ttJMMMjE335ELflSSfi?obs B Ja&Tt" fffT1 16 THE r PITTSBTIRGr DISPATCH 17, 189i: i imim 1 1 i I inn 11 mi v i V- ''''v!l!iJ8wBI M - -s. TiSBaRasKK m?-' 3sft 1-Y - I m, I JUSTICE Df CHILE. Its Model Penitentiary Has Some Good Points and Some Bad. AWFUL SOLITAEY COMTNEiM1. Tictims Knoivn to Be Dead Only Tlieir rood Is Untouched. When C05FESSI0XS BY ITEMS OF TOKTURE CORUXSPONDEKCE OF TUX DISPATCH. Santiago de Chile, April 15. One of the institutions of this famous capital to which the citizens point with pride is their model penitentiary. It is an enormous struc ture of red brick a rare building material in these parts, the houses being universally of Btone or adobe, covered with grayish plaster, surrounded by a massive wall of the same, on top of which soldiers are continu ally pacing to and fro. The visitor hardly knows whether to be most impressed by the immensity of the concern, it being nearly large enough to hold the entire population, its scrupulous cleanliness, or the dead si lence that prevails, as unbroken as if there were not a living creature within a hund red miles, though at present there are abo.ut 2,000 human beings inside the walls. As our little party filed in, between a double row of glittering bayonets, and the great iron gates, closing with a crash of bolts and bars, shut us in among e criminals, the usual stale jokes common to such occasions were exchanged. First we were conducted into a large, well-furnished reception .room, lined on all sides, from floor to ceiling, with thousands of photo graphs. Every prisoner must have his picture taken on entering this place, and again when he leaves; and these are put in cases oil the walls, each labeled with its number. During his prison life, the con vict is known by that number only, and never hears his name. Poverty ted to Awful Suffering. Gazing around this rogues' gallery, my at tention was attracted by two Iresh and hand some young faces, evidently those of hus band and wife, and I asked the superintend ent who they were. Taking down one of the big books, he ran his finger down the pages till the number on the photograph was reached. "Oh yes," he continued, "this case, I remember, was a rather interesting one. They were newly married, down in Valdivia; a couple who stood high socially, and of whom everybody thought weU. "Want of money was their undoing. For a Email amount oi it ine uubuai'u wuiuwcuiui aged relative, and the wife assisted in hiding the corpse. They had funds enough to fight the law in all the courts, but after repeated trials he was sentenced to be shot, 6he to be compelled to witness her husband's execu tion, and then to remain in prison ten years longer." The Eentenne was carried into effect, and the story mav be clearly read in the photo graphs. 2Tet to the youthful couple is a picture of the criminal taken on the day of hie execution, the wild eyesand haggard face showing that he realized his doom; and' beyond that is the fjae of the widow,10 years later, a prematurely-old woman, with the expression of one who has nothing to hope for. The Face Is Xot an Index. Another face was that of an innocent- and become accustomed to the quiet and order that reigns here, he has forgotten how to think for nimself, and even his former name has become strange to him. When first turned adrift into the world, even with money in his pocket, he feels an overpower ing sense of helplessness; and many come back and beg to be taken in again." Solitary Confinement In Chile. But there is another side to the picture one eo dark and terrible that as we con templated it the bright day seemed suddenly overcast, the sun ceased to shine and the birds to sing. In this splendid '"model" building there are slimy, noisome cells where daylight never enters, in -which hu man beings are literally buried alive. -Having heard of them, we requested to be shown one of these cells. The gentlemanly super intendent denied there were any such, and showed us the interior of two or three twi light cells, which he said were the worst in the penitentiary and designed for those condemned to "solitary confinement." But we knew better; and later on the judicious investment of a dollar induced a subordi nate to give us a glimpse of what we came to