"'Has any accident happened in that mill during the last twelve years?' 'I could not say; it is twelve years since I left it.'
"'Is that mill going on still?' 'Yes.'
"'Speaking of the hours that you had to labour there, will you state to this committee the effect it had upon you?' 'It had a very great effect upon me; I was bad in my health.'
"'Were you frequently much beaten, in order to keep you up to your labour?' 'Yes; very often beat till I was bloody at the mouth and at the nose, by the overseer and master too.'
"'How did they beat you?' 'With their hands and with a leather thong.'
"'Were the children, generally speaking, treated as you have stated you were?' 'Yes; generally; there are generally fifteen boys in one, and a number of girls in the other; they were kept separately.'
"'You say you were locked up night and day?' 'Yes.'
"'Do the children ever attempt to run away?' 'Very often.'
"'Were they pursued and brought back again?' 'Yes, the overseer pursued them, and brought them back.'
"'Did you ever attempt to run away?' 'Yes, I ran away twice.'