Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-22
BY CHARLES A. NICHE.

PoRC>IoUTH PENITENTIARY,
KIf1GSTON, Ontario. December az
y threat of these jagged walls,
hrown upon the gale-swept shores of
Lake Ontario, hangs over the furtive
head of every crook and evil doer in
the Dominion.
The penitentiary, which sprawls he'll
ter SHELTER within. is regarded as the
model for all such institutions on the
Continent, and Warden John c. Pons-
ford, rudy, genial, like any successful
business man, challenges the world "
equal it.
In Canada and the United States, but
contradiction" he declared with con-
viction.
You can't just crash the gate" at
this institution. To get inside is a
devious procedure.
Gen. William st. Prize Hughes, &C
Ottawa, superintendent of peniten-
tiaries. is the only man who controls
admission and is very strict about al
lowing Wis tors whose business is OUT
Of the ordinary. But once inside, the
visitors find the prison as hospltabls
as Warden Ponsford can make it.
Need Discipline" at Auburn.
BY long-distance telephone converse
ton Gen. Hughes inquired the business
Of reporter from across the border
and snorted with regard to Auburn
prison. They need discipline down
there. Wait till you see this place"
Warden Ponsford is a rigid disciple
marian, although it is recorded that
three prisoners asked the minister Of
Justice to extend their sentences to en-
able them to assist the warden to sink
Q coal mine at Edmonton pen" in rec
ord time.
The warden refused comment on
prison revolts In the United States, re-
marking that a two-hour tour of every
mock and Granny Of his own institution
would be eloquent.
AS the wings, cells and industries of
the prison were explored, he told Of the
theories and>practices of this and other
Canadian penitentiaries. "A thing we
do not have here is the trusty system
he said. If a man is in here, he can't
be trusted, and We don't trust him.
Simple, isn't it,"
In two hours the only guns visible
were those which came smartly to
present arms as the warden and
Chief Keeper Matt Walsh passed. There
were four, at the shoulders Of a guard
stationed at each corner of the wall,
which incloses IL acres of buildings and
yards. The inside guards carry no
weapons other than billy"
1t was in 1914, when practically
everybody outside carried rifles, that
guns were taken from the police force
Of Portsmouth pen" This move was
made on the orders of C. j. Doherty,
then minister of justice in Parliament
IF one Of my policemen (they don't
call them guards here) should have
gun in his pocket while supervising the
work of a big squad of convicts and
he Is suddenly attacked. what chance
has he to use the gun?" the warden
asked, reasonably. If he has one, the
prisoners get it. They are armed and
a menace to the lives of everybody in
the prison. That has happened before
today" he concluded.
The shops are all connected with
the main doors leading into what Is
known as the shop dome" Here
other unarmed guards are stationed
upstairs and down, with great triangle
gong suspended beyond the upper gall
lery to sound any alarm. This tocsln
has not sounded for many years.
And here the great age of the in
stitution becomes obvious. The flag
stones and ancient iron railing speak
of construction days 100 years ago.
Since that time the prison has been
added to constantly and 10 years ago
1t was entirely remodeled.
Only Revolt Was Ignored.
The only suspicion of mutiny oc-
CURED six or seven years ago, when
RED" Ryan, a bank bandit, modified
. large squad of other long-term men,
who seized upon crowbars, axes and
anything that looked like weapon ana
mtlled around in the great yard.
There was no way out. The undis-
turbed police force did not attempt u
stop the demonstration. The mutineers
were allowed to run around and yell
to their hearts content. AS supper time
approached the more timid sneaked
quietly into the buildings and headed
for the kitchen and food. Ryan was
unable to prevent desertion from the
ranks of his guerilla army when hunger
prodded them back to where they would
be fed.
AS the men slipped inside they were
marched quietly to their cells, Ryan
and other ringleaders were seized, and