The New York herald., 1872-07-06

NEW "
Dotn gentlemen spoke Of the convicts as desperate
scoundrels who require rigorous treatment and
by their language II would seem that their policy Is
hSd 70 With gang or SIX young who
discharged last week. In answer to the question
as to how they were treated BY the keepers one
1--WE get enough to eat 1 must admit but it is
not good always, and the coffee particularly 10
but at other times they win damn you for nothing.
got on the right side OF my keepers by showing
sLErGHT-oP-HAND TRICKS
that amused them. They'll drive fellow to church
against his wil and Il he objects them fellows wlll
Just bounce him into the dark cell and feed him on
bread and water. II you cough or spit during pray
ers you miss your dinner or get bread and water"
times and for the smallest offence win put q ball
and chain upon you, or them manacles about your our
s Ssy TN
markabiy good they'n give them . little chewing
and chews to be deprived OF the weed, and many
get sick. But In the Penitentiary o man is In
heaven compared with Randalls Island. have
THE KEEPERS ARE HEARrLEss RuFFIANs,
worse than many Of the convicts they kick and
AnStas. said that the prisoners get on the right
them when out at work and hand it to them. II
can submit to most any treatment on the Island
c nm sa aas y out o. e
out Of the same cup, and often there is
HOAX sANDwIcasD IN BETWEEN Us.
When see his thick lips on the pint 1t spoils my
nSs s Sd ns
Warden, is gruG old boy, who won't stand any
nonsense. and II man refused to drink with the
as s ns S n @s hear s e
parsons pray and shout amen don't sit well on
the stomachs Of US Catholics who don't believe in
Of goin' to Ciurchs" said one Of his companions
sSd ad aS sS q the 'ss %s
necked chaps he don't want TO-" "But,
% Ss ons the
same cup with niggersY" u
In pursuing his Investigations and inquiries
several old ha0ttuSS of tile Island asserted that
man could
CROSS IN THE NIGHT IN SMALL BOAT
where prisoner in the secret could get 1t the next
day. One minutely detailed the na0dus 0perddt of
an himself beore
to street In YOrkville, man was found who for 81
agreed to land him on the Island Just before day
tiary grounds, and there remained un0bserved
until after the c0nvicts were turned out, when he
strayed about the Island for some hours, and with
the purpose in view Wine making King the I''S rounds he
declared that the keepers treated them with kind
ness, while others asserted that they had been
forced to work when they were e W
TOO SICK TO MOVE, crf,
and threatened with the dark cell. One employe
on the grounds said that he had lived there twenty
water. '''' = - '"' '''''o 0'"nA sa'A -
"What do you drink ~
"COhee, tea and raw whiskey."
"Whiskeyi Can you get 1t on the Island ~
"Of course can, as much as want"
The ;s,s1 man iaughhinely responded, .Now mister,
you mustn't ask me to tsl you how; it's secret
only known to ourselves"
"Can the cOnvicts get 1t too 2"
mo, unless the keepers give 1t to em, or sell IL
e@ shey w3lsS sSIS sSs sRs S5ssts SSas
white post they'd tie fellow up to ana lash him
till he'd yell. There used to be lots escape then,
pgt they don't get out now SO easy. FITCH keeps
ers wide awake Now, when 2 chap attempts to
escape, they put the ball and chain on MIN, and he
The Then they hey put 'em in dark cells ana diet 'em on
bread and water II they loaf at their work or
to s
among the prisoners that they give easy places
to ~ one convict was asked. .,es
sengers and loaf about the building. When visit
Ors come they'll take all the money offered 'em
and divide. Those fellows In the once have 2
prisoners Will often roll up In parcels they send In
five or ten dollar bi not knowing that the par
Gel Is carefully ar searched but the morey never
Roaming about the Eleventh ward Of the city is
oq TnS IS Dusn ces
sweeping out liquor saloons and putting in coal when
sober and although well stepped In rum he still
uninjured. After tiresome search Abe was found,
and time set for him to call at the residence OF
the reporter. Abe turned up promptly, and was
questioned as to his
EXPERIENCES IN THE woRKHousE.
Before allowing him to detail them he was request
ndn N M n n Xo hIpf IN f1i
"Well, sir, }" said he, II will not lie bit. l was
sent up as vagrant on Christmas Eve last When
down, then we are put in the prison clothes and
our old duds are packed away and dsinfected. /
was there three months, breaking stone and wheel
"Do they ever abuse you ~
ayes, II you don't obey, some OF the
KEEPERS WILL STRIKE YOU WITH BROOM
or stick, whip or whatever they have In their
hands. One keeper, named JOSH who had work.
Ing gang used to clip % US often M Tor the slightest Ign neg
used stick or broom handle, and 'belted' his men
brutally. II o man refused to work on account Of
sickness he'd make him or whip him."
"Have you not the right to call for doctor ?"
Certainly we have. But that makes US worse
moved to cell 20; that's the number There, per-
haps, In q small cell are crowded six or eight,
whites and blacks, where we will have to remain
the doctor finds that we are feigning sickness we
are punished with the dark cell."
"IS Josh the only cruel keeper 9''
"Oh, no; there are several OF them. There's one
-, a bookkeeper, who is very crueL He never
was to me- but he was to others. Whatever he says
about the WOrkhOuSe Is law, and Kean don't
amount to pinch Of snuf, anyway
"Does he not treat you kndlyY"
"Kean does not He will keep you In frost and
snow without socks and mittens, and shoes that
take water in on top and discharge it through the
soles. worked on the sea wall last winter
THREE WEEKS WITHOUT SOCKS
with nothing on my feetb ut torn Shoes asked
frequently for them, and Josh would each time put
me off, until, nearly frozen, would watch my chance
"Now, Abe, are you not r0mancings"
"By MY soul ain not. There is worse than that