The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-16
OFF |C|ALS VIEW
OLD CONVICT SHIP
Men Prominent in City and State
Government Board Ancient
Packet Success.
THEY sHUDDER AT SCENES
Big Crowd in Afternoon and
Night Thrilled by Remark
able Spectacle.
THEY sHUDDER AT SCENES

Accompanying Mayor Ainslic and Of
hclols OF The state and municipal gov
ernincnt about 100 citizens Of Rich
,nond boarded the ancient British con-
Wet ship Success yesterday morning at
1880 O'Clock as the guests OF Captain
ID. H. Smith. owner OF tho historic
racket Following the inspection by
tho Invited guests the Eangway was
opened to the general public. and at
l2:30 o'clock tho crowds began TO
stream up tho vessels side. a big
crowd viewed the astonishing relics OF
- barbaric penal system we'll pre-
served on the Success, which has been
tied UP In an easily accessible berth In
the City Dock. at Eighteenth and Cary
Streets.
Among those to 80 aboard tho suo-
cess yesterday morning were state SUI
perintendent OF Public instruction r.
g. Stcarnes Colonel Il. o. james. Score
tary OF the Commonwealth. Commits
Sioner of Agriculture O. W. Keincr
Colonel John ". Richardson. State Su-
pcrintendent OF Grounds and Huildinya
Davis Bottom State Superintendent OF
Public Printing; Mayor George Ainslie
Chairman Robert Whittot. Eileen c.
Folkca John Hirschberg. Carlton Nc
rarthy, of the Administrative Board
councilman John w. Moore, Delegate
u. l. Toney. g. Claiming Ruskell. city
sergeant ct arms; W. L Dabncy and
w. T. Reed, Of tho Chamber OF Com
'nerce: Manager Horace r. Smith. OF
the Manufacturers Exhibit. Secretary
&. p. Walford. OF the Business Mems
Club; DR.. George Ben Johnston, Sheriff
5. II. Kemp and others,
Wax Figures In Cells,
Immediately upon stepping upon tho
century-old deck OF the Success the
visitors were taken in tow By uniform
cd guides. who have her history AZ
their finger tips, and were conducted
upon an inspection OF cvcry corner and
., "a o. a mi q NJ
cicnt clanking shackles. with seventy
nvc-pound iron balls attached, in which
prisoners were allowed to promenade
he deck, tho visitors saw tho old hand
pump and hand wlndlass OF the Success.
TWO pieces 81 marine mechanism now
extinct. Both are IN perfect working
order.
From these tho guests were led down
the co,nphniouway onto tho first COW
cred deck, along the sides OF which
ran the narrow, stuffy, gloomy cells.
IN which stand wax figures nodded to
represent the prisoners who once oc-
cupied them. The wax works In tho
vessel, illustrating terrible events
which took place on her decks. are
themselves worthy OF a special inspec-
lion Thcy are nodded with SUCH life
Ike skill That visitors at first glance
cannot reprcss a start and chilled
sensation OF tho blood at tho sight OF
e such cruelty
sec instruments OF torture.
Hero n" ghudder.DS visitors viewed
he tiger den" where tho most vicious
81 N" Australian hushrangers were
thrown for safckecp.rg; tho black hole,
O. narrow damp cell. unlighted by port
hole. in which the prisoner could Meth
"r lie down nor walk the iron neck
lace. IA which laxative convicts were
made 10 stand for days: the condemned
cell from which forty-two unfortun-
atea were led to their death and .
Thousand and one other sights iucon-
ccivuble in the Modern mind
The guests, shaken by the concrete
evidences OF II barbarity which ex-
cccdcd all knowledge. emerged from
tho cell rows into the bright light OF
The deck with Sigh OF relief. Up
above they viewed an original mast OF
'eak WOOD, which has borne canvas for
1913 years; an ancient iron signal can
= non: the murderous iron maiden" the
quaint OLD high poop deck and bluft
bow. which make the ship n counter
part OF tho feet OF the Columbus.
ON Exhibit Daily
The Success. the Oldest ship anoat
is the sole survivor OF the fleet of
transports which carried criminals from
the British Isles TO the Australian penal
colony at The beginning Of the last
century. with minor exceptions she
stands to-day she sailed the Indian
seas with her grooming cargo Of
:,hacl:lcd humanity, = terrible reminder
of an age which punished l45 offenses
hy death. She Will he on exhibit daily
In the city Dock from 10 o'clock in
the morning until 10 o'clock at night.
Electric lights make the night inspec-
ion as Interesting. and perhaps more
.,wc-inspiring, than tho day tour
The old vessel was launched in 1890
ut Mouhnain. In British East India.
At frs; she began her career as an
armored passenger carrying packet OF
the East Indian merchantmen fleet
From this she dcEeneratod into con
vict transport ship, and In 1851 was
into nco ',,t.!Sop l,,,