davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-02-08
Feasting at Sick's Expense.

There WAS poultry farm on the
grounds, donated by outside benefactors
specifically and exclusively for the bcne.
fit Of the prisoners. beginning with the
tuberculosis patients. After H. got going,
there may have been an average OF 600
fowls on the place. or these, not one
ever appeared on the prison tables With
the exception OF possible few that were
stolen by prisoners having access to the
yard, all were appropriated by higher Of
ficials. and the eggs rs well
One official gave frequent dinner par
ties 10 his friends. and was said To use
as MANY as five or six chickens "A day,
though cannot vouch for that--it seems
excessive. He certainly. sometimes, COM
mandeered many fourteen or more
at one time. There was story OF a great
cake which ne had made for some festi-
val into the composition of which en-
tered 10f eggs from our farm. To neither
title more legitimate than have YOU who
read these lines. He had a large and
hungry household, and many guests
among them. commonly. such govern
ment inspectors aE were sent down from
Washington to see whether he and his
fellow officials We're honestly dIscharging
their functions
As for the tuberculosis patients ] was
never able to lind any OF them who had
eaten a chicken from the farm or any
part or one. Some chicken soup was at
one time ordered for u patient by the
doctor: 81 prisoner Ga famous physician).
a deputy OF the doctor, happened TO be
at the tuberculosis camp when the soup
arrived from the kitchen. It consisted
OF nome warm water with the shank
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-02-08
Atlanta the Worst.

had ample opportunity 10 study the
subject personally While q guest at the
prison table. and 10 compare my impress
sions with those OF my fellow prisoners,
az well as 10 enlarge them by conferences
with persons employed IN the kitchen
and commissary department. Men who
had served IN other prisons--apd their
combined experiences covered great
many--wcrc unanimous and emphatic in
decla ring that tho table at Atlanta was
the worst they had ever known, not only
as 10 scantincss OF supply. hut as to the
unwholesomencss or positively poison
ous quality OF the food furnished But
let mo tell little OF what saw and
know myself.
When the change was made from long
tables and benches TO tables seating
eight and chairs, IL was announced that
tahiecloihs would also he supplied and
napkins, That was two or three years
ago. but tabiecloths have not vet an
pesred. and the caters stlll wipe their
mouths on the backs OF their hands IN
the good old way. Pepper and salt were
on the able. and a bottle OF something
that looked like beer and was supposed
10 bo vinegar. but was sampled only by
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-02-08
The Best-fOr the Officials,

II is not provided in the prison regula-
tions that officials shall be fed at the
expense OF the prisoners. Nevertheless.
a separate and superior grade OF -four is
purchased at government expense. and Is
used 10 make bread which is given TO
the officials; the loaves are placed in the
outer corridors, and are taken away BY
guards and others every day Separate
cooks arc also assigned to prepare the
officials food on the prison ranges; the
meats and vegetables are Of grade
much better than is supplied TO prison
crs: hut some favored prisoners partici-
pate in their consumption. The higher
officials have the best food the market
affords. and in such ample abundance
that certain prison pets. usually negroes.
plus.
The beef given TO prisoners was of the
third grade-the worst on the market
II IS COW or bull beef, never heifer or
steer and often II is rotten. and must
be treated chemically before being Of
fered even 10 prisoners. 1t used TO come
on the able IN gristly and bony goblets.
for hours. until IL was reduced 10 hard
ness which resisted all but the most eff
cient and vigorous teeth (Which. except
with negroes, are rare In PRISON.. I used
pieces With old blackened boot heels: they
were hardly less eatable and nourishing.
often IL smclt so that nature rebelled
But groups OF visitors used TO appea r
III the dining room occasionally: they
we're lined I'D along the wall adjoining
the door. and were not allowed 10 walk
along between the tables. so that the
only food they could see was what was
put on the tables nearest tie door. and
this WAS always OF a quality superior to
the rest, and there was more OF Il per
man II was ono OF the little tricks en-
ploved TO maintain the entente cordialc.
bv which the prisoners who sat at those
- Ia. It'd .lutl
forth 10 sing the praises OF our warm
hearted warden. on the days when the
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-02-08

