Philadelphia Times 8/20/1881, p. 1
The Orphans Plaints

HUGG'S PLAN FOR MAKING BOYS GOOD

A Rope's End, a Slipper, a Strap and a “Dark Hole” as Means of Enforcing Discipline - Tales of Castigation Told by the Inmates of the Lincoln Institute

Since the disclosures in THE TIMES of Thursday showing that a dungeon and a slipper were the principal means of enforcing discipline at the Lincoln Institute, 308 South Eleventh street, further information has been elicited which establishes the fact that Superintendent William M. Hugg conducts the orphanage somewhat after the manner of Mr. Squeers, of Dotheboys Hall. According to the statements of the boys who are left to the tender mercy of Mr. Hugg, a knotted rope is frequently employed upon the backs of the refractory youths and that the cell which the superintendent so graciously opened to the inspection of the reporter was a little paradise compared with the “room under the roof.” Several of the lads who have been interviewed since the visit on Wednesday night declare that the reporter had scarcely left the step before Mr. Hugg pounced upon one of his diminutive wards and flogged him with a strap because he refused to make his bed.

WHAT THE BOYS SAY

With a view of obtaining a fair statement of Mr. Hugg's methods and those of his assistants, and the general conduct of the establishment, a large number of the inmates were interviewed yesterday. In most cases the boys talked guardedly, fearing consequences. Their statements are given in their own words, which were uttered in a majority of instances with reluctance.

Edward Pierce McKernon, a seventeen-year-old boy, was found at the tailoring establishment of F.H. Hoyt, Tenth and Chestnut streets, and when questioned about the home and Mr. Hugg's methods, said: “I left the institution a week ago. I couldn't stand it any longer. I had been in the Educational Home and the Lincoln Institute about six years, and during my stay in the latter place I have been flogged with a rope by Mr. Hugg four times. About two months ago I was slapped in the faced for being slow about dressing in the morning. About four years ago Hugg whipped George Walton, a lame boy, for having a little fuss with Horace Klein, his bedfellow. It is a common thing for Hugg to put boys in the cell and whip them. I never was whipped with the ‘paddle,’ but always with a rope's end. Mr. Hugg is very strict in which he calls his discipline.”

William P. Drinkhouse, a bright boy, thirteen years of age, was found in the wholesale establishment of Hood, Bonbright & Co., 813 Market street.

WHIPPED FOR GOING TO CHURCH

“I have been in the Lincoln Institute since September 25, 1880,” said he.  “I have been boxed on the ears and slapped in the face several times.  While in the Educational Home I was often flogged with a rope.  On Wednesday night, between 8:30 and 9 o’clock, William McFall was struck ten or twelve times with a strap for not making up his bed when he was told.  I was whipped a few weeks ago with the paddle for going to church after Sunday school.  We have Sunday school at about four o’clock and when it was over I wanted to go to church.  Some of the boys said: ‘You hadn’t better go: Hugg will ship you.’ I said: ‘I guess he won’t whip me for going to church, will he?’ When I got back from church Hugg whipped me hard with a strap.  He often whips the boys for doing the least thing out of the way.”

Harry Lithgow, who is employed in the same establishment, stated that he had been slapped and boxed many times, but never been badly whipped. Flogging and locking the boys in the cell was a common occurrence.

A former inmate of the Home sent a letter to THE TIMES yesterday saying that the real black hole is not the one mentioned in Thursday's TIMES, but is a dark, close cell in the fifth story, immediately under the roof. The “paddle” is a piece of plaited rope about three feet long, and is used without mercy upon any boy who not submit to the whim of the master. He also called attention to the case of a boy named George Gledding or Walton, who was beaten by Superintendent Hugg some four years ago. According to the records of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, George Gledding, at the time fourteen years of age, called at the office of the society on May 23, 1877. He stated that he was an inmate of the Lincoln Home and that he had been brutally beaten with a cowhide by Hugg on the previous evening. Upon the boy's back were nineteen deep welts, from many of which the blood was still exuding. Two of the cuts extended completely around the back, one being fifteen and the other eighteen inches long. Secretary Crew says that but for the character of the Lincoln Institute he would have demanded Hugg's instant arrest. When the society began to investigate the case bitter complaint was made by the managers, who alleged that it had no right to attack their private discipline. The character and offense of the boy were carefully investigated and it was found that some punishment had been deserved. Mr. Crew, however, made vigorous protest against a system of discipline which placed a cowhide and unlimited authority to use it in the hands of a passionate and irresponsible man.

