The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1917-06-07
AND JAIL INSPECTED
Charities and Corrections Board Re-
port on County Institutions.

II the Quarterly Bulletin for
March, Just issued by tie State Board
OF Charities and Corrections. report
is made on the Bamherg county chain
gaugs and the Jail. together with rec
Communications for Improvements.
The report follows:
Bamherg County Chaingana>.
II. Mr.. J. r. Norris. Foreman.
Visited November s, 1915. Camp
about mile from EhrharGt.
"Equipment.-For guards tent
with a fly. For convicts two tents
horses and white convicts on an iron
without flies. Negro convicts sleep on
double bed. Blankets and mattresses
used for bedding. In good condition.
Cooking done in the open over a fire.
Mana nagement-The county en-
ploys a physician on salary to visit
the gang on call. Very sick convicts
are sent to Jail. Records of convicts
kept by foreman meet requirements
except no ages are given. Laws re-
curing reduction of sentence by one
tenth and separation of convicts by
races obeyed.
"Convicts. ts.-Number present day
of yisit-white men, l: negro men,
20: of whom l white man and . ne
groes we're ''trusties." " Convicts
must bathe when they start their
sentences and once a week while on
the gang. -Four convicts bathe in
the same tub of water.) Bill of fare
for convicts day of visit-breakfast:
hominy, fried bacon. cornbread; din
ner :peas, boiled bacon, cornbread;
supper: hominy, fried bacon, corn
bread. Fresh meat Cor fish, once
month. Wheat bread once week.
Sewerage is dumped in pit so yards
(about) from camp and covered with
earth daily. For punishment "trus-
ties have chains put back on them
and chainmen are whipped. The lat
ter punishment is administered by
the foreman or guards in camp.
-. Mr.. S. R. Kennedy, Foreman.
Visited November I, 1915. Camp
near Odom's bridge.
"Equipment.-Tent with fly for
guards. Tent with fly for convicts.
Latter sleep on beds of boards laid
over saw-horses. Bedding consists OF
mattresses. cotton ticks, and blank
cts. Fairly clean. Cooking done
over open fire out of doors.
Observation-Disclosures employ
ed on salary by the county to visit
gang on call. Sick convicts usually
remain at camp Records kept by
foreman do not show race and ages
of convicts committed. Law requlr-
ing reduction of sentences for good
behavior obeyed. Law directing sep
edaration of races on chaingangs OBJ
served when convicts are in camp but
disregarded when they are at work.
Convicts.-Number present day
of visit-negro men, 10; of whom 6
we're "trusties.' Bathing require
ouirements-on commitment and
once a week while on the gang.
CThree convicts battle in the same
tub of water.) Conv1cts' bill of fare
day of sit-breakfast: hominy, fried
bacon. syrup. gravy; dinner: peas,
cornbread, boiled bacon; supper:
hominy, fried bacon, syrup. gravy.
No fresh meat. Wheat bread once a
week. Sewerage from camp dumped
in a pit and covered with earth daily.
TRUSTEES" are shackled and chain
men are whipped. ''Trusties" are
whipped, too. sometimes.
Recommendations for Gangs.
"Provide weather-proof kitchens,
preferably screened cars. and stoves
for the gangs. Require the county
physician to visit the gangs once 4
week regularly as we'll as on call: to
vaccinate convicts against smallpox
as indicated. and to make a physical
examination of all convicts committed
unless previously examined while IN
jail. Keep the race and ages of con-
victs in the foreman's S record.
"On gang ,. obey to the letter the
law requiring the separation of the
races. Do not permit more than one
convict to bathe in the same tub OF
water. Give the convicts fresh meat
Cor fish, twice week and wheat
bread once a day. Use kerosene Oil
and water in the sewerage vessels as
a fly repellant. Dig the pits for sew
erage at least $50 yards from the
sites of the camps. Do not whip con-