The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-16
NEW ORLEANS. July 0, 1871.

NEW ORLEANS, July ., 1871.
The duties OF HERALD correspondent. which fre-
quently conduct to strange places, not long since
led the present writer into the parish prison at New
Orleans to witness the hanging OF couple OF hreu
brayos who for &I2 had murdered spanish sailor
High over all the din OF preparation Tor The execu'
ton came sreks aud yells and inarticulate Iabber-
ings from some chamoer on line with the galiows
and close at hand. Inquiry rs to the meaning OF
this strange outcry elicite1 the Information that IL
came from crazy woman IN the insane asylum,
next door, who, even In her insanity, was conscious
OF what was going on so near her.
the bare fact that people whose sole
onence against society was their being visited
with the most terrible a.ilic,ion In the
whole range of human Ills should be made the conn.,
pusory participants IN scene such as that about 10
be enacted, the horrors of which must or necessity
add TO their disease seemed of Itself TO court inquiry
and ventilation and the point was stored up in the
reporters memory for future use. He expected TO
ind some gross example of Official cruelty; but the
most vivid Imagination could scarcely have pictured
such horrors as subsequent investigations nave
brought to light.
Waiting yesterday upon the City Physician, DR.. ).
3. Cooper in whose medical charge the asylum Is,
and explaining to him the object OF the WISH, was
cOurteously and promptly met by an offer on the
part Of the Doctor OF his buggy and his company
TO the asylum. Both tenders being cordially ac-
copied, short drive set us down In front OF
massive sombre. slate colored building, In the very
heart of the clty-windowess, gloomy and re-
pulsive. Nothing but the words, "Insane Asylumn''
c0nspicuously painted over the ar ched gateway
could have dspossessed STRANGER Of the idea that
be was gazing upon prison OF the worst type, built
before Howard aud the phanthropists taught Jaiers
humanity. In the evening myriads OF bats issue
from It's rotng roof and make night loathsome.
The heavy iron gate swung slowly on its hinges,
and Mr.. J. 4. Duyillet, the Superintendent Of the
institution, babe us welcome to
THE MADHoUSE
Another iron barred gate being unlocked, we came
suddenly INTO the COURTYARD OF the building. sixty
feet long by fifty wide paved with granite nag
stones, between which the moisture OF the earth
Oozed In Shiny patches. On the LETT side was o
high blank wall, colOred the same dismal slate hue
as the exterior Of the buldinghe sole prospect the
Inmates are permitted to enjoy Open TO the sky
through the courtyard was a
sICKENING, FGTID SMELL,
too faint TO be called stencil, but so allpervading
never to leave you for an instant unconscious Of
Its presence, calling attention to The fact that IN this
small yard some fifty madmen were taking ECKER
else and air." Dressed in all kinds OF rags some
with shirts and some without, there they were talk
Ing, walking, ravtng, sleeping or buried In their
own sad, fearful reveries. CHANGING round In search
of some appliances for the amusement and relaxa-
ton Of the unhappy inmates, 1 found none. Not
book, not an occupation. not even domino or
pack OF cards. Blank vacuIty sat upon the face of
every one not tortured by the dread imagnatons of
active insanity. The MONDAY July sun poured
down its screening beams upon their
unprotected heads Some few were smok-
ng and approached US with piteous pleadIngs
for tobacco which, In limited quantities, Is supplied
to them by the Institution. The rest paced up ana
down like caged hyenas or crowded in the door
ways Of their cells. On some boards in dark cor
ner squatted swarthy white man, naked to the
waist, and looking III The dim Obscurity like some
nthy ghoul engaged IN obscene rites
THAT is the man," SAID the superintendent. "who
was sent here from Ante River by ms friends. and
was dumped down al the railroad depot ike so
much lumber and there lett TO his tate"
Leaning against pillar was tail. powerful man,
In colored shirt, standing immovaple a statue.
THAT 10 a bad case " remarked the Doctor III he
were set free he would strike you To the earn on TIE
instantly
The mans hands were manacled We passed close
10 him and looked him IN the face. pleasant
"Goud morning, sir,r Detokened his CONSCIOUSNESS
or the presence Of stranger. but beyond returning
his salute, one felt little disposition 10 pursue tue
conversation. Stealtniiy creeping up from behind
came 1.-THE rcd-haired maniac. the nercc, malig-
nant glare OF the worst form OF nonicdal insanity
flashing Tom his half closed eyes. Turning sharply
round to face HIM we saw that he was also securely
manacled fits handouts were red with rust, and
were eating into his wrists Not word dld he
utter as we backed away
tendent, "and neither OF our lives would be worth
moment purchase He Is the worst case we have"
"Whnt FORCE nave YOU 10 SUPPRESS All OutOTedk,
suppose any OF these patients were to become sud.
denly o.entf 81 asked OF MIR. Dutillet.
1.-TWO male nurses and one Waterman" he replied.
"Tbree men 20 more than seventy loose maniacs
Isn't that rather small allowance"
"CerlaIuly; 1t Is not sufficient"
'Have YOU no refractory celisf"
"No padded rooms for the homicidal or suicidal
..None; not even hospltal.n
.why, they have hospital at the prison. have
.Ceriaiuly; but they receive thieves ana murder
ers ana criminals there, but we have only Insane
pe And where do these poor wretcnes slcep'"
"in there (peeping inslde, Why. good God
"CertainIy Il is,n interposed the Doctor. "This
BUILT FOR SLAVE BAsrmE
by French architect, who had in ms minds eye
Tie old Bastile OF Paris. Ne followed that model as
"Can go inside one OF these cells'''
"Certainly YOU cam Take THIS one; they are all
Entering found myself in cell fourteen feet
by twelve damp and foul smelling, though spot.
lessly clean 10 the eye The heat OF the tropical
day radlated from the walls with such intensity tnat
10 was dnlcut 10 endure the atmosphere WIN the
door wide open. When the door was closed there
NEITHER LIGHT NOR VENTILATION,
save such feeoe CLEANS OF light and stray purs Of
vitIated air as cou d struggle through grating
eighteen inches by twelve IN the door aud All IRON
.'Wnen patient IL relractory,n SAID the superln-
tendent, I'VE are obliged even to board up this
grazing IN the uOOT leaving INN III ut.er uaihhess.
The walls OF the dungeon 10 about the height OF q
man were
PAINTED BLACK;
from the ROOF downwards they were wnitewashed.
The strongly marRed line OF division between black
and white was broken by linnacles aud scroll WORK
oil black paint. standing out IN CHASTITY reei on lne
white background and suggesting even 10 sahe
man, In broad daylight, impressions OF deatli ana
funerals and the trainings OF woe. WAT hideou5
shapes terror the vivid negotiations OF the insane
must nave cuDJured out OF tins gh0stiy network 1
shuddered even 10 think, yet
A>oruEk HORROR
remained TO be added "You see those lo0pholes
In the wall, at the back ~ said the Doctor The cell
at noonday, with the door open, was so dark
nad iaied 70 notice them but, on looking closely,
diu discover l0opboes, cas- II la from the outside
by doors Of sheet iron. "Whit theyYi 1 in-
quired "Those were musketry TO nre In on the
reply.