Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-09-01
Horrors Of Chicago.

Correspondence Of the Philadelphia Press.
Chicago bears upon her bosom a
malignant, fostering tumOr. Its
smooth polished exterior is recognized
as the court house, but in the grove
ling space just above the point where
the stony foundation is Joined to the
OOZy swamp, men, women and chill
dren are confined like wild beasts in
their dens. These poor outcasts are
only accused. Not one of them has
been proven guilty of crime. They
are here awaiting the motion of the
court. Judges and jurymen are TAX
ing a summer respite. In the mean
time not a ray of sunshine enters the
lOathsOme dungeOn-nOt a breath OF
fresh air ever enters this vestibule of
the tomb. The same kind of stencil,
yet more horrible, is emitted from
each den as that noticed before cages
Of wild animals in a menagerie. No
fragrance of friendly sulphur relieves
the tortured senses, and one longs in
vain to hear the tapping waters of the
river StyX. What the dungeon Ofthe
InquisitiOn was to the dark ages, this
city prison of Chicago is to the civil
liLIl W OllAl lO-NstAs E1bllAEllAlAN1 a lAaAA
dozen offenders are crowded into a
single dungeon, and the suffering OF
these wretches may be compared to
that indured i'm the Black Hole of
Calcutta. A single bed is provided
for each den. This is literally alive
with vermin, the gray, filthy cover
ing eclipsing in hideOusness, if that
were possible, the decaying habili-
ments of the grave. A little pale face
belonging to q child of dozen sum-
mers, is pressed against the grated
opeLing, a weak voice calls as from a
sepulchre, "Oh, lady, can't you help
me ?r
"My poor child, what have they got
you here fOr?'
For robbing a money drawer of 81.
lives little way out of Chicago on
the railroad"
"Have you a father?n
"Father went to the war and never
got back. Mother, she Washes
Mother has tried and tried" here
the childish voice breaks down, and
the dim outline of a small, covering
form is seen Sinking back in the
darkness. A face with great shaggy
Jaws, SuIHlOuLlcu by Il IthSlSu hiS-hOf
with preternaturally large eyes, sur
rounded by dark rings, appears at the
same place, and between a bark and a
howl, finishes the boys sentence
Mother hain't got any money"
This mans body is swallowed up in
the darkness. The elfish head is in
terrOgated:
"How long has this child been shut
up here ~
-"Goin' on two months"
"How long do you think he will be
kept here ?''
"P'raps till November, he's got to
take his turn for his trial with the
rest on us. Here, Bill, calling to his
invisible eOmrade), wake up old boy,
here's Il reg'lar woman come to see us,
none o. yer fancy.n A second face
is photographed on the dark back
ground. "Ye see, lady, Bill and L
don't mind it, we's been in a tight fix
afore, but this little feller is gittin'
whittier every day, and Bill says he
sleeps too long, but we don't wake
him up, 'cOs he's better off. He's al
lers dreamin' bout the cows. Them
felers that carries the keys can't lock
dreams up"
Another childish voice breaks the
stiffness of the gloom.
Maybe you can help that boy, but
you can't help me-"
"Why not, my child?"
because I'se n witness. They put
me in prison to keep me till trial
comes on, but they lets me walk bout
this floor through the day, and they
don't lock the door on me when it
comes night, but Use prisoner just
as much as if I'd stole sumthin.n