The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-02-21

repeated the attendant syeing closely "Ye have
heard there are dungeons here am in haste, obgs me
by losing time"
She still hesitsted; when, speaking decidedly
said, must 30, friend, and that immediately y where
upon she isdthe way the outer the
kitchen, crowded by most dsorerly and pfofsne set Of
men, and children. emerged the opposite side
the e upon still another enclosed space surrounding
kept the keys Of hi. place and who appeafed to have
he Was unit for the office. told both these
persons were. paupers from Csnsdai" and their
phraseology did not contradict the information. A
sOisy alteration eusued, mnde up Of coarse osths
and explicitly es, unmatched except in Newgste
Bsckwelrs island again nterposed and at length in
duced the turnkey to produce his keys. OBTAINING my
first companion, followed through the opened doors,
and ascending flight of steps, found myself in passage
not very narrow each side of which the dun
geons cells These totally dark and unventila
ted and there then no provision for ing warm
ing them To describe the scenes which were revealed
these loathsome dens thrown open
IL impossible. Those who have read the reports OF the
Hospital Commissioners to the British Parliament, expos
nX the condition Of the wretched inmates OF the private
madhouses In England. may conceive an idea Of what
listed in the almshouse at Albany year since. The
keeper unlocking the first door the left vociersted to
the poor wretch there confined out to the light
and be seem" The horrible stencil emitted from this
dreadful place compelled me repeatedly 10 retreat 10 mo
outer air 10 recover from overpow eng sickness When
could far command self to observe this dungeon
and its occupant God forgive me- If was snfnl) the
vehement indignation that rose the inhabitants oil
city and county, who could suffer such abomnations
these exist towards all official persons holding direct
or indirect who could permit brutal
izing conditions Of the most helpless Of human beings
and towards country vangl0rious Of its liberty,
and Of tie civil social and religious institutions slm
prisons of the Court Of the lnquson before their de-
sruction, afforded hearrendng spectacles than
house, the time referred to- Language is feeble to
present them and the mind shudders with disgust and
horror in the act Of recalling tho state oil the unoruAac
insane there incarcerated
In the dell first opened a madman; tho fierce com
ject; matted locks unssoru beard wild wan couate
nance yet asGgured by vilest unclsanness, in
rived from that dungeon rocking with loathsome filth
here, without light, without pure air, without warmth
without cleansing without anything to secure decency
comfort-here human being forlorn abject and
disgusting II Is trne. but not the less human being
nay an Immortal being, though now the mind had
fallen in ruins the soul clothed in darkness and
who he-this neglected brutalized wretch-a bur-
gar murderer, miscreant, who, for bnse foul crimes
had been by the justice outraged laws and the rghe
Indignation OF his fellowmen to expate Offences by
exclusion from his race by prvations and suiengs ex
trems yet not exceeding in measure the eormes OF his
misdeeds? No this was criminal outcas who was
here fostering in filth, wearing out the warp Of life in
dreariest solitude and darkness this criminal,
guagc Of Scripture could it be said"My brethren are
far from me- and acquaintance are verify esrangsd
from me- my RnS have hoe sa s9S my familiar Kim nns
the hand OF God hath touched me-"
another, yet pitiable. woman, Of what age one
could not conjecture, dsfgured she BY neglect
keeper harsIly summoned her to come out but she
only moved eebly amidst the filthy straw which was the
only 1S Of the place her and low c va
they tried force her forward she seemed to
raise herself upright She too uncothed; and here
alone in sickness and wsntwt pure air. pleasant
warmth no light, Chose unmeasured gifts Of God shared
by the good and evil the just and unjust no friendly
and cheor--there she lay on that oahsome plank mise.
rable beyond words to represent know nothing Of her
history whether orssken by able kindred or reluctantly
taken in a wandering, dementod creatures only know
that found and left her reduced to condition upon
which not who reads this page could look but with
unmtgated horror! Do you turn with xpressbe dis
gust from these details! II is to witness the reality
Is your refinement shocked by such statemensi There
il but remedyprevent the possibility of such disas
trous abuses by providing hospitals and asylums where
vgilant inspection and faithful care shall protect and
minister to those wh0 young feeble infants, help
less and unconscious who through the calamity Of in
sanity become in the most peculiar the charge Of
those whose slight has not gone out"
Turning from the dungeons the keeper said come to
the y.csllar you'll get noise enough there" OBJ
sced aa the master ns OF the house naa sah they were IN
about them. The woman there told him, three weeks
that the dungeons weretoo cold for those people yon
but he's forgot all about themhes something else
to think of-come this is the way" Ihesitaed but the
IDEA that possibly might learn facts which should lead to
q change for the sufferers led reaching the eel
lar-within which, just then all was qnet--the keeper
entered and for the sake Of exercise began by knock.
ing one down. and went on to rouse the whole compa
ny there twelve fourteen here. sufficiently
clothed for iecencysome extended the floor others
chained to their beds-all exhibiting a disgusting and
miserable appearance in an adjoining apartment
others in like circumstances In March last gen.
temen visited this cellar and returned expressing
horror that such things could be tolerated that they
could have existed in any civilized country
revisited this county house few weeks since there
had been change Of masters The present evil
IDENTIFY has qualifications which enable him to
very improved order of things throughout the establish
ment he has to contend against the great defects OF the
present system and prominent evils must OF exist
Five hundred paupcrs every and various conditions
IA large proportion Of these able bodied foreigners who
here idle for want Of work. which the county does
not provide as well as idle in many from choice
compose this family rather community. Considering
the very crowded state Of the house. and all the Difficult
ties to be encountered surprising degree of order and
where the vices W take root and flourish.
visited the dungeons" and found but two females in
confinement there by comparison only could they be call
cd comfortable stovei is now placed in the passage
insane in the cells in these apartments hunks beds
and bedclothng The apparel slight and required
attention but the fact is the inmates ought to be trans
ferred to hospital where they can receive appropriate
In the crowded crazy cellar" found improved
accommodations, better beds, &c. One man, "poor
George" had just deceased and his coffin horne past
angel Ct death here performed most blessed nslraon
Several claimed to the beds the floor; gen.
eral quiet prevailed noticed that tho master, -FOUR
boss" welcomed friend, and doubt. far
no had the power the condition OF these rendess insane
made comfortable. The time has past however for
society to sanction such provision for this class of the
poor.
Montgomery.
Correspondence of the Horold
MONTGOMERY, ORANGE Co., Feb Is, 1914.
Our village was visited last night with the most
tI,oth hoe kaE