New-York tribune., 1871-05-30
LIFE IN LUDLOW-ST. JAIL,
Continued from First Psse.

NJ
the newsboy with HIS penny sheet the event Of the
afternoon. Even that great American resource for a
possetemps-whittDg-is denied; for though the food
Is wroohed and the beds hby the halls and corridor,
kept scrupuousy clean. Notices posted abouf in
form the prisoners that any infracton OF this ruo Of
cleanliness will confne them their cells for an the a
hours instead Of the regulation In the boarders cor
ridor these notices commence Gentlemen; tho poor
prisoners addressed persons"
HIGH LIFE BELOW STAIRS
Reversing the general order Of things the asocracy
Of the place all live down stairs Their cells are in a
broad airy corridor leading from the billiard room and
shut of at night from the rest Of tho prison by heavy
iron gate. They are very simply but decenty furnished
and the sheets and plowcsses Each their
occupants is private boarder OF Mr. Warden Traceys
paying him s15 week though II they choose 10 pay
$50 week they have nicely furnished sitting roo.
hBhted with in the private part OF the prison. II
must not be forgotten that Mr. Tracey draws
day Tor the feeding OF every prisoner boarder np
Ooafde ana the cost Of lodging free from the pockets 9
ihe taApayers 1t is most amusing 10 witness the OH
sequ'ous manner of Mr.. Sawyer tho momert
no puts his foot within the sacred precincts
OF the arfsocrscy. Every one is Sir lie steps aside to
lot them pass and otherwise shows h high regard for
Mr.. Tracey's boarders one OF these cells dashinq
goou!ookng smartly dressed young has been con
nned Tor over year. He lords IT with regal sway
the whole prison. and Is said to have great over
the Warden The secret OF this is that he has, appa
rently, unlimited command OF money His wife comes
down and spends the day with him, other friends and
relatives drop in TO chat away two and on Sun
day he holds perfect levee notwithstanding that the
printed rules Of the prison forbid the admission
| OF visitors Sunday. All sorts OF delcacies
find their way into this gentleman's cell such rs
pneappes, strawberries and cream lobster salad &C.
He Is also allowed 10 leave the PRISON when desires
though he has to take his walks abroad In company
OF officer Of the prison, and pay hour for the
| privilege He Is supposed TO have committed some Of
was brought here from Canada on requston from ho
Government, On the charge Of forgery. There seams
little doubt that lie has committed such cTime pnd
! the Government dare not try Rim on that chaige
| Consequently he is detained in LudOw-st With
out trial. as the Canadian authorities will mos
consent his being tried a Indictment and the
| authorities here are unwilling TO give him up II Ia
asserted that high officials interesting them
selves In bis and that active negotiations going
with Wow TO procuring his release. Mr.. Tracey
also grants another and inestimabe privilege TO bis
private bOarders They not locked into their cells till
12 O'Clock at night and have the Of the private
offices of the prison, and to the barrOom with
| out previously asking the permission Of the
| keeper A1y "poor prisoner" going into tho
| private offices, even to see Mr.. Tracey him
self, or into the bar-rOom without permission.
ncurs the penalty OF being locked in his cell all day.
may be perfectly legitimate for the Warden to pro-
vide plain table d'h0te dinner breakfast and supper
who willing TO pay SIS $50 week. but
money should not be allowed to purchase relaxation
of the hours OF Incarceration which the law ordsins
There is another most improper custom in connection
with Mr. Traceys boarding house. Every prisoner who
becomes boarder has TO spend $50 in champagne and
cigars by way of paying his footing" OF course.
| it is a mere custom, and cannot DO enforced;
but any boarder refusing TO comply
with it is considered sneak, and treated
accordingly. In fact, he would perhaps, be less mser
able he remained poor prisoner" Two young men.
oh NJ WA
Revenue stamps large amount boarded down stairs
when they first to the prison, as they were well
supplied cash but they found that they could keep
themselves better half the per week which fir
Tracey charged them. and Joined the noble army or
martyrs upstairs They furnished their cell very
tasefully; rosecoored curtains OF simple material
book shelves nice bedding, miniature sideboard wash
ing cOnveniences, chairs, and a small cOokngsttFe.
They smugge in eatabes from outside and but for tho
irksomeness OF being locked for many hours they
live toerabe comfort. They seem thoroughly pre-
pared long stay the JAIL it is fortunate for them.
therefore. that they have plenty of money. for they
seem 10 have been luxuriously brought up.
DINNER FOR DOG.
At IL o'clock every day, Sawyer, Quirk, and Fish
balls" he last is locked for playing tricks with Uncs
Sans currency appear with their ponderous baskets
and serve the prisoners dinners. Dinners do gall
them Rather say experiments how not TO dine.
such meal The huDgrest stomach. unless habituated
TO the very toughest fare, would revolt from IT, The
whole time during which remained in prison. did not
essay touch #, and day when reporter from
THE TRIBUNE Office to my cell to
with me on business he was Mortified examin-
ing my dinner, that he packed it mp in sheet Of
| newspaper and carried IL of with him for
the inspection of THE TRIBUNE editors. The prison
dinner generally consists Of three or four Jumps OF
scraggy shreddy sinewy, halfcod beef without gravy
which would do duty excellently for horseiesh. two
little potatoes with the skins and larger than hens
eggs and slice OF bread all jumbed higgedy ggledy
into dirty brown, greasy tin dish. As knives and
forks provided the peeiing Of the potatoes is work
Of art almost impossible 10 PERFORM nor, should think.
does the prmeva fashion OF eating ones meat from ones
fingers at all add its relish Nowater is provided at
the meal those who thirsty have to go and drink
at the tap where the mornings ablutions are gone
| through.
! One afternoon, while sitting in the billiardroom.
! watching two play for dollar, which neither OF
them could pay little incident occurred which set my
heart beating to the dozen On the same bench
with me sat two three fellow prisoners and others
were lounging around. II happened that when made
preparations going TO Ludlow-st picked out an oid
coat and waistcoat that had not worn Tor nearly Two
| years. Fumbing lazily in the pocket discovered q
piece OF folded paper which carelessy displayed anu
round to be an old counterfeit $50 bill which had come
into my possession abont two years ago, when employed
in getting up an article the subject Of c0untorieiters
There are many of this fraternity confined IN the prSon
How could tell those either side oil Inc were hos
members OF tl Hastily putting back IN my pocket
walked as deliberately as could to my cell struck
match and the bill in ashes. Had the keepers
| got wind of II | might have whstied away
| the hours in Ludlow-st. TIL doonloday' Dus
re,urnng to the billiard-room noticed strange, III
conversation with of the prisoners fresnnint t'
they were friends, took little heed OF him. ana t's
| considerably astonshed when he afterwaid aoucl''
me and inquired when my trial was coming on. afou
n "a apaFp FflT