Hell Hole of the West

While Julia was here we also went to the Yuma Territorial Prison. I can't express in words how hot it was there! I thought if the prisoners didn't die from other causes, surley they would die of heat exhaustion. The prison was cool to see, but truly a miserable place. 

This is inside the dark cell. It is a cell used for punishment. Prisoners were put in a five foot tall cage inside a cave.  It was said to be cleaned only every 3 to 4 months. Imagine the stench! No where to pee but where you are standing. There were as many as 14 prisoners in the cell at a time.

Miserably hot, and tied down!

Julia and I.  We think the prisoners must have sat around like this all day!

One of the nicer cell blocks. Others have several beds packed in, and lack much sunlight. The downfall of this one is the ring cemented in the floor.  I guess these are the prisoners chained in their cells. 

Let it be official: I am not the only one that thinks Yuma is a Hell Hole!

(Ok, Yuma isn't THAT bad!)

This picture makes the prison look like a paradise!  This is the main watch tower.

A true ball and chain

A model replica of the Dark Cell.  Can you imagine?

Emily is almost dead from heat stroke here. After she disappeared, we found her inside fanning herself and guzzling water!  She thought she really had been to hell and back!