The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1907-07-05
THE PRISONS N CHINA.
Fearful State Of the Criminals
Confined In Them.
ALL PRISONERS FETTERED

Some From Cruelty Become In Appear.
anee as Wild az Beasts Of the Forest.
Punishment, For Purposes Of Extor.
ton, That Kills Many.
The first thing which impresses tie
European visitor to the Chinese prison
Is the absolutely fimsy character Of
the structure itself. If one gets PEI
mission to visit the prison in Canton,
and shoals of globe trotters do wenl
their way thither after they have sec,
the execution ground, it will he fou:ll
to be ramshackie building of no pre-
tense whatsoever
The question will he asked, "By
what means are the prisoners held in
safety if the structures In which they
are incarcerated are so flimsy and ill.,
secure?" The answer, says the East
of Asia Magazine, is brief. Without
exception the prisoners are fettered.
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 it I'M
possible for them to escape. &.
Lastly, few prisoners were not only
manacled Oh the ankles, but wore a
chain around their necks, at the dan
Cling end of which was attached block
Of granite. The prisoner would walk
from place to place within the court
yard, but ere lie could move beyond
the length Of his chain he must stop
and lift the stone and, carrying it in
his shackled arms, drop it again where
he wished to stop.
In addition to the chains worn BY
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 In absolute
security.
The prisoners, who during the day
have been loafing in the courtyard,
are in the evening driven into the
wards and made to lie side by side on
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 receive 1t, whereupon
the upper beam is replaced, and the
prisoners are held by the feet in these
rude stocks. There is no possibility
Of escape. They are allowed bricks
for pillows, and IN this uncomfortable
position they pass the hours.
In addition to this, however, special
prisoners who, for some reason or
other, are exempted from capital pun
ishment. Prisoners there are whose
appearance becomes as wild as the
beasts Of the forest; who, with heavy
cangues on their shoulders, are incar--
cerated In a filthy dungeon for the
term of their natural lives. I have
seen them moving to and fro like Gagged
hyenas in their dens at 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 it was possible to sleep therein
was unable to understand. On the
other hand, in prison visited few
weeks ago l 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 letters, their hopeless looks,
their diseased bodies and their BEIRUT
o6 Sonlo ooY yoovor IN forro<%ov,
But, although under the recognized
system Of punishment Chinese prison
ers must live life which to us of the
west would be unbearable, it would
not be so to them If they were fairly
treated and were saved from the exac-
lions and barbarities to which they
are exposed at the hands of their ra-
pacious keepers.
| When 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 threat
of the whip, to write begging letters to
their relatives requesting them to for.
ward money.
II the unfortunate man hesitates to
accede to this demand, the warders,
assisted by some Of the oldest prison.
ers-for it appears that inmates Of
more than twenty years. residence
have accorded them certain privileges
take the man in hand during the
night. The hands Of the prisoners are
fastened by rope, and the other end
Of the rope is then passed through q
ring which hangs from the root Of the
ward. .s1assseaat~ a''s.- Vs.
The warders then hoist the unhappy
wretch, who is left hanging In midail
by the hands. Should he attempt tt
cry out his mouth and throat are filled
with ashes. When the breath has al
most left his body and he Is choking ht
Is lowered, and under the terror Of re
newal Of this torture he is eager Il
promise almost anything.
Many die under this ordeal. But q,
It Is assumed among the mandarin