The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-31

representative on Tuesday. In the VILLAGE Of s'no
Sing, by 4~A..~nan whose intelligence and social
standing lend additional weight to his opinion.
rhe brief conversation which Immediately pre-
cedcd IL was in relation to the numerous recent
escapes from the prison. and the unmoested re-
bclli0n OF "Wes Allen" who had that time openly
aeded the prison authorities for nearly twentyfour
hours. Some OF the citizens expressed their re-
krets TO the writer ut the Illuminating spectacle OF
single convict dsfying the power Of the entire
6tate Of New York. 1t was not dtficult to perceive
that the apprenensons Of these people were
aroused as to the probable effect OF suca nagrant
characterization the minds of the other cOnvicts
rather than to any prospective damage Allen might
innct with his carving knife and bottle Of nitro
glycerlne. During q subsequent interview with
Warden Hubbell that officer was asked by the
writer whether he did not believe that the
fact OF allowing such an unmitigated
case Of revolt to continue. even for moment, was
calculated to prove subversive OF prison dscp inc.
He replied in the negative, adding that all of the
Convicts knew who "Wes Allen" was, and rated
his loud-mouthed threats at their true value. 1t
remains for the immediate future to determine
whether the Warden's estimate OF
OPEN INSTRUMENTATION
1s strictly correct, as 1t is well known that the
prison contains more than one hundred far more
desperate and determined rufians than Allen, who
by the light OF their past lives, would appear but
tyro in the school OF villany. Should Aliens sue
eessfu revolt be not turned to advantage by those
men, them indeed, may /. be said that change
FOR the better has been wrought in the morale Of
the institution.
The transition from democratic to republican
rule, which was ushercd in with the present year,
does not as yet, appear to have produced such
beneficial results in the prison management as
eome Of the dominant party journals predicted.
Taking the recent number OF escapes alone into
consideration would be sufficient sustain this as
eertion These latter, which have not been
uncommon, however, at any period of the
PRISONS history, are often attempted to
be accounted Tor in various ways; but apart FIR ON
the natural anection Of moral Cbliquity which is
known to have manifested itself among the SUBJ
ordinate officials in times past, the most reason.
able explanation that can be offered IL the palpaby
EXPOSED CONDITION OF THE PRISON
and the greatly inadequate number OF guards and
Keepers Until these glaring defects are remedied
escapes will continue TO occur.
Since Warden Hubbell took charge he has intro
duced many features IN the prison management for
the ameliOration OF penal existence winch, while
being c, editable to his phianthropic nature, arc
gable in the successful government that i-stltu-
ton. Among these Is the adjustment OF all forms
saa Or ps1aaps Bo.h R0u's
with the most conte sa%taS indifference
by the more refractory jail BIRDS. Heretofore the
be reduced to submission by the magic mention OF
tho "shower BATH" or an intimation that there
screws" 1t viii not be denied that both Of these
were
INSTRUMENTS OF TORTURE,
Yhloh nave now disappeared forever from our
State prisons, in accordance with the enlightened
sentiment OF the age. But, on the other hand, is
1t not possible that philanthropy towards felons
might result dangerously to the law abiding com.
munlty
Another feature of the present management per.
vate interview with the Warden to leave his work
at , q certain hour Ct the day and proceed to the
ONCE OF the principal keeper, where scores OF the
nypocrltical jail birds congregate daily, for the
tensbie purpose OF pouring their real or fancled
Warden. This, 1t is claimed by men experienced
IN prison matters, Is calculated TO destroy
Possessed, ana tends to bring the latter into con.
tempt, as at present the suien convict, at any
the powerless keeper, and, while saunterna out Of
not only for his daily task but also for his safety.
'going to see the Warden The benevolent policy
Indicated Is also apparent in other respects.
yesentatlve was walking past the main prison,
tranquility seemed to reign within its perforated
walls, the serene stiffness only being varied BY the
mellinuous strains OF an ACCORDION, from Which
1oated on the ambient atmosphere the ever
popular air
''surely this" 1t would be thought by the unso-
phistcated philanthropist, "must be happy, happy
Tor their crimes-an abode in which the
sroans and n,, signs q tortured or half
starved STAY LINE members az .oi the human family have
tlanking Of chains has yielded absolute supremacy
to the refining power OF music" This rose-colered
ever, II it became known to the philanthropist
that the ieonious troubadour, who was ostensbly
surleting bis senses with the 'food OF ove' while
thus plaintively apOstrophzing his, perhaps, way
ward mistress, was in ali probability mentally
mapping out the proportions Of dummy,
pr himself or else Casting his eyes
heavenward in the hope Of discovering some de-
Gould perforate some quiet evening, preparatory to
sliding down one OF the lightning rods and taking
only on the cutting OF guards throat or smother
ing MN by means OF gag, that part OF the pro-
UNIQUE FEATURE OF PRISON LIFE
1t was ascertained upon investix aton that the
privilege OF playing music in their cells Is not neg
lected by the convicts some fifty OF whom possess
Instruments Of various kinds A few OF these have
been the gifts OF thoughtful relatives and friends,
facture, and, although formed out Oh rude mate.
rails are said to combine marvellous harmony
cs are said be eseec negr0 ss
In this respect, only requiring an old tin mustard
model banjo. TO convict WHO is wearied with his
days task and anxious to obtain q little rest
when locked In his cell ut night, the sounds elic
ted from these multllarious Instruments cannot be
very soothing. And here an incident bearing on
this point as well as on the effect OF 'Wes Aliens
INSTRUMENTATION may be related
AN TNC0RRICIBLE CONVICT.
Among the Oldest and most inveterate wrong
doors In the prison Is a convict named "Pete
Wiiey,n who is at present serving out his third
fourth term. Under former administrations 'Pete"
ranked among the most ugly customers IN that in.
etitutioD, and on one occasion, when he was taken
from the foundry aud ordered to work In the cabinet
SHOP ne doggedly refused. The SHOWER bath"
was used several times on the refractory convict,
but he would not bend to the will OF the prison
authorities. The ''showering" OF Wiley was kept
up Tor some days, and ct the conclusion OF each
"Dathn he would be conducted by his Keeper into
the cabinet shop and ordered TO commence his
task. Determined that he
WOULD nor BE SuBDUED,
however, Wiley one day, alter being LED rom the
punishment room TO the shop seized q large draw
my knife and, placing his hand on block, almost
severed iour Of his fingers, and, then, shaking the
keeper, exclaimed triumphantly, Now, damn
you, make me work here II you CAMP Like yves
Alien" who refused TO be drafted, he carried
us point since then, however, Wiley has setted
Gown into the status OF well-behaved convict,