A RUSSIAN PRISON.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7636, 8 January 1887, Page 3

A RUSSIAN PRISON.

In the cells of the upper and middle tiers are put the least compromised criminals. All the cells are of the same size— lon feet long, seven feet broad and twelve fcctbigh. The doors have each two openings— one large enough for the. daily food arid drink to be put in through it, and the other of smaller size, to serve as a spy; hole for the jailors. The doors are also each fastened with two padlocks — the key of, one being 1 iv the jailer's custody, while that' of the other 'remains in charge of the Commandant of the fortress. The dish from which,the'prisoner. eats is pushed in through grooves cut in a plate of iron which projects from the interior of the door, at a height of about four feet from the floor. The dish cannot, therefore, be removed by. the prisoner,- ; who must take his food standing against- the door, and this with a spoon which is attached to the plate. The-" drinking water is put in a sort of jug hinged to the door. When the prisoner wishes to drink he must get down upon his knees_ and turn this vessel upon its hinges or pivots. .Food is supplied at. 11 o'clock in the morning and 6 in the evening, and ordinarily consists of oatmeal gruel and a quarter of a kilogram of rye bread. The prisoner's bed consists of a plank, six feet by three, with a:straw mattress, a sheet so strong and coarse that it is impossible to tear it, and a covering of felfr^all' of which 'articles are 'taken away during the day. The dress consists of a grey woollen jacket, quite short and tight fitting, short pantaloons of the same color, and long ielt boots. For ■women the jacket is supplied, and' a. grey skirt added, The prisoners must get up' at -6 o'clock'and-go to bed- at 8. Ithas'-been ascertained .by means of the secret observations which are constantly being taken through the peep-holes, that, as a general rule, the prisoners spend their long hours from their rising until their breakfast, in pacing to and fro in their cells ; after this they are wont to remain quiet for an hour or 80^ only to give way in the next to an excess of desolate despair, which their pitiable situation'may well inspire.