all his cash, as mat
ter Of course. Those who are con.
demned are compelled, under n threat
of the whip. 10 write begging letters to
their relatives requesting them to for.
ward money.
If the unfortunate man hesitates q
accede 10 this demand. the warlers
assisted by some OF the Oldest prison
ers-for :, appears that inmates OF
more than twenty years residence
have accorded them certain privileges
take the man in hand during tho
night The hands OF the prisoners arr
fastcned by rope, and the other end
OF The rope is then passed through O
ring which hangs from the roof OF tho
ward
The warlers then hoist the unhappy
wretch. who is left hanging IN midail
by the hands. Should he attempt e
cry out his mouth and throat are filled
With ashes. When the breath has al
most left his body and he is choking hs
is lowered. and under the terror of re
newaf of this torture he is eager tC
promise almost anything.
Many die under this ordeal. But as
It Is assumed among the mandarins
that mortality must be high and as nj
official probing IS ever dreamed OF {
general statement as to natural dealt
Is sufficient