New-York tribune., 1867-02-27
LIFE ON BLACKWELLS ISLAND.

TIE LATEST SENSATION PURSUED AND ExPioDEp-
ORIGIN or CERTAIN THRILLING REVELATIONS"
Yesterday morning, Caroline Wright, q miss OF IL
summers, appeared before tho Commissioners OF Char
ties and Correction, and told story which excited the
curiosity of her auditors. According TO her showing se
had expecting to be confned applied for admission
10 the AlmsHouse Her first day under the roof OF that
Institution spent in washing and scrubbinS on the
second and third days she washed; but OH the fourth
having complained Of the work too severe for young
woman IN her condition.. she was sent 10 the nur
sr to assist in taking care % GI Ge bdn thc matron
Thought 1t prudent to relieve her ana se wS sent ~
to washing blankets in the washhouse Her food she
sald not only insufficient throughout her experience
tne s0ns and Ti nails having been found in the
bean soup; the fat having been SKINNED OH tue peer
whose friends had sent them moneythose mOneyed In
mates Of the place being permitted TO purchase tea
coffee snuff and other luxres system rd Oh Spne o
get better treatment than might be given dog IN snort
everything being as IL should not DE- Oh te @
the Aims House people unsatisfactory to Miss wright se
bade adieu to Backwelrs Island.
Having heard thus much of the girls story, the Com
missoners of Charities and Correction accompanied Dy
TRIBUNE reporter, went without delay, 70 BlaekMons oS
hoar-certainy that hour as to have rendered
any special preparation or any change whatever IN ths
the the visitors took seats beside them, ana
ate OF the food which had been Supplied for the paupers
visitors were assured, the worst of the week II
not indeed Delmomcos table, but that Jus,
tingushed caterer never supplied more Wholesome
replst. The meat was sound as q nut, ana
the bread fresh and good but coarse as had been an
tcpated but the bean soap was nspld ana unpaataDe
Why thsf The cook, who processes 10 DO Trans
planted Soyer, and may have been pupil OF Monsieur
Blot replied that II he were to cook bean soup as IL
should be cooked the paupers being unable to see Deans
wO1ld suspect him Of setting before them spurious pre-
pamtion Ie had he said skinned the grease from the
beef tea but this he had done IN pursuance 0 ine phy
ciaIs orders and to old women he had given the
TAT % eat with their bread but that he had at any time
sold such fat he utterly denied The visitors were IN
cntd TO regard this sheer nonsense Tor they learned
that fatskimming was once practicedl ana tnat tle
co6 who was Of Col Billy Wilson's DlDulOns
Zousyes, has now and then taken = week OH III the
city and during that week had abundance or
morey 10 spend for gin. The girls story concerning to
sale OF tea tobacco and snuff was explained whcn te
visitors saw an aged inmate OF the institution to whom
tne commissOners, In payment for some service, had
granted the privilege OF selling these Xuries WIN re-
spet TO the quantity OF food the paupers without eX
tiOu admitted that To each was given daily altlOdI Oh
bread the weighing 20 ounces ana Delng y ny
inches In diameter and IL inches In Circumference Two
three persons Of norlinate appetite compliance tlaI
tby had suffered from hunger hut when asked Weter
thy had made this fact fancy known 10 the matrOn or
warden OF the institution, they invariably replied IN to
negative. As TO work the warden says hat every aDe
ever oysrworked and rs Ia iaNortisb, IL hced ohy p
sail that all nurses cooks. and other assistants OF
Mosrs Owens and Gilfilan are phnpefs' ana heieo,e
heyond the control OF the warden In this matef-s sole
power Of punishment being dismissal Ot the oiiciuei
from the I.lnld .-,. 80.
Of the 59O inmates OF the Almsllouse Yesterday nov
ON made any sign o hunger-ind a spoke WIN perrc'
FREEDOM Whenever accostcd Tho public should under
stand that the Commissioners cannot undertake 70 hc
the Island institutions inviting rs To cntcc Oaicrs from
th ty and that many Of the unhappy paupers who arn
uuler their care persons who never yet iouhd any
m n the world 10 suit their complaint, bt VINO t
wenia stay on Backwei's Island pclpctualls, without
mlIiIsit.