The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-06-18

Lunatc Asylum, 7th June, 1913
Des0iption Of Black,ceH's Island-Hs Picturesque
ness = Originality Of its Population - Their
An'usernenfs = Vrtues - Principles - Politics -
ITdde-Fdstioms, and Religion
SIR:-
Some have written of old, Letters and Sketch.
es from under Bridge - more recently another
Asmodeusfr from Blouse Top !" and /, finally, will
beg leave to address you from the sc Guard house
or observatory Of Mad.heuse.'' Thus much
for the introd ictior.
You will ask me whether am in a state of mind
similar to the other inmates of this abode of misery
and wretchedness. can confidently assert that
am not. unless the atmosphere | breathe is calcula-
ted to make me SO. How came here is yet an
enigma to myself-a mystery which can explain
no better than by monetary state OF excitement
or oblivion must have fallen into, caused by a sad
disappointment In affair of the heart, and some
other little troubles which, doubt to alleviate,
called upon that most treacherous and deceitiul OF
villains, Bacchus, who administered perhaps too
freely OF his poisonous drugs. The fact lie, however,
that was land may with pr0prlety use the ex-
preston in its full extent and meaning) fairly kid
mapped by the police, and, without nay being asked
who was, or where from, locked up IN the Tombs,
that most disgusting of all earthly holes, and next
sent to this Asylum, where, thanks to the kind
ment OF the doctor, soon found myself restored to
perfect state OF salubriy, both In body and In
mind.
This police system of kidnapping people without
enqurng into the particulars of their situation, Is
getting to be practiced to "too great an extent In
this community" and does not look any better, in
my opinion, than the incarcerating by Lettres de
cdchet IN the days OF the Louises of France. have
otentlmes wondered, since came here, that the VI
glant and all scrutinizlng eye OF the New York
Press has not to this day ferreted out this fact and
made, IN regard to it, such observations as 1t natu
rally would lie ad them, and have such proceedings
stopped.
AS far as the sending of people who appear desti-
tute and trlendess TO asylum of this kind, or any
charitable institution where they can be properly
they say, is no disgrace. (Thoush entrenoas, very
uncomfortable, above all to those who never knew
what 1t was before, as the writer) But to commit
awellmeanlng, unoffending man, because he Is IN
distress, to the Backwe's Island penitentlary, to
herd with and oaiers of all kinds
and cast, Is an outrage to society, and calls loudly
tor an Immediate reform, tor the evils arising from
such contamination are too evident, and tell so
strongly under my observation, that 1t Is my prncl
pal reason for addressing you.
Being allowed by the doctor the privilege OF walk
ing throughout the whole island, often stroll down
to the prison and make 1t a business to enquire OF
every prisoner the nature OF his offence, and must
acknowledge, for the shame OF some OF them,that
found their confessions correct enough. Several
thieves amongst them with whom | demonstrated
about their want OF shame, candidly replied, I'VE
are said by people to be bad enough thieves,
without being liars" If that is not candor in per-
versty, do not know where TO look for it. fire.
quenty ask ihem, Will you steal again when you
get liberated" $40 be sure is the reply, land the
first man that crosses my way with money about
him Is sure to hear from me-" and the like OF such
bare-iaced atestaons, which go to prove that those
men are most unprlnclpled rascals, and do not
mean to alter and mend their course of conduct, but
are waiting with anxiety and impatence the explra-
ton OF their sentence of confinement, 10 lead the
same lawless life
Alters these ayowed thieves, in my nomenclature,
| classify the DULLES, peace breakers, rowdes, and
huge paws Of all kinds, who, after a,may be honest
in their dealings, and even shudder at the thought of
soing their character with theft of any kind
Come next on my list the poor, miserable, house
less devils, as you call them, who, through want of
shilling to pay Tor their lodging, are picked up at
night in the streets, either sober in partial state
OF lntoxicatiOn, but who can produce, however,
good character tor honesty.
Actually present to your sight class of very re-
spectacle, well lnteniioned men, honest mechanics
or aborers, very willing to work at anything for
honest living, but who, owing to the bad state Of the
to save themselves from starvation go Gas they call
ny and "give themselves up" What crime under
heaven can they charge those men with None
but poverty And because they think 1t better to
ask assistance from the Corporation than TO steal,
beg or starve, should they, ask anybody, be made
to herd and mix with evildoers OF all descriptions,
without some distinction being made IN their favor
Shame upon these who have it in their power TO
remedy this great evil, and who either 100 indo
lent or too indifferent TO attend to it at once!
We have In this asylum some prisoners as ser
wants; few Of them are men OF the last class de-
signated, and whose nice feelings of honesty and
delicacy are such as l would like every enc who
wears the garb OF gentleman in our days to pos
sess. Those men are not only very useful here; but
they could not be dispensed with, there being only
one head.keeper for upwards OF two hundred
lunalcs,w has all his time taken up, earlyand late
and who Is but very poorly remunerated for the
arduous and hard duty devolving upon him. To re-
turn to our principal subject, would recommend
not only distinction in dress, as well as IN the
tpne he d,Id Offo 1doYc and
furthermore, have such men as are compelled by
necessity TO "give themselves up" kind of over
seers the rabbe, and assist the keepers when
necessary, and enjoy such privileges and marks of
confidence from the officers, as would make
them respected from the common thieves and Of
tenders; ese be sure, those men, part OF them at
least, will leave this place as bad subjects, and cor
rupted In their morals, as those to whom they are
In regard to the women prisoners, they all are
abandoned characters, such as grace The FIVE
Points, and the " Hook" No distinction whatever
can be made amongst them, Tor they all belong to
that class of beings that society altogether repu-
dates.
Furthermore, have heard of several cases of
men being in a slckly state, and altogether desti
tute, who went to the Police office, and made appl-
cation TO De sent to hospital or poor house, such
as Bellevue, and the next thing that happened TO
them was to be showed into Black Maria," Ia We
hicle for the conveyance of convicts,) and sent up
TO this Island as prisoners | am OF those VIC
Tins: About three months ago, after spending SIX
weeks In this asylum, (the first time was kidnap-
ped,) was released by the doctor at my unceasng
requests, and when backlin New York four or five
days, anticipating the renewal of the same vexa-
lions that brought me here first, applied the po
lice to be sent back to this asylum being at the time
In q very precarious state of health, and not being
able to get any money from even those indebted to
me- Well, sir, instead of complying with my re-
quest, was unknowngly committed for two months
to the jail OF this island, as found it on my arrival;
but, fortunately for me, met with Doctors Whiting
and McCleand. who claimed me as one OF their
patients, and ordered me back to this asylum. Had
1t not been for the kindness of these gentlemen,
who were well acquainted with the nature Of the
dilemma | am in, and my momentary difficulties, |
should have been made the unhappiest man on
earth; and leave you to guess Cab no matter
what risk, or whatever the conse que might have
been to Te,) what should have been my course OF
conduct towards the author Of this shameful imposl
ton when / should have been restored to liberty.
Were not awkwardly situated tor the present
iowa and relafinns In N York who of