CHAINED TO A BALL

At the Educational Home, a branch of the Lincoln Institute, the society found a boy carrying a ball and chain, which were removed by Secretary Crew's orders. Miss McHenry, now Mrs. Cox, who has always taken so prominent a part in the control of the institute, sided with Superintendent Hugg in this affair. Mr. Crew declared that the managers of the Home should alone have authority to award severe punishment, and added that if a similar case should again occur his society would adopt more vigorous measures.

Samuel Evans, who is now learning shoemaking at the Institute, was confined in this dungeon for nearly a month for trying to run away last summer. The boy spoke highly of Mrs. Cox, but said that Hugg was a great favorite with that lady because he had so greatly reduced the running expenses of the institution.

“I have never been ill-treated at the Home, and decline to say anything more upon the subject,” said Jacob Schlagle, employed by Altemus & Co., 26 South Fourth street.

Henry Schreiner, with Lippincott & Co., 715 Market street, says that he has been at the Home three years. Superintendent Hugg had during that time made free use of a knotted rope as a means of punishment. He mentioned the cases of two boys, named Packer and Schlagle, who were whipped with this instrument, one of them retaining the marks for some time. Mr. Hugg was called to account for this by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, but nothing came of it so far as he could learn.

Harry Thomas, aged sixteen years, with George Eakin, at 48 South Fourth street, says that he has known of boys being kept in the dungeon for a period of two weeks at a time.

Charles Benckert, aged twelve years, at Dixon & Sons, 120 South Eleventh street, says that a little boy by the name of Jeremiah Jago was whipped and beaten about the head so severely by Mr. Doughty, a teacher, that it was found necessary to send him to the Nursery for treatment. This occurred about one month ago, he thinks. He mentions also the case of Samuel Evans, who was kept in the dungeon for a trivial offense. He himself has been treated well.

TWO WEEKS IN A DUNGEON

Robert Tricker aged 15 years, with the Pennsylvania Trust Company, No. 431 Chestnut Street, says that he has been at the institution two years. About four months ago a boy, Howard Simpson by name, was whipped severely with the rope and afterward confined In the dungeon two weeks for running away. He receives ten dollars a month as his Wages and pays every cent for board. Boys who get five dollars a week get no better Fare than those who have two dollars for their services. Another inmate, who is Employed at the same place with Tricker, tells the same story and adds that when Miss Alice Cogbill, the assistant matron is asked for clothing “she is always so sick” that she can't attend to the wants of her charges. He was an intimate friend of Packer, one of the boys so severely whipped, and says that after being flogged with the rope twelve black and blue ridges remained on the boy's body, some of them being cut deep and blood flowing from them. He depends almost wholly on the lunch given to the employes at his place of situation to keep him alive.

It was learned from some of the old employers of some of the boys that many of them were far from being lamb-like. Some of these gentlemen affirmed that they were “cussedness” incarnate, and if they were beat about and flagellated there no doubt was some provocation in particular instances. One youngster related with evident glee than an orphan threw a boot at the superintendent, striking him in the face. Such acts, the boy said, were committed in revenge, however, for punishment received.

BOYS IN THE BLACK HOLE

“Hugg struck me several times in the face with his open hand when I laughed in the bedroom at something funny,” said Charles Bastien, errand boy in Robert Alexander's law office, 24 North Seventh street. “I never was shut up in the cell, but I know a lot of boys who were. There were Willie Farrel, Howard Simpson, A. Lewis, Robert Sterling, John Dunn, Willie Evans and a great many more. The boys wrote their names on the walls of the cell but Hugg washed them off.

Howard Jackson, a lad fifteen years of age, was found at William F. Murphy's stationary establishment, 509 Chestnut street. “I have been whipped three or four times with the rope for small offenses. I ran away once and for that Hugg locked me up in the old cell for two weeks. The old cell was in the fifth story and was a great deal worse than the one they have now. There was no light at all and very little air. I staid in there alone.”

Document History

• Transcribed by HS 2024-08-28