Most of the cells were dug out into the side of the hill.
The walls were plastered with adobe mud.
The hole was used for solitary confinements.
Those trying to escape were punished by being chained to heavy iron balls.
Summer temperatures often soared over the 115-degree mark, while the desert nights were bitter cold.
Inmates also had to deal with cockroaches, black widow spiders, scorpions and persistent bedbugs.
These work of fiction gave the Yuma Territorial Prison much notoriety.
Being located next to the river, there was always a cool breeze blowing.
A few died from gunshot wounds when they tried to escape.
After the school left, the prison fell into disrepair as locals began scavenging it for building materials.
During the depression, the empty cells provided shelter to many hobos and homeless families.
