Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-07-01
AT THE PENITENTIARY

Iii
AT THE PENITENTIARY
Having a few hours stay in Colum-
bia Sunday morning, awaiting train
to return home after attending the
meeting Of the South Carolina Press
association at the Isle of Palms, the
writer on The Enquirer staff, took ad-
vantage Of an opportunity to visit the
South Carolina penitentiary.
Being acquainted with Mr.. Andy
Jackson, formerly of York county, but
for the past three years corporal Of the
guard at the prison, and whom I found
on duty, I was told that everything
was closed and while he would be glad
to show me over the grounds 1 could
not see as much of the place as could
be seen at some other time.
However, did see enough to come
to the conclusion that positively did
not wish to become boarder at the
place with the privilege of wearing
clothes Of a tawney color. u.,. '
After meeting a number of people
connected with the prison I was shown
the electric chair. This chair is a real
nice piece of furniture, but would not
wish to sit in 1t on some occasions
especially when all straps and differ
ent apparatus are fastened and the
"juice" turned on. The death house
adjoins the room containing the elec-
trio chair and there are at present
three persons therein awaiting electro
cution-one Of the three, negro, to be
electrocuted today.
The tuberculosis hospital was also
visited. This hospital is scrupulously
clean, everything in good condition
and the best Of care rendered the poor
fellows afflicted with the great white
plague. ..
was shown the kitchens and what
is known as the green house" where
vegetables are prepared. These de-
partments are looked after by convicts
possibly fifteen Of them acting as
cooks and assistants. The dining room
adjoins the kitchen and I was struck
with the appearance Of the place.
Long rows of tables across the room
with a single long bench to each table
upon which the convicts sit side by
side are in the room. Each convict has
a tin pan, knife and fork placed
before him. The day being Sunday, a
better dinner was given. out. Some
roast beef, rice and gravy and large
piece of bread was in each Of the pans
awaiting the prisoners march in to
dinner. While the fare Is plain, the
prisoners are fed three times a day
and there Is no reason why they should
complain Of hunger.
The cell house was next visited. This
Is a large building containing several
hundred cells on all sides Of the build
Ing and four tiers high. I did not go
inside a cell, but could see through the
bars that they were all very clean and
neatly kept. All cells can be locked at
once or locked singly as the case may
ing placed In their cells at night and
Immediately after being taken out In
the morning and there is very little
chance Of any of them making a get
away" after being locked in the cells.
All Of the convicts except the
"yeggs" are allowed to go out on the
corridors for water, ETC., at night. But
not so with the yeggmen.. When they
are locked up, they are looked for good.
A bucket Is placed at each yegg's door;
but the authorities will not take any
chances with this class Of crooks. They
are said to be the best behaved and
the hardest working convicts in the
prison. It is because they realize that
it is to their best interests to keep on
their good behavior; but the guards
know their character and vigilant
watch is kept on them all the time.
All convicts have to attend religious
services on Sunday. AS left the cell
house passed the chapel. All were
there sitting side by side listening to
the chaplain's sermon. I stopped to
look at these four hundred or more
men, all attention and deeply interest
ed, apparently. There were whites and
blacks there, old gray heads with bent
backs and sallow compilations and
young fellows, some of them hardly 81.
If any Of them hated the idea Of lis
tening to the service their feelings
could not be ascertained by the ex-
preston on their faces.
The convicts seem to be treated de-
Gently and I was somewhat surprised
to see that the place was kept so sys-
tematically and humanely. AS l went
out of the Office of the penitentiary and
took big breath of air not hampered
by four walls, I could not help feeling
sorry for the poor fellows, and while
glad of the chance to see the prison,
my stay inside the walls Of something
like an hour, was quite enough and I
am quite sure it is much better to be
on the outside looking in.
LOCAL LAcoNIcs.