Page:California Inter Pocula.djvu/434



4Si PACIFIC  COAST  PRISONS,

Good conduct  is  promoted  by  a  credit  of  five  days in the  month  to  every  prisoner,  with  an  increase  of one  day  every  two  years,  till  the  allowance  reaches ten days. This is  deducted  from  his  term  of  ser- vitude. Pardons are  also  held  out  besides  other rewards.

Punishment has  become  more  humane,  and  consists mainly in  reducing  privileges  and  good-conduct  time. Desperate characters  wear  chain  and  ball,  and  are prohibited from  holding  intercourse. The lash  which was once  applied  for  all  offences,  and  periodically  to captured  fugitives,  has  almost  fallen  into  disuse,  and so has  the  dark  dungeon,  although  both  remain  to inspire  a  salutary  terror. Flogging was  also  admin- istered with a  long  paddle-fonned  board,  with  perfora- tions, through which  the  flesh  was  forced  by  every blow. Even more  feared  than  this  was  the  torture  by water,  which  consisted  of  a  jet  played  upon  the mouth and  nose  of  the  victim. So severe  was  this punishment that  if  the  same  jet  were  let  fall  upon the stomach  it  would  cause  death.

The numerous  attempts  at  escape  form  interesting episodes of  prison  history. The thought  of  liberty here swallows  all  other  thought,  and  life  itself  appears the inferior  gift  of  heaven,  as  Dr^^len  puts  it. The great leisure  enjoyed  allows  the  mind  ample  time  to fondle  the  alluring  hope ;  to  dwell  upon  the  many records of  fellow-prisoners  who  have  with  varying success scaled  the  walls,  filed  bars,  undermined  cells, assumed disguises,  or  otherwise  hoodwinked  the guard ; and  to  evolve  plans  worthy  of  a  Daedalus, attended by  equally  daring  exploits.

The most  famous  stampede  was  that  of  July  22, 1862, when  a  general  outbreak  took  place,  owing immediately, it  was  claimed,  to  the  starvation  regime of Commissary  Jones.

Nothing occurs  to  arouse  suspicion  although  the plot must  be  widely  known. The dinner  hour  has  passed