The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-25
Chaplain Emerson

AhAplAlh
The Rev. S. r. Emerson, state chap
lain of the convict camps, made his
official visit to No. IL and No. con-
Wet camps near Ensley yesterday. We
were met at Oakland on the Frisco
railroad at o'clock by a convict trusty
and driven to No e.
No. IL is operated by the Tennessee
Coal, Iron and Railroad company and
is said to be the most ideal convict
camp in the south The buildings are
handsome and substantial, the grounds
are neat and clean and beautiful grass
and flowers give an air of tone and
refinement to the surroundings that
counteracts some of the grinding Bit
terness of solitude and the irresistible
feeling of depression that overcomes
the visitor the moment he passes
through the heavy gate.
After a warm breakfast in the pri-
vate dining room we made an inspec-
ton of the hospital, where about one
| dozen men were confined. Some had
been injured in the mines. Others were
i'll with various diseases. One man
with Bright's disease had been con-
fined to the bed for several months.
Burned BY Gas
One man, white man, was seriously,
almost fatally burned by an explosion
of gas during the past week. His wife
| had come in to spend Sunday with
| him. She was sitting by his bed. The
minister spoke a few kindly words to
| the suffering man and by request Of
fered a short prayer. 1t was full of
| sympathy, Christian sympathy, and
when it was done we hastened quiet
ly from the room. The wife was weep
ing. The eyes of the man were closed
his lips drawn. A smile of quiet peace
mad come over his face. We left him
alone with his God, his wife ana his
thoughts.
| In the large open chamber of the
hospital where a number of negroes
were suffering from one injury or all
ment or another the minister passed
from one church to another with a joe
ular remark here, a word of sym
pathy there. Many he called by name.
All seemed to be pleased with the
kindly visitation. He spoke a few
words of encouragement and followed
| 1t with a short prayer.
The preachers visit is always well
come. These people follow his COM
ings and goings with hungry eyes and
hang eagerly upon every word he says.
| He makes himself an agreeable com
panion while among them. He offers
advice where it seems to be needed
| tells wholesome anecdote where ii may
| bring a ray of pleasant sunshine and
admonishes to right living and Chris
| tian conservation where and when the
occasion seems worthy and opportune.
| He does not compel. He leads with
1 gentleness.
| Wards Are Inspected
In the main building or guardh ouse
we visited the various wards, large,
open chambers where the convicts were
reading, lounging on their hunks max
| ing their Sunday toilette il discussing
the issues of the day in the outside
world or their hopes for the future
There are about 40 men in the white
compartment. All are in one large
roomy, ventilated and lighted
| chamber. The hunks are swung from
the ceiling with iron rods. The bee
clothing Is clean, the beds are large
and comfortable. A lib airy of choice
books stands to one tide of the room
and there are newspapers and maya.
zines. Fresh running water, modern
sewerage and electric lights are among
the comforts and necessities enjoyed
by these stay at homes"
The men? They are a cheerful lot
They are bright and mi.ing. You woulc
not pick one of them in a crowded
street cor a criminal. But here ar,
murderers, safe blowers, burglars, rob
| DtISt iHitNeS anu dllcSeu cTlIl
mails of all degrees.
There is j. e. Russell, who was sent III
a number of years ago for blowing a SAT,
at Montgomery His case was the sen
sation OF the day at the time of the Grim
and during his trial and conviction. Nov
he is the leader in the social and chape
work of the prison. He is young MAJ
OF handsome appearance and highly in
telligent. He is at the head of the tailor
ing department in the camp and is sal,
! to be an expert in this line. He says h
, will establish a business of this kim
when he is allowed to change his citizen
ship
Processes Religion
He professed religion some time age
and il practiong it in his daily life an
conversation. A few minutes converse
ton with Russell convinces you of hi
sincerity of purpose.
There is Tom Fay. a member of til
famous Miller and Duncan gang. ]
was caught in bad company and sent II
for a number of years from Birmingham
He too, has protested religion and is
model convict. He not only has the re
spect of all the other prisoners, but ha
. the full confidence OF all the officials con
nected with the camp. Russell enjoys tn
same degree of confidence from all tn
| wardeH and his deputy told me that Rus
sell and Fay were model prisoners, tina
they never cause the least trouble an
seem to be trying faithfully to lead pei
feet lives. ar t4
/ During the chapel service held by tn