New-York daily tribune., 1865-07-15
HLACKwELL,s ysLAND.
Cos,inped from ri =. Page.
TIE PAVILION AND FgvER TENTS.

-
nnce ef cutaae aud refinement, snd TO take sin
interest In their duties.
TIE PAVILION AND FEVER TENTS
A large pavilion is erected outside the hospital i'm
,ncdiaoly upon the waters clge aad this together
with several smaller tents is devoted exclusively to
patients suffering from feyera in order that they may
receive the benefit ofthe greatest amount Of i They
occupied by comparatively few patients at present
but certain Of the year completely 'ed'
TUE rcNITESI1ARY.
Next adjoining the Hospital grounds is that portion
of the mar row island devoted tothe PenentiaTy inns
IS an enormous building the exterior Of which Is SO
familiar as 70 scarcely need description one wing
and the main bgilling are devoted 10 male eon'c'S'
and the. remaining wing TO females
There arc at present within the walls of the prison
2O7 of the former and 200 OF the latter beiofe the
war the male couyicts oatAnmbcred the females aoou
two 10 one but the respective Numbers durng we "af
have been nearly equal Mr. BurdsaI, the prison
keeper is Of tie opinion that the men gill soon again
yndieate their prerogaycs lords of creation by mo-
nopolizug the greater portion Of this hotel Asa gene
ral thing too he prefers TO receive men instead o.
women who are far more difficult to manage
The interior of the different wings presents the same
.spect-an immense corridor with the grated windows
of the prison walls hand and doors Of cells on
the other in wearisome and painful monotony There
are four tiers of cells numbering 736 IN a-496 for
males and 1iO for females.
THE FEMALE DEPARTMENT.
The female convcts were taking their evening meal
consisting of tnpan full of mush, with little spot
Of oasses in the center of eaehwhen we entered the
dinipg-room They were all attired in the prison
uniform, which consists of simple gown OF Wmie
Osnaburg-a fabric bearing a resemblance 10 sunny'
bags Many OF them appeared overcome with shame
hut the faces of the majority wore an air OF hardened
depravity. TIE prison fare was devoured by nearly
all with an appetite occasionally with an appearance
ofrelsh Prison discipline aud the salt winds of The
island are evidently wonderful appetzers One or two
ofthe oonvicts however, would make vry mouths over
tler fare as they would eye tie visitor with contempt
which was meant to be wi,hering. They were eva
dently newcomers to whom misery and solitary re
fee;ion had not yet impaired sophicalresgnaon
No doubt of them missed expansive crnohne ah'
extensive aounces was a strange fall from cecrear
md nice wines ard oranges to mush in tin pan VIII
the solitary moasses spot in the center; but pretty lips
.houd not pout at prvatons which reckless hearts and
bold, bad natures had solicited through infamy ant
crime few Of the prisoners sad and silent, but
eat their humble pie thankful as if they reeog
nized in the mixture before them type Of the blacl
and whte--the sin and purity Of their past lives.
Three meals are provided the prisoner in day
Tie morning meal consists Of bread and Coffee dinner
is Of soup bread and fresh meat except once week
when salt meat is substituted for fresh supper coffee
and bread on one night and mush the next.
The women are employed during the day at sewing
or are sent ont TO do cleaning work at the various in
situtons on the Island. Last year 1908 prisoner
were employed in making cigars but that branch Of in
Lustry is relnqushed at present.
THE MALE DEPARTMENT.
As we entered the male department Of the prison th
air was ntlodious with snatehes Of ribald songs tn
vaultod roof was reeehoing with oatts, laughter an
unseerlv tests but rough Enough Of thatr frol
fle keeper caused general cessation. The sound
alluded TO were from certain cells in which certain il
corrigible offenders had been confined during IL
entire day. They had been endeavoring to soo.he Il
ricoTs of their confinement with music, merriment an
profanity. Mr.. Emerson's popular recognition of
Deity is very generally 10 be net with in the penite
try TO Judge from the character Of most OF the oltl
which saluted- our The vengeance of Jehova
personally invoked upon numerous eyes and hearts
and our Savior earnestly solicited TO do man
things no. il strict accordance with the Sermon on IN
Mount.
Of the dozen or 50 Of prisoners thus confined Iearl
all had juvenile appearance. One OF item was slinn
close 10 LIS cell door in order u catch the last sleam
lie fading daylight upon a Beadles Dime Novel,
which he was studously immersed. Another wa
PLAYING jack.siraws two were trying to mend the
shoes and the rest were probably medi;ating escapes
A number OF the male prisoners are employed in ca
veuteT blacksmith and slOenalns shops, but the M
jcrity work at quarrying and farming this islan,
Their Summer uniform consists Of coarse cotton jacl
cts and trousers Of blue and white stripes Their foo
is the same rs that received by the females
IN refractory cases the same punishment is apple
g. both sexes--dark cell with bread.and-water die
We were assured by the keeper tlat this treatmeI
generally brings around the worst cases. Some ca
hold out FOR two days. but at the third they general
promise amendment and beg TO be released One youn
lady, Jnompson.st thief, was thought TO be iucOrr
gily bad Sic remained stubbornly in dark cell fc
whole week swearing that the breGd.and water die
was the best fare she tasted and remaining inyari
ably delaut with an energy worthy Of better causC
But as the second week dragged through the gloon
Of her lonesome celmore ike living tomb than any
fling ele-a change DER the spirit Of her dream
Sue bee sme humble, begged for quarter and was re
leased
Imuediately over the massive iron. n.grated door
which owns into the male prison, is the following
text;
...s-................
The Way Of the IrsnsereisOr is Hard
..---'s-.'.'..' ''''''.''.'s.'.'''......
II is largely clearly blackly painted there. lie whit
runs nav cad and he who enters there for tie frt
tine to no alize vel per1se.
The priso iers are awakened at six o'clock in tin
morning get their breakfasts and 60 70 work at seven
They qui, work 1t 545 p n, and, after eating the