The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-02-10


is the pumping station with a water
tank on top of it. In one of the COM
partments is the hospital and the
women's quarters In two are the
barracks for the colored men, and in
one the department for white men.
Beginning with one of the colored
barracks, Mr.. Bitch led the way thru
them all.
One thing that struck the eye at
once was number of signs asking
the inmates TO be clean and careful
with the premises. And the big word
On top of each sign was. please" The
superintendent name was at the bot.
tom land there was every indication
that his request was being obeyed.
The three barracks or wards for
the men were very much alike. In
each the men slept in big dormitories.
They have comfortable iron cots with
mattresses, pillows and blankets.
Each has its dining. room and kitchen
adjoining. Everything is clean. The
floors are kept swept and are often
scrubbed, the tables in the dining
rooms are secured, the windows are
screened, and flies are conspicuous by
their absence. We have been in many
prisons, and this is the first one that
we could not smell almost as soon as
We saw it. The strench arising from
the uncleanly habitation of hundreds
OF humans is absent. The prisoners
are supplied with bathing facilities
ard required to use them, and their
clothes are kept clean.
The kitchens were a pleasure to
see. They are well managed and neat
almost to perfection. The Sunday dim
ner was cooking while we were there.
Huge kettles were filed with rice,
others with gravy, meat was being
sliced from juicy hams, good whole
some bread was piled up in hills and
huge pots of coffee were steaming on
the ranges. It being Sunday there
was dessert also.
There is bakery presided over by
an artist in his profession. He knows
how to make the best of bread and
bake it quickly. His huge oven would
make that of most city bakeries look
small. He took great pleasure in
showing the visitors how he kept his
family" of 500 or more supplied with
the staff of life.
There is laundry to keep the
clothing of the prisoners clean. This
Is part of the work of the women,
who also do the sewing for the big
establishment.
1t was Sunday. and all the prisoners
who did not have to attend to the
necessary tasks were taking their
rest. Many were sitting on their cots,
reading or writing. some were playing
checkers, some talking to each other
and few asleep. Everywhere the
superintendent went he was greeted
with pleasure, and several of the pris-
oners stopped him TO prefer requests,
all of which received his attention.
The women's> quarters were visited
last. There are only four white wom-
ell in the prison, and probably forty
colored girls. These received some of
the indulgence due to their sex. and
it was noticeable that most of them
III the space allotted for their cots in
dGlged in the little vanities dear to
the feminine heart.
At Mr.. Rlitch's request, the colored
girls gathered in the dining room and
sang several songs. Nearer, my God,
to Thee" "The Half has Never Been
Told" and other old, familiar hymns
were sung with the spirit and melody
that the colored race always puts into
music. AS the visitors rose the girls
babe them adieu with "God be with
you till we meet again" 1t was not
only pretty but touching farewell.
Mr.. Bitch says that when he took
charge of the farm several months
ago his predecessor told him this
bunch of girls was more trouble than
all the rest of the prisoners put to-
gether. The overseer of the depart
nent was women specially imported
from Tennessee to look after it. She
spelt discipline with big, red d, and
was always Furnishing the girls, often
calling in guards TO have them whip
ped. One day. Mr.. Bitch, after con-
sidering one of her requests for pun
ishment, told her he thought he could
get along better without her. He
shipped her back to Tennessee, and
put in her place one of the prisoners,
a big. muscular. but good natured
white woman. And he told the girls to
behave themselves and they should be
helped instead of punished. Since
them, he has had little or no trouble
with the women, and the Florida girl,
serving her time. has proven a very
satisfactory overseer.
Certainly all the girls looked COM
Portable, contented and by no means
unhappy.
The party then visited the hospital.
This has a very complete operating
room and stock of medicines, and is
presided over by DR.. Kennedy, COM
petent young physician. There were
only a few inmates, none of them
vely sick. The ward is roomy, well
lighted and well ventilated, and sup
piled with comfortable beds.