there. lnqucstionably had ~.
Ming IN this neglect. I5por ~
coutculmcnt with starvJtSnn
most prudent policy in Atlan,|
tlary. e''''
] am not 4 sybarilc or an -
ii,tccn years before | WIS rcx.,
| lived on the hardest and ,,,o.
diet. eating as little food as IT,
th9i of the simplest klnl. NJ
a ,cN green yegcto hles. ana
ny menus. was thers(crn h,
fled against hardships than NJ
cf rrlsoners. / could hold h.
starvation longer. but again,
son nf rotten ur bad food / a.
tection. i
The wardeDs and tho chie<
prisons often wish, for moiiv,
, own, go make an ceonomIc.'
and perhaps do not much H.
trade al the expense OF thc
lives Of prisoners. Some (iicn
III Atlanta prison and nyseIi
attempt 10 determine jusl WIN
, out per man In the prIgon h
cuce. We quietly obi is.ned< +
from men in the Kitchen and !.
| departments. and made our 4
! After careful revision. n
| showed that we were beinr
rste OF from 3 10 II cent?
| IJv
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-02-08
Use for Dinner Refuse.

The hasn, which often made the break :
fast. was composed OF fra gments OF
eristle and refuse left on the prisoners
plates after dinner, mixed with potatoes
and rancid grease, this. and the soups
and eravies, which had similar origin,
gave out most nauseating smell The
men would gulp it down--lt WAS that, or
all the condiments they could lay hands
on; but the effect OF IT, and of the food
generally, upon the digestive tract vas
so disastrous In most cases that they
might better have LETT it alone. I my
self retired from the enterprise In my
second or third week, and would have
literally died OF inanltion had not the
sestion mot mine), put me on the MILL,
and oatmeal diet during the remainder
OF my soJourn. This applied for break
Idst and supper ] sat at dinner. but
Satisfied myself with nibbng bread
crusLs. and witnessing the forlorn and
perilous efforts of nay friends 20 walk
the line between starvation and acute in
digestion Not many were successful
For vegeta bles We had Irish and sweet
potatoes turnip tops (uneat Ia ble). bla ck-
eyed beans. bitter and greasy. and once
a month, perhaps, tomato, The but
ter was made OF an inferior quality OF
lard and cottonseed ola substance
which entered into many other of our
viands. and Of which. with grease. IL was
calculated by an expert in the kitchen. we
were offered as much as one pound per
man every day. II produced lan1itous
effect upon the digestive tract lnasmuch
as there was hardly "A white man in the
prison who did not suffer chronically
from stomach troubles--constant suffer
ing. often becoming acute. The strongest
dige3tions would resist for a while. but
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-02-08
Experiment in Econon,

About that time great sd
covery was announced by tiia
ard, Food. he had been inf
talucd certain amount o|
power, and these heat units
ries. could be estimated for
article of diet. CAS- | write 4
tor!al on tho subject in a
OF New York ncwspa psr'
INA tier in terms which I u
reprod "Fhysiologists h
mined by repeated cxperimo
definite quantity Of certain
nisles a definite number Of
heat units. which produce a a
tltv OF energy in the anirna|
body. In tWenty-ff
normal man of about 130 poi
needs 1880 cdlories or heat \
a man doing severe physical
require sufficient food 10 d
caIorics. Since the
Ia abor depends upon the EN-
body and this energy or %
duccd by the food. Il is not
calculate the actual outlay
this purpose. Th|
requirements OF n family whc1
ants are kept would at this 1
81 to $l.t0 a day, "a sum
furnish all the energy for an
normal maintenance.
Such being The case. our 1
ured that the convicts coii|
enough supported by about
apiece: and upon making a 3
Innate OF the calories In
Dill OF fare, he found that y
Ing overtcd. rather than q
Meat. SO many calorles; souj
sweet pnta toes. so many: brez
and so on. II was found pos
basis. ia retrench here and
bills were reduccd-it WAS LID
might ultimately beat even (
sole difficulty appeared 10
mon, the subjects OF the exp
gan incomprehensibly and po
ciuusly 10 starYe,
was fortunate enough To
In a physician Ga fellow b
forty years eminence in liH
who solved the enigma for fu|
of his comment was this.
monico dinner in one bucket 4
bulk of sWill or garbage In 4
number OF calories may pe
both. The steward. In his
has forgotten L. consider Il
in which the food is served
ness. in short. II men could
ii would be all right; but u
they will starve in spite OF q
So the stewards calories
byWoTd and d moCkery In IN
many weeks atlcTward
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-02-08
No Mood for Moral \