see. Under the massive arches of the enor mously thick walls, Mhere perpetual twi light reigns even in the outside rooms, are inner cells, two feet wide by six feet long, destitute of a single article of furniture. Until recently those confined in them were walled in, the bricks being cemented in place over the living tomb. Now there is a thick iron door, which is securely nailed up, then fastened all around with huge clamps, exactly as vaults are closed in the Santiago Cemetery; and over all the great red seal of the Government is placed not to be removed until the man is dead or his sentence has expired. The tiny grated win dow is covered by several thicknesses of closely-woven wire netting, making dense darkness inside, so that the prisoner cannot tell darkness from day. There is no ventila tion except through this netting, and no opening whatever to the tomb, low down in the iron door, close to the ground, is a tiny sliding panel, a, foot long by two or three inches wide, arranged like a double drawer, so that food and water may be slipped in on shallow pans and the refuse returned. The Visit of the Death Angel. Twice in every 24 hours this panel is op erated; and it the tood remains untoucned i looking, light-hearted schoolboy, apparent Iv not more than 17 years old. "Certainly this was never a criminal?" said L "HewasoneoftheworstI ever knew," replied the superintendent "In a fit of rage he beat his father's brains out, because the latter refused to let him ride a favorite mare; and then deliberately murdered his mother, because she knew of the facts and might tell them. He was condemned to be shot, seven years ago." Truly, this gruesome art-gallery upsets one's ideas about the face being an index of character, eyes the windows ol the soul, and all that sort of thing, for the most hardened wretches of the lot wear looks of baby inno cence! There are a great many women in the collection, and we are told that the so called "gentler" sex of South America com mit a large proportion of the murders- jealousy being the moving cause. Then we went to the workshops; through, huge iron gates, with ponderous locks and bars, each guarded by soldiers with loaded musketE. There seems to be no possible chance for escape, and the superintendent said that during the 17 years he has .been here not a single attempt has been made. In the shops everybody was working silently and steadily, his eyes bent upon his work, not a whisper being permitted or a mo ment's pause of the busy fingers. But when w e entered, at a signal from the overseer of each department, every man made a mili tary snlutc and remained standing until per mission was given to resume work. A Gord Thing to Go to Frlson. Certain it is that if the majority of Chilean rotos, (the word literally trans lated meaning "ragged people," here used to designate the poorer class), were con fined for a term ot years in the Santiago Penitentiary, their condition would be vastly bettered. They would be sure of shelter, sufficient food and clothes enough to cover their nakedness very uncertain blessiwrs in their present state; besides being compelled to keep tolerably clean for the first time in their lives, and made to work at something useful. All are obliged to learn trades blacksinithing, carpenter " "ing, shoemaking, etc There is a school, alto, where even the oldest and most densely ignorant are tiught to read and write; and a chapel where all receive religious in struction. Nor is this alL Those who never in their palmiest days of freedom possessed a dollar that they did not steal, may actually haye money laid up, with which to begin life anew. Good conduct does not count here toward shortening one's term, but ex tra diligence in well-doing is paid for, in money. The men are kept bteadily at work; but by exerting themselves they may easily accomplish much more than the amount required, and for every extra bit they are fairly paid. In the shoe depart ment, for example: The contractors, who pay the Government so much per annum for working the prisoners, encourage the men to their best efforts by keeping a careful ac count of exactly how much each accom plishes every day. A stipulated sum is paid lor so much work; and if a man doubles or trebles the