Peter Friesen continues
his story.
“Soon
we arrived at Headingly. We were let out first, and my partner
was anxious to get inside. After going through the two barred
doors, we went into a fairly large room…. After we were uncoupled,
we were told to take all our clothes off. A prisoner registered
every article…. I was handed a two piece underwear suit, and a
shirt that was not big enough. The pants I could not close in
front and the belt was barely long enough. The shoes were also
too small. I was then told to follow the guard. I was not very
comfortable in the whole outfit.”
“I was led into a dormitory where there were twenty bunk beds.
The lower bunks are occupied first and the prisoners that come
in last take the uppers. There was only one prisoner in the dormitory
at that time. I was supplied with a mattress, blanket, and pillow.
They gave me instructions on how to handle my bedding, which had
to be rolled up with the blanket and pillow on the inside, and
left that way all day. You were also supplied with a stool to
sit on and a little desk with one shelf on which to put your personal
belongings."
“While this was taking place the other prisoners came in. The
guard left, and left the door open. There were two wash basins
and two toilets in each dormitory. These other prisoners then
went and washed themselves as facilities became available. They
were barely finished when the call for supper came. In the meantime
I had found that some of the prisoners were talking low German.
I introduced myself to one of them who then introduced me to the
other Mennonite fellows who were there. In this dormitory there
were: A. Friesen, P. Dyck, A. Derksen, P. Friesen, also a Klassen,
a Harder, and a Schroeder. I also found out that John Pauls from
Purves was in the kitchen. Except for Pauls, the rest all worked
in the different barns.”
“We then went for supper. The dining room was large, with three
long tables which could hold up to 250 men. There was room to
set up more tables. The two outside tables were full, but the
middle one was only about one quarter full. This same room was
used for church services or entertainment. The meal consisted
of a cup of coffee, a small amount of potatoes, and bologna. The
coffee was made in the kitchen with the prescribed amount of sugar
and milk allowed for this purpose already added to it. You didn't
have to drink it. There was a can of water on the table and you
could drink water if you preferred to do so. There were no second
helpings. If you needed more you ate bread. There were always
two guards there at meal time, one at each end of the room. The
one at the front end of the room sat on a high stool and kept
an eye on the tables. They allowed you 20 minutes for eating.
You could stay longer only with permission. This was because no
ordinary prisoner was allowed to be in the dining room unless
a guard was with him.”
“After the meal every prisoner proceeded to his dormitory or cell.
There were guards on all floors. The doors were left open. One
could go to the library and ask for a book, or visit with prisoners
from other dormitories. Soon after that the doors were locked
and except for the guard making his round every so often, there
was no communication of any kind other than with your fellow prisoners
in your dormitory. You were now allowed to unroll your mattress,
and prepare yourself for bed. At nine o'clock the loudspeakers
and lights went out.”
[TTbP, 71-78]