Similar conditions. perhap6
same cause: seem TO lave
sing sing and elsewhere. II 4
that prison food should be
amount. Il must also be q
such chat The men are able "a
their thToats, Nor are the d
remedy: their violent an
action finally paralyszeS tbo {
digestive powers OF the organ|
man dies from poisons gene
diseStiblc food in his own 81
Keeping him in the dark =
rccuperatc him. though II ~
stantly tried at Atlanta. an!
in other reformatory institur
Plenty OF vigorous and ne
exercise would help much; 2
else OF prison toll. which but
darkness of the heart; but
its own sake, for the cheer
mcnt OF II. Muca has been
baseball AZ Atlanta penne
doubtless it has been OF p
only a handful OF the prisoneI
tenthS Of them negroes. pih'
the others can only stand. 8
The games occur. weatner
once q week, on Saturdays
urday afternoon at $3.50 oc!oc
day morning at 1:3o O'Clock
locked in their cells. ahsoiu'
in body. and abandoned 70
activities as. for tho most p1
Gond either for themselves OF
only outlet is the Sunday on
hour-a crowded session IN .
With rifles ready 10 subdms
4 very apostle might fall "
under such circumstances =
apostles arc few. -.
A man who Is sick ana -
dav and year after year, a.
of his impotence 10 auena
in no mood for moral reior1
the sickness might be ave
medical treatment at the o{
ease were such as 10 encou1
tients 10 avail themselves OF
each man. as he comes ut
limo every morning. is met
ference or insults. lie Is pr
n ma!ingerer unless he can
self genuine on the lnstsnt
other recourse is TO bccom1
TO be beyond help OF med,cl,
taken belated 10 the hospip|
right. The consequence Us y
viii suffer silently in thelr
than appeal 10 the doct91
disea scs become lneradicap
cause. l..
Even a convict, when n9
and weak from illness, saf1.|
cling rough and unsympatnz
and words in the doctor
good chance OF being sent "
he demonstrates, The doct9
could he its good angel II "
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-02-08

not the drumstick, but the shank and
foot-of a fowl in it. This aroused his
interest, and twice again he was present
when chicken soup prescribed appeared
Al the camp On both occa asions-hc
stands ready to testify under oath-he
found the same foot and shank in il, but
nothing else recalling chicken. The foot
was identified by an imperfection in one
OF It's toes.
Eggs were indeed provided for the hos
pita prisoners (neYer for the general
mess), but they were cold storage eggs,
the cheapest grade that could be bought
in the market, and that is saying much
for this sort of product nowadays. Out
OF one mess OF eight that were served
IN the hospital. and OF which 1 gained
authentic news from the prisoner physi-
elan already referred 10, six were bad.
/ am informed that these notes and COM
ments OF mine are not permitted to be
read by the prisoners; but perhaps the
original donors OF the poultry farm may
see them, and be prompted to inquire
into their accuracy Let US return TO the
dining ROOM
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-02-08

Next week Mr.. Hawthorp
time his sensational efpo7-
conditions by describing tne
ings OF the much-vauntod u
which is now in vogue IN u
cry prison IN America.
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-02-08
Dinner Call Never Cheers.

