the twin hells(两个地狱)-第15章
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undergoing punishment； if a prisoner desires to rest； he can do so by
reclining on the stone floor。 No refractory prisoner ever grows corpulent
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while confined in these dark cells； as he only receives one meal of bread
and water in twenty…four hours！ The prisoner is often kept in these cells
from eight to ten days。 Sleep is almost impossible。 When a prisoner enters
the dungeon he is required to leave behind him his coat； cap and shoes。
During the winter months it is often very cold in these cells； requiring the
prisoner to walk up and down the dungeon in his stocking feet to prevent
his freezing； and this for a period of ten days； in nearly every instance
compels submission。 After the dark cells thaw out； during the summer
months； they are excessively hot。 Sometimes in winter the temperature is
below zero； and in summer it often rises to one hundred degrees。 They are
then veritable furnaces。 Generally； after the prisoner undergoes the
freezing or baking process for eight or ten days； he is willing to behave
himself in the future。 They are sometimes so reduced and weak when
brought out of the dark cell that they can scarcely walk without aid。 I have
seen them reel to and fro like drunken men。 They are often as pale as death。
That in many cases the prisoner contracts cold which later on terminates
fatally； is one of the principal objections to this mode of punishment。
There is no doubt that the dark cells of the Kansas Hell have hastened the
death of many a poor； friendless convict。 If a person in the mines does not
get out his regular weekly task of coal； on Saturday night he is reported to
the deputy warden by the officer in charge； and is sent to the blind cell
before supper； and is kept there until the following Monday morning；
when he is taken out and sent to his work in the mines。 While in there he
gets only bread and water once in twenty…four hours。 This is a great
inducement to work； it certainly prevents criminals from shirking their
labor； and soon converts a lazy tramp into a rustling coal miner。 There is
one thing； however； that is connected with this system of punishment that I
will criticise。 The officer under whose immediate control the prisoner is
placed fixes the period of his confinement in the dungeon。 It gives the
officer a good opportunity to abuse a prisoner he may dislike。 These
subordinate officers are not all angels。 Some of them are lacking in
sympathy。 They have become hardened； and frequently treat their men like
beasts。 These persons should not possess such a dangerous power。 The
warden or deputy warden should decide the character as well as the period
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of punishment。
If in this dark cell ten days and nights is insufficient to subdue the
rebellious spirit of the convict； he is taken out and placed in the solitary
cell。 This is similar to the ordinary cell； with the exception that it contains
no furniture。 Here the convict remains on bread and water until he is
starved almost to death； or until he is willing to submit and do his work as
ordered。
Another mode of punishment resorted to in a few cases； is even more
brutal than the dark cell。 The obdurate prisoner is stripped naked and tied
to a post。 The hose which is connected with the water…works is turned
upon his naked body。 The water pressure is sixty pounds to the square inch。
As the water strikes the nude body the suffering is intense。 This mode of
punishment is but rarely resorted to。 It is exceedingly wicked and
barbarous。 It is a shame to treat a human being in such a manner。 There are
many hardened criminals and desperate characters in the penitentiary； and
it may sometimes be necessary to resort to extreme measures； but there
have been many instances when； as it seemed to me； these excessive
punishments might have been avoided and still the good discipline of the
prison maintained。 〃Blessed are the merciful； for they shall obtain mercy。〃
But the author would have you recollect that the punishments of the
Kansas penitentiary are not as severe as the discipline in her sister
institutions。 Many of the inmates of this prison who have formerly served
terms in others of like character； have shown him the scars and marks of
brutal punishment。 One of these poor unfortunates showed me his back；
which is covered with great furrows in the flesh caused by the cat…o'…nine…
tails in the hands of a merciless official of the Missouri penitentiary。
Another prisoner carries thumbs out of joint and stiffened by the inhuman
practice of hanging up by the thumbs in vogue in a former place of
imprisonment； and still another carries about with him ugly wounds
inflicted by bloodhounds which overtook him when trying to escape from
a Southern prison。
The foregoing is a view of the punishments inflicted from a prisoner's
standpoint。 That the reader may arrive at just conclusions； I quote the
statements on the same subject made by the warden； Captain Smith； in his
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able biennial report of last year。 In doing so； I beg leave to state that the
convict who had ever been the object of the prison discipline； or who had
spent his ten days and nights in one of those dismal dungeons； subsisting
on bread and water； would readily say that the warden had treated the
subject in a manner 〃very mild。〃
〃The discipline has been carefully looked after； and as a general thing
prisoners yield to strict discipline quicker than most people think。 They
seem to see and realize the necessity of rules； and very seldom complain；
if they violate them； at the punishment that is sure to follow。 Our
punishments are of such a character that they do not degrade。 Kansas；
when she established her penitentiary； prohibited corporal punishment。
She is one of the few States that by law prohibits the use of the whip and
strap； taking the position that it is better to use kindness than to resort to
brutal measures。 I have often been told； and that； too； by old prison men；
that it was impossible to run a prison and have first…class discipline
without the whip。 Such is not my experience。 We have had within our
walls perhaps as desperate men as ever received a sentence。 We have
controlled them； and have maintained a discipline second to none in the
country； How did we accomplish this？ Our answer is； by being kind but
firm； treating a man； although he may be a prisoner； as a man。 If he
violates rules； lock him up。 Give him an opportunity to commune with
himself and his Maker； also give him to understand that he is the
executioner of his own sentence； and when he concludes that he can do
right； release him。 It matters not how
