The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-01 00:00:00

Conversation under the Silent System

The dumb alphabet and gesture.language of the gaol is
very complete. When one prisoner wishes to inform another
that somebody is dead, he spells the name on his fiagers,th3n
rents his head upon his hands and stamps on the ground,—
so and so is dead and buried. Or, if a mutual friend has
been transported, the informant rubs his leg ; spell
out the unfortunate's name as before. Imprisonment for
so many years is expressed by placing a corresponding num-
ber of fingers on the ear—Bill Sykes has got three 'ear I
—for months, a similar sign on the mouth (toes duty.
If I have received a letter and wish to convey information
of that fact to some friend in the exercise-yard, I conga to
attract his observation and then scribble on my hand. I
signify that I have received a newspaper by seeming to
read from my palm. Have I been favoured with a visit, I
put my finger to my eye. If I have become possessed of
tobacco, I reveal the happy fact by rubbing my nose. I
pretend to whip when I have been flogged, and explain
that I have been put on short allowance by placing my hands
upon my bereaved stomach. To indicate that I have sent;
a letter, I write on my hand, and feign to toss the writing
to the air. My missis has been "lagged," and I challenge
my friend's sympathy by pressing both palms upon my
breast. If I wish to intimate that I have been reported, I
touch my collar. Perhaps I have to see the governor, or
the deputy-governor. In the one case I hold up my index
finger and put it to my eye—in the other I apply the second
finger in like manner ; an impending interview with the
magistrate is signified by touching the peak of my cap.
But there is one system of prison converse which distances
all others for ingenuity—it is known as the telegraph.
Prisoners are often heard tapping more or less gently in
their cells. It sounds like the objectless occupation of idle
hands, or an accompaniment to some wearily Whistled
tune; which no warder is bound to take cognisance of, In
fact, it is the clicking of the telegraph, and this is how it is
worked. The staples upon which the bed-hooks hang
penetrate the walls that divide the cells; and iron it so fa-
cile a conductor of sound that, for that matter, there might
just as well be no masonry between the prisoners at all.
The slightest tap on a staple in one cell is distinctly heard
in the other ; and it is only necessary, there:ore, to arrange
a code of alphabetical rap-signals, and conversation. is easy
enough, though not very fluent. Two neiglfoonzing pri-
soners have a mind to talk. One nt their] gives his staple a
few smart raps, to engage the other's attention, and then
they begin. " What are you in for ?" is the first question ;
and the inquirer taps off, in regular, quick strokes every
letter in the alphabet till he comes to the twenty-third, w,
There he pauses for a moment, and then begins again ; one,
two, three, four, five, six, seven. eight, which is h; and so
on till what" is spelt out. A few very rapid strokes sig-
nify that the word Is complete; and, as soon as the other
party to the conversation telegraphs that he has got the
word all right (which Is done by repeating those rapid
strokes on his side the wall), the next word is forthwith
commenced. But sometimes the operator gives a tap too
many in the middle at a word, which would confuse it al-
together, of course, if provision had not been merle for so
likely an accident. The remedy is simple. With the in-
strument he taps with the operator rubs the staple, as if
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May.