Litchfield enquirer., 1831-04-07
A SCENE AT S1NG-sING.

|
bove remarks.-N. e. Farmer.
SCENE AT SING-SING.
A few mornings since, tall and rather
good looking man, in the garb ofa sailor,
was noticed sauntering about the place
where the prisoners at Sing-Sing were pur-
suing their avocations. He was dressed in
a rough roundabout jacket, loose trowsers
and tarpaulin hat, and as he strollcd a
round, noticing the industry and skill OF the
prisonersin hewing and chiseling the blocks
OF marble on which they were employed,
his countenance wore an expression Of APP
prevail of their labours very different from
that which one of our New York stone cut
tiers and anti-monopoly men would have
exhibited in the same circumstances. 1t
was early in the morning, and as the SEN
tinels walked to and fro on their posts,
their we'll cleaned musket barrels glitter
ing in the rising sun, they now and then
cast sidelong glance to the stranger, to
see :bat he held no communication with
the convicts over whom it was their duty
to keep vigilant guard. The stranger
seemed little disposed to enter into CONVEX
sation with the compulsory lapidaries, but
walked deliberately around from one part
of the ground to another, with the air of
one who merely desired to crafty his Curl
osity as to the details Of the far-famed pris-
on discipline of Sing-Sing.
While he was thus engaged, a sloop
which had been lying at wharf not far off,
showed out into the stream, its jib aud
mainsail were up, and swelled out by the
breeze, and boat belonging to the vessel,
which had been detained at the dock, ap-
parcntly waiting for some one, seemed on
the point of leaving it, and pulling off to the
sloop. Al this moment the stranger turn
ed, and seeing at glance the situation Olaf
fairs, an expression Of anxiety passed over
his countenance.
"My stars" exclaimed he, "there goes
the sloop, and the jolIy-boat is going to
shove off! shall be left to a dead certain
ty." AS he spoke thus, he stepped quick
ly towards the shore at point where one
Of the sentries was walking to and fro.
Stand there J" said the sentinel, "you
cannot pass this way"
But my dear fellow, there goes the
sloop, and shall be left behind, unless you
suffer me to pass. l have just returned
from an India voyage, and am taking bit
of round turn up the river 10 see the old
ones, before I'm off to sea again. Pray
let me pass"
1t is contrary to ORDERS" said the SOL
der, dropping his musket to a horizontal
position, and bidding the sailor stand of.
" You must 60 out yonder, where you
came in. No one is allowed to pass here"
The stranger thus repulsed, turned and
walked hastily to another part of the
grounds, where he met with an equally
prompt refusal from another sentinel. In
this dilemma nothing vas left for him but
to turn. and pass through the usual place of
egress and entrance. AS he approached
this place, one Of the deputy keepers, who
accidentally happened to be on tho spot,
was noticed to cast sundry doubtful chances
upon the stranger, and DIS he drew near and
was darling rapidly through, he called out
"Here-stop-stay, my friend-who arc
you, and where are you going"
For heavens sake don't stop me" cri-
ed the tar, "the sloop's of, and if don't
bear a hand shall fall astern Of the light
err" -.
The keeper, supposing him really sail
or, who had been passing the time that the
sloop had been detained at the wharf in ex-
aiming the prison and the surrounding
works, was about to let him proceed, when
another glance seemed to awake fresh sus-
picions. ...sQ .-.s,
Hold, my FRIEND" said he, laying his
hand on the sailors collar, all may be fair
and above board, but must look little
closer into this.'' As he said this. he rails
ed the tarpsulin hat from the strangers
head, and casting searching and scrutini-
zing glance upon his face, suddenly ex-
claimed, BY Jove, it is the villain Jack
son 70
The exclamation brought several by
SANDERS to the spot, and little further
scrutiny left no doubt Of the fact that the
stranger was indeed no other than the con-
vict Jackson, who, our rsa1sEs will re-