The Cat-o’nine-tails
CAT-O’-NINE-TAILS.
A few years ago while visiting an Indiana penitentiary the warden said that some years before they used the cat-o’-nine-tails in punishing their prisoners, but had discarded that mode of punishment. There are men both in prison and out of prison who carry furrows and scars on their backs caused by the deep flesh wounds of the cat-o’-nine-tails. This is a whip with lashes some of which have wire interwoven so as to cut the flesh with every stroke. The poor prisoner must bare his back and be chained or shackled to a post and beaten by a merciless officer, who is often only too glad to wreak his vengeance in that way. It is yet the case in many prisons and stockades that a similar punishment is inflicted with the exception of not so many lashes, and a strap is sometimes used, from two to four inches wide, made by sewing two pieces of harness leather together. The same is perforated, soaked in water over night, and dipped in the sand. This, when vigorously applied to the bare flesh, causes the most excruciating pain. This is not in the least overdrawing the picture of what is constantly put into practice at the present time.