The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1913-10-17
Tells OF HONOR
AMONG CONVICTS
Practically no Guards to
Hinder.
They Never "Break" For Liberty;
They Know "Good
Thing"

! Hoodsport, Hoods Canal, Wash,
Oct. 15.-Thirty-two men are making
a road from Hoodsport to Lilliwaup,
five miles along the west shore Of
the canal.
| Thirty of the thirty-two are con-
victs, recently brought here from the
penitentiary at Walla Walla. One is
a highwayman, one horse thief, five
are forgers. and the rest convicted
of robbery and grand larceny. Nine
are second termers."
The two who are not convicts are
Frank Randolph, superintendent, and
l.. d. Packard, engineer.
When night comes the convicts
leave their work and troop to the
honor camp"
Goodnight boys" calls Randolph.
Goodnight. SIR"
And Randolph and Packard go the
other way!
| Its a kind of game" said Ran
dolph, as together We stood and
watched the last of the construction
gang disappear.
"If / had rifle those men would
be constantly on the lookout TO make
a getaway. They would scurry into
the bush like rabbits. Why not? over
that hifl--" and Randolph's arm mace
sweep--"is wilderness as big as
the State OF Ohio. Once a man has
entered it. he could hide out for
months. But they won't do it."
"They know when they are well
?, off," / said. After cells at Walla
Walla and the jute mill. shut in by
walls, this life in the open and 50
cents a day, and the prospect of a
pardon"
| lyon don't understand" interrupted
Randolph. 1t isn't the freedom, the
money or the prospect OF a pardon.
It's honor. Oh, l know; society sneers
when you talk of honor in convicts.
The men of this honor squad weren't
picked for their morals. Nevertheless,
trust them. l never visit them at
night unless invited. Night or day, |
am never armed. There isn't a gun
within a mile of the job"
"What are they doing now?" asked
II don't know" Randolph replied.
"It's none Of my business. You might
60 and find out"
So thru the gathering dusk,
tramped to where the lights of the
"honor camp" blinked.
Another man, coming down the
valley. met ME at the door of q tent.
and we entered together. He was a
"con." A bucket filled with black
berries dansled from the crook of his
arm. His entrance was the signal
for joyous uproar. and jovial fell
low. who. when free, is burglar.
hollered:
Hey. cook! Blackberry pie to-
morrow"
"Sure! Like mother used to make"
They smoked. talked and played
cards. They turned in when they
felt like it. Two went to town to
buy tobacco; the rest were too tired.
for the work Is hard.
! The talk turned to getaways, and
the horse thief said: 1T would be
dead easy. promised wouldn't try
to get away. and amt going to.
'Twouldnt be right
| Daybreak found me on the Hood
sport Dock. The flood tide had set.
And there, with his legs dangling.
sat q forger. "Cookey says we'll have
/ fish for breakfast II catch EN-" he
explained.
Together. with a string OF perch
we returned to camp. As we reached
= 1t a burglar stepped dripping from the
canal. He'd been bathing. Laughing.
1 he flung up his arm in greeting.
Flows the water?" asked hte forger.
"Fine!" replied the burglar.
Then he turned, a.. thoueh- obeying
: an impulse. to face the east. The sun
was rising over the pine tops. But
It was not the sunrise he saw. but .
grim. high wall. 200 miles away. and
a jute mill filed with crashing looms.
and guards armed with rifles. and
dark. cement floored corridors. and
morrow. steel-barred cells.
And there was q little rage and
= Aofi In nd