Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1910-09-29
No. 8. ATLANTA PRISON
BY Capt. P. ID. HELMS. Deputy
United States Marshal.

.
Little attention was given to the cell !;
house on our inspection Of the prison
until We had completed our invest
CATION of the other sections of the
penitennsry. The cell house is To-
Gated Immediately in the rear OF the
executive department and between
the latter and the eastern wing OF
the prison. Il comprises 2 wings in
itself and runs north and south for
three or four hundred yards.
Through the middle of this cell
house extends the passage way from
the executive building 70 the suoito-
nun and dining room. so that the
house is practically divideS into two
enormously large halls. The same
plan Of construction has been en-
ploye6 FOR each 50 that by a de-
scnpuon OF one hall a conprehen-
rive idea may be had Of both. The
building itself IS OF granite, the
walls averaging nine feet II thickness.
The height from floor 10 ceiling IS
probably over eighty feet. The
windows are about thirty feet high
| by 5 feet wide. with the Sill about
| thirty feet from the floor. and there
| lore run close 10 the ceiling. These
windows are IL particular very hesvi-
lly barred. and unoer close watch OF
/ the guards without the prison. The
interior OF the house IS painted
white. thereby destroying that bar
ren ap Pearsnce, which IS usually
apparent in buildings constructed
entirely OF stone. Within each
section has been built an iron cage
inside tn hal ranging IRON the
floor 70 the ceiling. A passage way
OF twelve feet runs between II ard
the walls. SO that il IS completely
lisolated and separate in Itself. Very
appropriately and truly can il DC
ssid that the eel house IS but q
prison within q prison. as all the
prisoners are confined in the inner
! Ike vault o. either side OF this
!, inner prison cells arc located az a
Z / distance Of three and one nall teet
2 apart The cells arc lined along four
uers, arranged one above the other.
; Bslususdes extend about TWO feet
: OFT from each OF these ueTs and e.
! circle the entire vault. 50 as 20 per
( nit ready access 70 each indiWousl
: cell. There are thirty SIX cells OF
4 each Ter. making one hundred and
Z fourty four cells II one side ard 28S
! cells II each section OF the Gel
= house. The entrance 10 each cell is
) very narrow and is closed BY barr
= C door. The doors can be locked
separately or II tiers and II fact j
| necessary al cells can DC locked O
| unlocked Al the one tune. Th'
| guards Oh duty attend 70 the CLOSING
/ CT these doors. Each door is in
/ dividuzlly Inspected BY the guard Of
| duty and from TIE desk OF the OF
| | dcer in charge OF the levers con
| | uolling the automatic locks CT u
cells arc worked. The cells are o
TWO kinds. dark and light I'd
former IS used Tor recalciuant
disobeoiert prisoners and differ
from the latter IN one respect. BE
ng isolation cells. they contain b.
one bunk, whereas the light eel
contain two hunks. These bunk
are hinged to the wall and are sur
ported by steel chains. attached
= short distance above the hinge
During the day. the hunks are base
4 and fsttened against the wall o. Il
- cell, being held in position BY sms
hooks. The bed clothing. whic
consists OF a cotton mattress. pllo'
sheets and blanket are srapPc
lightly 70 the bunk frame. II
prisoner also mas the privilege Of
able. writing materials schoo! oool