Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-07-30
MILITARY PRISONERS.
How They Are Guarded at Garrisons-
The Bull Ring.


The hardest duty that soldier is
ever called upon to perform in time
Of peace and the duty which he breads
most is the guarding Of military pris-
oners. These are divided into two
classes:
First-Garrison prisoners, who have
received light sentences for minor
breaches of discipline and will be re-
turned to duty in a short time.
Second-Military convicts, who for
attempted desertion or other serious
military crimes have been dishonora-
bly, discharged by order Of court
martial and have received sentences
varying from few months to several
years confinement at hard labor, ac-
cording to the gravity Of the offence.
Into their ranks the vicious element,
or those who hold their oath Of en-
listment too lightly, eventually find
their way.
Every morning at fatigue call the
prisoners are drawn up in long line
in front Of the guard house and sur
rounded by a chain Of sentries. The
sombre prison garb Of the generals
military convicts were formerly
known as general prisoners"-is
marked with gigantic capital "P's"
which render them conspicuous and
therefore make escape more difficult.
Some are evil looking fellows with
long and unsavory records Doubt
less many have done time" more
than once in civil prisons before evad-
ing the watchfulness Of the recruiting
officer and finding their way into the
army. Others are rosy checked lads
who in all probability have yet to see
their twenty-first birthday, and In
nine cases out Of ten the charge
against them is desertion. Home
sickness or restlessness under military
restraint and discipline have led them
into the rash act, the heavy penalties
of which they may not have fully
realized.
In groups Of twos and threes and
guarded by sentries with loaded rifles
these men perform most Of the disa-
greeable work and menial labor about
the army post, which is highly varied
in character and may consist of any
thing from sprinkling the flower beds
on the officers lawns to digging ditch
es for monster sewer pipes. Although
they generally perform their enforced
tasks cheerfully, occasionally a par
ticularly disagreeable piece Of work
causes a miniature strike and dozen
men may "buck"-that is, refuse to
work.
1t is then that the historic "bull
ring" Is resorted to. A huge circle Is
marked out on the ground and the
malefactors are required to walk
around its circumference in Indian
file for eight hours a day, preserving
absolute silence. A ten minute res
pite is allowed at noon for bread
and water lunch. A day or two OF
this treatment usually suffices to
break the most STUBBORN VIII. IL not
there still remains solitary confine-
ment on the bread and water diet,
and as a last resort the dungeon.
The prison duty Is by all odds the
grimmest phase of the soldiers life
He may find himself standing guard
over his best friend, with orders to
shoot to kill should his man attempt
to escape.
The effect of intercourse with mill
tary prisoners is, If nothing more,
very damaging to the morals of the
new recruits, and it is most unfortu-
nate that some provision has not been
made for transferring this class OF
evil doers to civil penitentiaries or to
some large military prison far remov-
ed from the army post.-Youth's
Companion.