[Illustration: The Lock-step March]
The lock-step march is a humane punishment, yet when continued a
great length of time is very tiresome. Prisoners who have been guilty
of some trivial offence during the week, and who are not otherwise
punished, are generally called upon to fall in line and proceed to the
open square of the prison, and there while the other prisoners are
resting or at chapel exercises they must keep in constant motion in the
lock-step march. This punishment is not as severe as some others, yet
it is not a desirable punishment, especially when the others are all
enjoying a rest or comfortably seated in the chapel during religions
services. When the hundreds of prisoners are gathered in the chapel
on Sunday morning and comfortably seated, the warden or some other
officer reads the names of those who are to join in the lock-step
march. It is not for them to retaliate nor plead their innocence,
neither wait to be told the second time. As soon as their names are
called they must immediately rise and as the last name is called they
are all marched out to the prison yard and there begin their tiresome
march. Some who have committed greater offences must walk in front and
carry heavy bars of iron. This punishment is given to stimulate them to
observe the proper rules and discipline of the prison.