There are in almost every prison those who are called
“trusties”—prisoners who are given the privilege of doing work outside
of the prison, going on errands, etc., without the presence of a guard.
Others have unusual liberties within the prison walls. Life prisoners
and those who have received a sentence for a number of years and
have not yet made up their minds to reform, often give the officials
considerable trouble in trying to make their escape; although, as a
general thing, life prisoners are well-behaved persons. There have
been some noted and desperate efforts made to escape prison. Desperate
characters have used all their ingenuity in devising plans for an
escape and watch an opportunity to raise an insurrection at a critical
time. There have been times when the insurrection was so great as to
defy the prison officials, and the disturbance could only be quelled
by the daring boldness and wisdom of the warden or general officer in
charge. When a number of desperate prisoners get such an advantage
they will fearlessly face death rather than yield. A few such noted
instances are on record. It is, however, very difficult for a prisoner
to make good his escape. If successful he must go under an assumed name
and always be a fugitive from justice. If a failure is made he is apt
to have to serve his full sentence instead of having advantage of the
commutation of “short time.”
[Illustration: Scaling the Prison Walls.]
Bloodhounds are kept at the present time for the purpose of capturing
those who try to make their escape, and there are men behind the
prison walls who carry ugly scars made from deep flesh wounds by the
bloodhounds during the time of their capture. There are times when a
fire breaks out in a prison which must receive immediate attention
of all available help. It is at such times that desperate characters
undertake to raise an insurrection and make their escape. Many
prisoners have been known at such times to show their manhood, and
offer their services and manifest their loyalty by aiding the officers
in keeping the prisoners in subjection and in extinguishing the flames.
Such prisoners should be highly rewarded, and many of them shortly
afterward receive their pardon in honor of their loyalty and good
principles shown. The prisoner who desires to have favors shown him in
prison should, upon first entering, decide to obey the prison rules
to the best of his ability. Anything to the contrary will bring the
ill favor of the prison officials upon him. An attempt to escape will
not be forgotten and he will be very closely watched and denied many
privileges which he could have otherwise enjoyed, and is not apt to be
made a “trustie.” It is therefore a wise plan to decide upon perfect
submission from the beginning of the confinement.