amount, as many do, it is so much the betterfor all concerned. A work man easily makes from 20 to 30 cents a day, and the amount it charged to his credit. The money is not put in his hand, but a ticket representing that sum. rrisoners May Bo Fined. If he fails to do a reasonable amount, or spoils material purposely or through care lessness, something is 'deducted Irom the money he has already earned, or he may be otherwise punished Though strongly ad vUcd to hoard his funds until the day of re lease, he may spend it if he likes. The reg ular prison food is better and mor abund ant than most of them havr bee i accustomed to outside; but on certain dayi market peo ple arc allowed to come in and sell tobacco, lruit, dulces, etc, and there is no law to prevent the. men from spending alllhey earn in tnis way. Once in three monthb'each prisoner may have -visitors, and then his relatives and friends, if he has any, flock to see him. Many of them are glad to have saved up a respectable sum to give the wife and children, or the aged parents or young sis ters, who, perhaps, have sadly missed their support baid the superintendent, "If a prisoner's term is long, it is not uncommon lor him to have credit lor from ?200 to 5500, which is paid him in cash on the day of his discharge and is wealth to a Roto. This, with a good trade at his finger ends and the thrifty habits he has acquired, makes a new man of him; and if he gets into mischief again it is due to innate depravity. But when a man has been in prison a long time a certain number of days, it is known the man is dead, and only then can his door be opened unless his time has-expired. If the food is not eaten for only two or three days no attention is paid to it, for the prisoner may be shamming; but beyond a given length of time he cannot live without eatinc. Not the faintest sound nor glimmer of light penetrates these awful walls. In the same clothes he goes in, unwashed, un combed, without e en a blanket or handful of straw to lie on he languishes in sickness, lives or dies, with no means of making his condition known to those outside. He may count the lagging hours, sleep, rave, curse, pray, long for death, dash his brains out, go mad if he likes nobody knows it . He is dead to the world, and buried, though living. Six months is the usual sentence, and, until lately, two years has been the limit They told us that but on man has ever been known to live a year, and the majority do not outlast the second month. Those that survive the six months are almost invariablv driveling idiots or dangerous maniacs. The door is always opened at night, when the sentence has expired, because in his enfeebled con dition after long darkness, the glare of day would be torture, if not death. They expect to find the wretch Etone blind, ema ciated to the last degree, unable to stand, hair and beard grown long and white as enow, nails like talons, and garments rotten with mold. Saved by a Handful of Seeds. One man of education and refinement kept himself in tolerable condition through his half-year of solitary confinement by means of a handful of melon seeds. As he was going in, somebody gave him part of a musk)nelon. Strange to say, it was not taken from him, and he carefully guarded, the seeds which he put to a variety of in genious uses. "With them and reckoning from the number of times the foodpan slid in and out, he contrived to keep track of the number of days of his incarceration; he invented games of ''solitaire," which hfc played thousands of times in the darkness; and to vary the dreadful monotony he would throw away the precious handful and grope around on his hands and knees until they were all re-collected. He says that to those little seeds alone he is indebted for his almost miraculous escape-from insanity, idiocy or death. On the day of our visit to the Santiago Penitentiary there was one man in solitary confinement, under two years sentence, whose time had expired within seven weeks. It was the only case on record and a marvel to all who were acquainted with it A great 'deal of speculation is rife as to what the poor wretch will be like when the door is opened, if he manages to exist so long blind no doubt and hopelessly ruined in health and