The undcrnourishment and malnour-
isbmeDt of convicts is, in fact, one of
the worst crimes Of the many which
their despots perpetrate upon them.
From any point of view it is barbarous
and wicked--the crime Of Weyler upon
the dcfenscless Cuban revolutionists,
which, as much as the destruction Of the
Maine, impelled this country TO de-
clare war. Yet. knowing as We do that
IL is perpctratcd upon the human beings
IN our prisons, wc sit supinc aud acqui-
csccnt, and thereby make the crime our
OVID.
Have YOU not imag nation enough
10 put Yourself for moment in the
rredicament of the prisoner! There YOU
sit in the narrow gloom OF your cell,
or YOU toll in the stiAing confinement
of your work room, and such is not only
your state TO-DAY, bpt for years TO come
IL will be unchanged. You are iso-
lated from sight Of and association with
every man and woman in the world who
cares for you or thinks kindly of YOU
silence and rigid obedience are inn
posed upon you; YOU meet no looks that
arc not harsh, and hear no words but
sharp commands or angry menaces.
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-02-08

guard who assaulted and dubbed pris-
oner whom he WAS taking downstairs. as
described in a previous chapter. On an
other occasion, prisoner complained that
there beetle I'm his hash. An eN-
animation was made, but whether the
beetle was alive and got away, or Whcth-
er the prisoner himself bad bugs" as
the slang is. a any rate the examiners
reported no beetle. The matter was then
brought before the authorities who or
dered the complainant 10 the dark hole.
Another day following some months OF
constant deterioration in the food. and
diminution III the quantity OF il. a din
ner OF hash and bread was served, and
both bread and hash were sour, The air
of the room was full OF The sour smell;
the captain came down the aisle near
mine. and a prisoner had the boldness to
sour captaln"' said he. The captain
looked the man IN the eye and replied
sternly. III is not sour ''But. cap
tain" II say 1t is not sour" the other
rcpea ted with threa teninG look, II was
either submit, or the hole; the man sat
down.
But a few minutes later someone
hissed; before he could be identified hisses
came from every part OF the room. II was
critical juncture. The captain ordered
the band to play. and play II did at the
top Of its compass: but the kissing was
audible and continued through the play
ing, Presently the men got up and began
TO march out; il was then that a group
of guards from the smoking room below
clubs and revolvers and tried TO get
through the barred door at the stair head
but were checked by the captain. who
was q wise tactcian, The men went TO
their cells, and there began TO howl and
screech like a crazy menagerie. and kept
II up for hours. Twenty or thirty Of the
supposed ringleaders were sent to the
dark holes: but the revolt was not
checked until the warden personally
promised reforms, and gave his word that
no further punlshmentS should be in
flicted-fair promises, made to ne broken.
Rendezvous for Flies.
The dining room windows were pro-
tected by wire netting: but there were
many holes in IL as large as a mans
head through which the flies, in summer,
entered In swarms and there was no
provision for keeping them our OF the
kitchen, which opened into the dining
room. Complaints were constantly made,
no means were taken to kill the flies.
Food sometimes was placed on the tables
hours before the men sat dowu TO their
meals. and the flies, not having The
same delicacy OF appetite as tho men.
toasted freely In the meanwhile There
was also frequent protest aga! inst the
bits OF loose enamel IN tho bowls; many
of these were made direct 70 the doctor
but he did nothing. II II man whose di-
gest!on had given way called on him
for help. a dose Of salts was the only
reply, and several deaths. while ! was
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-02-08
The Banquets of the Damned
Why the Dinner Call Never Cheers in the Average
Prison, and Evil Thoughts and Impulses Are
Bred in the Huge and Comfortless Prison Dining
Halls, Making the Inmates in No Mood for
Moral Reform

