Chapter 20

           ThetimecamewhenIhumbledWardenAthertontounconditionalsurrender,makingavainandemptymouthingofhisultimatum,“Dynamiteorcurtains.”Hegavemeupasonewhocouldnotbekilledinastrait-jacket.Hehadhadmendieafterseveralhoursinthejacket.Hehadhadmendieafterseveraldaysinthejacket,although,invariably,theywereunlacedandcartedintohospitaleretheybreathedtheirlast...andreceivedadeathcertificatefromthedoctorofpneumonia,orBright’sdisease,orvalvulardiseaseoftheheart.

           ButmeWardenAthertoncouldneverkill.Neverdidtheurgencyariseofcartingmymaltreatedandperishingcarcasstothehospital.YetIwillsaythatWardenAthertontriedhisbestanddaredhisworst.Therewasthetimewhenhedouble-jacketedme.ItissorichanincidentthatImusttellit.

           IthappenedthatoneoftheSanFrancisconewspapers(seeking,aseverynewspaperandaseverycommercialenterpriseseeks,amarketthatwillenableittorealizeaprofit)triedtointeresttheradicalportionoftheworkingclassinprisonreform.Asaresult,unionlabourpossessinganimportantpoliticalsignificanceatthetime,thetime-servingpoliticiansatSacramentoappointedasenatorialcommitteeofinvestigationofthestateprisons.

           ThisStateSenatecommitteeinvestigated(pardonmyitalicizedsneer)SanQuentin.Neverwastheresomodelaninstitutionofdetention.Theconvictsthemselvessotestified.