intellect, if he doej not die of the shock of liberation. v Tortured Into a Confession. In the common jails people are so treated that one imprisonment is generally sufficient to cure them of most faults. A house serv ant in the Santiago family where I lived, absconded one day taking several articles of wearing apparel, was soon apprehended. and according to rule, locked up in solitary confinement for 24 hours, without a mouth ful to eat or drink. This was done to break his spirit and render him tractable. Then he was called into court, confronted by his late master, and told to confess all he had stolen. The frightened fellow, knowing well that every article confcs;ed to meant months of imprisonment, falteringly owned up to one r two thefts only. The master declared tnere was more, and the Judge, naturally leaning to the stronger side, ordered a Ser geant to take the man out and "refresh his memory." The refreshing process meant a sound flogging, tied to a post in the jail yard, where 31 lashes were well put bn. After the first whipping, the servant con fessed to one or two more thefts; but as his employer still insisted there was more, he was whipped again, and yet again, every uiij iui u wccn; uuiu me lrme master was abundantly satisfied. Then the thief was sent to the penitentiary for three years, though the full value of all the goods stolen did not amount to 520, and his aged mother begged on her knees to be allowed to re fund the money. Fannie B. Wabd. Daist ConN Cuke relieves at once and positively cures. 15 cents; at druggists. Italian awnings at Brown & Co.'s, cor ner Grant and "Water streets. Tel. 1194. Aeoyt.e awnings, brilliant and fast in color and exquisite in designs, at Mamaux & Son's, 539 Penn avenue. ' An UnadvertUed Race. Chicago Times. While the Charleston is tearing toward the South Pole in an endeavor to catch the sauoy Chilean ship which stole a march on Uncle Sam and abducted a second-class Re publican deputy marshal, the press of the country is making a daring chase after the correct spelling of the fugitive warship's name. Bets are about even as to which accomplishes its task first Draw Your Own Conclusions. HE-NO Tea is our notion of Tea. We have been in the busi ness long enough (since i8u grandfather and grandsons) to know what tea there is in the world ; and we ought to know something of local tastes. We think it pays to sell what people will like. One pound is of no account We think of the pounds that come after. . FOR SALE BY ALL GROCERS Send for our illustrated book about Tea, Free by mail. MARTIN GILLET & CO., (Established i8xx.) Exchange Place, Baltimore, Md. 4 Cash Hauch's, aid for old gold and 295 Fifth avenue. paid i, Nor silver at "WTSU Sicilian awnings, absolutely sun-fast, at Hamaux & Son's, 639 Penn avenue. Tele phone 1972. Fans! Fans! Fans! Hundreds of styles, 5c to J15, at Eosen baum & Co. 'a. CLEAR HEALTHY SKIN. &$k Hontton and JIurano awnings at maux & Son's, 539 Penn avenue. Ma- "We find St Patrick's Pills to be very extra and to give splendid satisfaction. They are now about the only kind called for. w. A. "Wallace, Oasis, la. For sole by drug gists, -wsu NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. IIS A A AG C . LADIES we've good news for you. to day. We closed out the balance of a promi nent manufacturer's stock of Suits, and are now prepared to offer some of the most EXTRAORDINARY BARGAINS 3ver known since ready-made suits were first ntroduced. No favors will be shown one customer will have the same advantage as an ther and every suit included in this immense irchase will be sold at much below real value. ere, you see, is an opportunity to secure the ioicest of a large stock of Fashionable Suits about one-half regular prices. These suits are all made up during April and are, there e, the very latest styles. AND THES. ARE THE PRICES: 60 Colored Cashmere Suits $ 6 75, regular price $10 50. 62 Colored Cashmere Suits 11 45, regular price 16 60. . 44 Colored Cashmere Suits. 12 75, regular price 18 00. 22 Black Cashmere Suits .. 13 45, regular price 20 00. 25 All-Wool Cloth Suits. .'. 9 95, regularprice 15 00. 15 Extra Fine Plaid Suits. : 10 00, regularprice 16 60 25 Extra Pine Plaid Suits 13 45, regularprice 20 00. 