Your very toll lie idle and unpaid. and
It's diligent performance brings You no
credit or hope, except treacheroGs prom
ises of good constantly delayed,
And then picture yourself when. after
wcarisome hours. the whistle blows that
means intcrm,ssion Of labor aud the
renewal of strength by food. Yet that
summons. instead Of cheering you does
but make the burden Of your misery
heavier.
Sullenly and heavily, IN the endless
line, you tramp into the huge, comfort,
less hall, with its hidcous tables and
benches. ana as YOU pass up the alsles
you glance abhorreptiy al the dirty
scraps and masses of provender dumped
carclessly out OF noisome buckets by
the filthy bands OF the servers upon
hardened grease of foregoing meals
You are faint for lack Of nourishment,
yet the sight of what is provided and
the unclean smell OF IT nauseStes in
stead of inviting YOU. Eat YOU must,
il you would live and have strength
to work. yet If ron cat YOU invite sick
ness and suffering, and if YOU could eat
all, and assimilate it, you would still
leave the table but half fed.
Every tvro in physiology knows the
effect upon the general organism of dc
lection and resentment al meals.
Prisoners. more than men in other con.
dtlons. need abundance to eat and
good cheer while eating; but the food
they get, and the circumstances in
which they get it. causes them TO de-
generate physically, and the body al.
fects the mind. Physical disease
breeds the disease Of evil thoughts and
impulses. Criminals might be generated
by prison food alone. without taking
account Of their previous records and
future PROSPECTS.
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-02-08
Food Rebellion.

Guards walk up and down the aislcs
between the tables. during meals, TO keep
requests from prisoners There is also
the man In the window with the loaded
magazine rife. ready 10 settle any com
plants that become too insistent The
common protest Is against the badness of
specific piece Of food. or against some
Nample OF dirt. The former seldom get
relief; in the latter case, the dish or cup
Is sometimes changed
A prisoner al my Ia able called the
guards attention to quid OF toha eco
which had got into his soup. The guard.
who was OF humorous turn. replied
smiling, well. you use tobacco. don't
you?' and passed on. This was the sane
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-02-08

bread was sour or the meat stank. Wis
itors were headed away from the dining
room, and their attention directed 10
more imDortaut matters
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-02-08

Copyright, 1914. by the Wn'
cate. Incl
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-02-08
Fourth of July Gift.

Sweet pota toes abound IN the south.
and subsistence upon them exclusively
would reduce the cost Of living. The
only trouble is that the human stomach
refuses TO cooperate In this economy.
Sweet potatoes were served at Atlanta
during the season three times day
baked. boiled and in pies. The men were
hungry enough and the supply OF the
potatoes was adequate. but had they been
of the finest instead Of the worst quality
in the market the experiment would have
failed; starvation proved prefera BILE; we
could not get them down. That soft,
Shiny sweetness, foul with dirt and often
tainted with decay. rcappearing day att
er day at every meal for weeks on end.
outdid endurance. nor could we be stimu-
lated by the argument that the govern
ment was saving money by 1t. Had the
sweet potato season lasted the year
round the warden would have lost his job
from mere dearth OF prisoners to earn
his salary on.
do not forget the corn, either. 1t
was OF the brand fed to farm animals,
but this enumeration becomes monot-
onous. We had apple pies once a week
or So and ! was told by an employee
In his time. that the apples were such
as could he bought at 81 q barrel. and
that the charge appearing In bills sub
mitted 10 The government was So The
quality Of the apples in the pies supports
my informants contention. AS for the
watermeIons-a benefactor of the pris-
oners bought consignment OF them suf-
llS,eu' lo' thT piIsoh Poptpatlon. 10 pe
contract was for The best melons oh
tainable, and Georgia is famous for good
melons. a day or two before the Fourth
the beneiactor called at the prison and
asked To see the melons. which had been
delivered some time before. Examination
showed them To be OF an inferior grade
such as farmers used for cattle and poul-
try. IT was too late. however to
get a fresh supply. and the benefa ctor
had the mortitica ton OF seeing the kind
ly-meaDt gift dshonored. II Is peril
nent. here, that there is said TO be an
individual in Atlanta not officially con-
nected with the pententlsry who Is COM
missioned TO make all purchases for the
prison-food tobacco and other supplies
He buys the stuff and hands in his bills
but the bills he pays are not submitted
1t Is conceivable that there may be a
discrepancy between the two amounts
and II might be interesting TO learn
whether he alone benefits by II.