The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-12-30
"Ducked' TIL He stranoles.


He is utterly helpless in the grasp
of the guards Or TRUSTEES" who adj
minister the cure" One man seizes
the victim by the ankles and another
plunges his head under ene water,
where he is held until he is almost
strangled.
As HI involuntarlly gasps for air he
swallows quantities OF the water. The
"ducking" is repeated until it has all
the effect Of the water cure" once
practiced in the Philippines, in which
luckless Moros were pinioned to the
ground and water poured down their
throats through hose.
The further charge is made that
chemical which causes nausea is
placed in the water. This Is denied
by the prison officials.
Such an addition to the cure"
would insure the acutest suffering on
the part of its victims.
1t is explained In the stories that
have come from the prison that the
water cure" is practiced upon those
convicts who feign illness to avoid
work in the shops. 1t is administered
until the convict promises to become
a faithful laborer and to obey the
Ipenitentiary rules to the last letter.
Democrats VIII Reform Prison.
That the incoming democratic adj
ministration will put an end to the
water cure and other cruel punish
ments now practiced In the prison Is
assured. A board Of pardon and pa
role will be established and the prob
| lem of what shall be done with the
convicts when the present shop labor
system is abolished will be worked
out early by the general assembly.
| The lash still is used in the prIs-
on and there are many other forms
of punishment In effect that were
long ago abolished in the majority OF
penal institutions.
Though the prison officials declare
the lash is resorted to only in ex-
IRENE cases, the convicts declare II is
used much more often than the out.
side world knows
A common punishment now prac.
ticed In the state prison is "stringing
IN in the ring" 1t is a form of tor
1 ture inflicted when convict misses
his task in the shops.
Tho unfortunate Is taken to the hal
in which are the solitary cells. II
the back wall Of each cell is an iror
ring fastened about seven feet from
the floor A handcuff is placed or
one wrist of the convict to be pun
Iished. The cuff is passed through the
ring and then fastened to the mans
other wrist. The convict is thu.
i chained to the wall with his arm.
above his head and his body twisted
sideways.
Hangs by His Arms.
He cannot sit or lie Gown, but car
only lean against the rough wall. TIT
strain Of the pulling handouts i
constant on his arms.
Three or four hours Of this String
ing in the ring furnishing, ordinar
ily will break the spirit of the mos
stubborn prisoner. When release'
the convicts fall to the floor utterl
lbenumbed and sometimes they are ur
able to move for hours because of SUE
pended circulation OF blood.
Sometimes convicts are Kept In tn
rings all night. The only food give
to men in the solitary cells is brea
and water.
A task In one Of the prison shop
consists Of the amount OF work tina
1.-THE contractor who has leased the Ii
bor of the convicts sets each pri
oner to perform, and it is stretche
, Ito the point where every man mus
work his utmost to accomplish it.
The Whip Still Used.
The whipping posts still stand
the old cell hall with the ring
each about seven feet from the foo
] When the "cat O. nine tails" punis'
E ment of the whipping post is infiic
G ed, the convict is stripped to the wal
J aud his arms fastened by handcuf
$ Ito the rings above.
His body swings forward witho'