THE LOCK-STEP MARCH.
The Lock-step MarchThe Lock-step March
The Lock-step March
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. Whenthe 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.