22 Tailor-Made Tan and Gray Cloth Suits 13 95, regular price 22 50. 15 Tailor-Made Tan and Gray Cloth Suits 14 25, regular price 24 00. 10 Tailor-Made Tan and Gray Cloth Suits 18 45, regular price 28 60. 7 Extra Pine Tan and Gray Cloth Suits 21 50, regular price 35 00. 5 Handsome Mixed Suitings 21 00, regular price 33 00. 5 Handsome Braided Suitings" 25 00, regular price 37 50. Besides the above we offer Handsome Gingham Suits, ?2 95, $4 95, 57 50, ?9 75. Extra Fine Satine Suits, worth 512, at ?7 95. Extra Fine Challie Suits, 87 45, $9 50, 511 45, $12 60, 513 35. These come in light and dark grounds and in greatest -variety. SPECIAL BARGAINS in Wrappers and Tea Gowns of all descriptions, from 85oto?9 75. I3T0 ver 200 stvles of Norfolk Waists, from 50c to 52. All our Blazers and Reefers marked down TO COST AND BELOW COST to reduce stock quickly. . NEW ADVEBTISEJUpfTS. em erai i easi :)- For feme time past we have noticed the flaring newspaper announcements of some of oar competitors, all laying mutual claim to being the And selling their goods at less than cost It is needless to say these claims owe their ex istence to the great cheapness of that article commonly known as "Gas" or "Wind," with which these houses are well supplied; but when it comes to selling FURNITURE, CARPETS Every woman can have a njee, clear-looking complexion, even though not called beautiful. Many ladles are called careless' because their skin looks muddy or blotched. Face Bleach will positively do all that Is claimed; will remove all blemishes, moth, freckles, dlscoloratlons or any skin disease. It is a skin tonic, $3 per bottlo. three bottles for $5, the usual amount required. " lime. A. Kuppert's new book, "How to ho Beautiful," given free to all callers. Sent freo on receipt of fie to covftr nnstflff ft. Tlnnm 90.1. TTnTrHHmi Building, 93 Fifth ave., Pittsburg, Pa. my8-su Parasol and Italia Tall Our stock of Parasols and Sun Umbrellas has been augmented by many new arrivals within the last few days, and certainly never presented a more attractive appearance than now. Every variety of Parasols and Sun Umbrellas is included in our assortment. The little vaisi and the fashionable lady will find here something to suit them, for ours is A COMPLETE STOCK. Plain and Striped Parasols, 76c to 515, including elegant lace covered ones. SUN UMBRELLAS Prom SI to 510, with newest styles of handles. Ipenbaum 510-518 MABKET'STREET. , Liu., LIU., At reasonable prices, they are ljke the lahel on the bottle, "NOT IN IT." We will guarantee to save you from 15 to 20 PEP. CENT on HOUSEHOLD GOODS Of every description, whether you want to buy for Cash or on Easy Payments And invite you to call and see our elegant goods and styles before purchasing. EVERYTHING BRIGHT, NEW AND STYLISH. It is the acknowledged opinion of the public at large that PICKEBING'S STOBES AEE AWAY AHEAD of any other Furniture and Carpet House in the two cities. FREEE XI J As announced, will positively take place WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 189L During the day a FOOTBALL GAME will be played between the State Ohampions, the "Eovers," of McDonald, Pa., and the great "Wanderers;" also, a baseball game by the "Pittsburg Athletics" vs "Malie & Chamberlain Club," of Allegheny; a Singing Contest,, in which prominent singing clubs in the county will compete for our prize cup; an Egg and Ladle race; a race open only to wearers of artificial limbs, and all manner of amusements. Dancing all dayon covered platforms, to sweet music furnished by Washington Orchev tra, Colonel Joe Christy prompter. Concert on boat by Washington Brass Band. Parties of shady character will do well to stay away, as members of the DEPART MENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY will be on hand to prevent their attendance and look to the interests of oar patrons. FREE TIC KETS H1 ke given at our stores until Tuesday, May 19, t& 6 P. M., when the distribution will cease. COME AND GET YOUK TICKETS. GENUINE MARSEILLES QUILTS, 51 SO, GASH OR CREDIT. El PICKERING, Credit. THE HOTJSBFDRNISHER, CORNER PENN AVE. AND TENTH STREET. myl7 HERE'S ' RECIPROCITY: That's the coming political principle. It means a fair exchange and mutually profitable interchange. Strange it was not