The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1907-03-15
CHINESE PRISONS.
Terrible State Of Men and Women
Confined In Them.

h&LfE .A. N~'' Z. i
Some OF tho Torturos inflicted Old
Prisoners Arc Almost Beyond Be
lief
The East Of Asia Magazine says
the first thing which impresses the
European visitor to the Chinese pris-
on is the absolute himsy character of
the structure itself. If one gets per-
mission to visit the prison in Canton
land shoals Of globe trotters do
wend their way thither after they
have seen the execution ground---it
will be found to be a ramshake build
ing of no pretence whatsoever.
The question will be asked: "By
what means + the prisoners held in
safety if the structures in which they
are in%carcerated + so flimsy and in
secure?" the answer is brief. With
out exception the prisoners are fet-
tered. Many have chains on the legs
only. These are the less dangerous
and have been guilty of the less i'm
portant crimes. Others, in addition,
have letters on the arms, which make
it impossible for them to escape.
Lastly, a few prisoners wer not
only manacled on the ankles, but
wore q chain around their necks, ct
the dangling end of wichh was at
tached a block of granite. The pris-
oner would walk from place to place
within the court yard, but ere he
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 wishes to
stop.
In addition to the chains worn by
day, all the male prisoners + furth-
er shackled at night. BY means of
two heavy beams, in which holes have
been made for the ankles of the pris-
oners, a rude but effective method is
discovered for OBTAINING the prison
ers in absolute security.
The prisoners, who during the day
have been loafing in the court yard,
are in 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
into the hole made to receive it,
~whereupon the upper beam is replac-
ed and the prisoners are held by the
feet in these rude stocks. There is
no possibility of escape. They are
allowed bricks Tor pillows, and in
this uncomfortable position they pass
the hours.
In addition to this however, special
cruelties + perpetrated on certain
prisoners who, for some reason or
other, are exempted from capital
punishment. Prisoners there are
whose appearance becomes as wild as
the beasts of the forest, who, with
heavy cangues on their shoulders, are
~incarcerated in a filthy dungcn for
the term of their natural life. | have
seen them moving to and fro like
Gagged hyenas in their dens at a men
agerie. Their appearance is revolt
ing.
Night and day, as far as | remem-
Der, both asleep and awake, this
heavy burden rested on their shout
ders, though how it "a possible to
sleep therein ! was unable to under
stand. On tie other hand, in a pris-
on | visited for a few weeks ago, |
was informed that the canguc was
removed at nights that the prisoners
might sleep. A crowd in the prison
quadrangle, with their unshaven
heads, their unwashed faces, their
clanking letters, their hopeless looks,
their diseased bodies and their be-
bruted souls can never be forgotten.
But although under the recognized
system of punishment Chinese pris-
oners must live a life which to us Of
the West would be unbcarable, it
would not be sc to them if they were
fairly treated and were saved from
tae exactions and barbarities to which
they are exposed at the hands of their
rapacious keepers.
When a prisoner first goes into the
wards the wardcrs claims his clothes
and his money and he is left with the
barest RACES to cover his nakedncss.
He is robbed of all his cash, as a mat
ter Of course. Those who arc con
demned arc compelled under a threat
OF the whip, to write begging letters
to their relatives, requesting them to
forward money.
If the unfortunate man hcsitates
to accede to this demand the ward
ers, assisted by some of the oldest
~ loOilcIS---lOE IL appeaf lHdt lnnlal-
es of more than 20 years residence
have accorded them certain privilcg-
es---take the mar in hand during the
night. The hands of the prisoner are
fastened by arope, and the other end
of the rope is then passed through a
ring which hangs from the roof of
the ward.
The warriors then hoist the unhap-
Ply wretch, who is left hanging in mid
air by the hands. Should he attempt
to cry out, his mouth and throat arc
filled with ashes. When the breath
has almost left his body and he is
choking he is lowered, and under the
terror Of renewed Of this torture he
is eager to promise almost anything.
Many die under this ordeal. But as
it is assumed among the mandarins
that mortality must be high, and as
no official probing is ever dreamed
Of, a general statement as to natural
death is sufficient.
Sawdust Alcohol.
GLORIOUS Opportunities Lost is
the name for song that the drinking
men Of the country can sing with
much pathos, said DR.. Wiley, the