thought of before. We've practiced it for over a quarter of a century, and it is to day the animating principle of our mammoth business. NOTHING LIKE IT -IN- PITTSBURG! WE ACCEPT YOUR MONEY and give you the best possible value for it obtainable anywhere,- Our offerings are such as constantly win confi dence and patronage. . Actual values always correspond with our adver tisements. This is one of the pillars of our establishment. IN BOYS' CLOTHING. SMALL OUTLAY, GREAT RESULTS. Our Boys' and Children's Department is brilliant with style and filled to overflowing with splendid values. Two or three dollars spent in this popular department makes a wonderful transformation in a boy. Wecan't begin to describe the pretty costumes for small boys in the shape of kilts, in one and two pieces, nor can we begin to name the many beautiful fabrics and styles which compose our truly grand stock of short pant suits. When you are tired of paying the same price for poor clodiing that we ask for- a good article, bring in your boys and let us show you how we can serve you. IN LONG-PANT SUITS Our stock is a full, complete and captivating one. The strong and serviceable is here at -$3 and $4 a suit; the stylish and dressy in fine grades of cassimeres, worsteds and cheviots at $5, $6 and $7. OUR SHOE STOCK Is right in touch with the people. They buy with con fidence because they know that the shoes we sell are built for business. We be lieve that 95 per cent of those who buy shoes of us come back with further patronage. This speaks with great force as to the actual value of the goods we sell, and is most to us" and 1 LIGHT COLORED SUITS. SLOE FLANNELS. ' F11GT CAS5BES. BLACK WORSTEDS. J?w CORKSCREWS. BLACK FANCY ELECTRIC BLUE SUITS. SgMfi 0 satisfactory both WmtP ourpatroni BETTER THAN DIAMONDS. "Diamonds are as good as money." That's an old saying, and so when we announce a DIAMOND SALE OF SUITS for the next six days you may infer that we are going to give you something extraordinary in value. For the small sum mentioned above we are going to' give you your choice of several hundred fine suits in the materials named, and many others. We can give .you almost any style -of suit you want, and any color, either, in sacks, frocks or cutaways. You'll find them equal not only in appearance, but in actual value to theuits sold elsewhere at $12 and 'even $14. . SPECIAL THIS WEEK: A splendid line of Grand Army suits at this popular price, $10. Single or double breasted, coats and vests made with eyelet holes, and two sets of buttons go with each suit Full line of Grand Army caps. . , "LIFE AND DEEDS OF SHERMAN," a large 600 page book, still goes' free with every sale of $10 and up in Men's Clothing. . TRUNKS AND VALISES. The traveling season is nearly upon us, and many are preparing to go out of town. Anything you may need in the way of a-trunk, satchel, valise, hand-bag or grip can be had here at a moment's notice. 'An immense assortment of every size and style. FURNISHING GOODS. NECKWEAR: The largest and best line in the city. Elegant values in new spring styles' at 24 and 46 cents. NEGLIGE SHIRTS: See the fast color cheviots with yoke and felled seam at 49 cents. Another fine line of fast color sateens at 74 cents, worth $1. FINE HATS. Fine in quality and fine in price. Never allow the thought to get into your mind that because we sell hats cheap, therefore we sell cheap hats. It is because we buy in such immense quantities from the makers direct that we are ableeto name the prices we do. Spring defbys in new shades at $1 24 that you pay $2 for at other stores. Our $2 49 quality of derby equals any $4 hat in the country. Ready with an immense line of straw goods for men and boys. GUSKY'S, Z : 300 TO 400 MARKET STREET- OUR MAIL-ORDER is a great convenience to those who live at a distance and find it impossible to visit us in person. It places such within reach of the largest and best stock id the State. They jusisend us a postal card and we do the rest GUSKY'S, 300 TO 400 MARKET STREET- &&&& f . i - V- r kA . ris. 1 ?&A. ... - ' JSESito4fiiJ.i- xtJl-JBffiBt J 1",- 4 Ai& ,!' i.. -i '-- --ifr fifs,rft&&. !.,.. i. - - . j, &..... .. . ... ..&.. .. ..-. . sa .&s"- 1
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers