New-York tribune., 1873-03-03

A, or,o ,,y,foss,ons,s in ,he quarry on BacswelPs
island and mt through the complete Of highway
robbery. lie had some tobacco which ne hao roco"'"
from his friends In NewYork, and because no wohu no'
divide 1t he was dexterousy trpped mp IN inc sno"
gagged and relieved Of his supply OF the sed"c.''o
weed One of the keepers standing close by ana ap
peared TO enjoy the performance exceedingly Inc
novice for having threatenedto complain OF 'ie o"s
10 the Warden was taken by the same keeper oelo'c ~
Warden and reported on charge Of wrestling ne na"
three consecutive dinners stopped, wmle INC soou"
who deserved punishment escaped.
Strange TO say, kind of aftihaton exists oe'wee"
some of the old keepers and the regular haDtues OF tue
paee who claim "A right OF citizenship, as IL WERE anu
who frequently, have their claims allowed 'IS' 'eiy
dcut TO discharge the duties OF Keeper so as 10 fa
isfy the peculiar whms Of the Warden VINO most
serupulously watches minute details OF discipline and
loses sight Of the main principles For instance such
simple movements as marching to and from
the parade-g ground, he personally superintends
with the military eye Of field marshal ana
II all the cell doors Of each tier drawn 10 and
latched simultaneously at the word "cose" from
the keeper so as 10 resemble instantaneous
discharge many rifles the Wardens bile Is aroused
and woe TO the keeper the prisoner to whose fault this
prevous outrage on discipline may be attributed 1t is
AS dangerous to tamper with the Wardens temper as
with nitro glycerine, and very often like that treacher
Gus fluid ii expodes without any apparent cause. The
consequence is that he is feared both by keepers and
prisoners but II is not fear founded upon respect He
seems to take unwhoesome delight in innctnc pun
ishment. and forgets TO temper it with mercy. There
are some convcs under the rule of his iron rod who are
hardened by his process Of REFORM and who pass through
the fire OF his wrath with the dogged will Of martyrs,
and they are applauded as such by their admirers.
DISCIPLINE HARDENs HUMANITY soFTENs.
Now, have watched the effect that a little kind ad
monton aud advice had upon the frozen nature Of one
or two of these men, when seemed to melt them into
Ahnuf faraa 10
siona thief who had spent more or less Of his life in diff
ferent prisons refused point blank TO work for some
reason He put into the dark cell for three days.
and kept on the cooler diet consisting of eight ounces
Of bread and pint OF water day. To test his strength
after this process the Warden ordered heavy iron ball
aud chain be forged to bis leg and sent him out into
the quarry TO work He went TO work but it was only
TO cut his chain which he easily did with sledge ham
mer aud a drill auger, and to fling both chain and ball
into the East River. He taken into the dark cell
again and after three or four days OF the sys
TEN, another ball and chain, with a set OF iron
shackles added, was forged He was obliged TO
march and from the quarry in the rear OF the gang
and 10 90 through all the OF the prison drill
with pounds of cold iron forged 10 his limbs
OF course he had 10 sleep in his chains ana u Is MIRA
Gle how any human being could thus bear what would
have killed the most ferOcious brute OF the forest III
hours He buOyed up by the pride Of his heroism
to which his emulators pandered He attempted again
to cut his chains, but was detected by the Deputy
Warden Mr.. Cuenhoven, a very humane man, who pre-
conquer by kindness rather than by rigorous
measures few words from him of gentle remOnsrance
and good advice brought the fellow to tears and he de-
sisted In few days the chains were taken off.
There are only a few keepers on the Island who know
how and when exercise clemency and kindness, and
driven they under the rule of the Warden they
cannot well do So even IL inclined for their positions
depend upon the whms Of their superior officer On the
whole consider the present discipline of the Peniten-
tiary most complete failure far as reformatory
tendencies are concerned, although at a superficial
glance the system somewhat effective. With
the exception OF the religious influences Of the
Roman Catholic chaplain, Father Vetter, there
are no other which might be justly deemed
fruitful Of good results He is untrng and persistent
in his labors He is 10 be every night lantern in
hand sitting the doors of the 'es in some section Of
prison. hearing confessions and conquering the most
depraved and abandoned by the humility and gentle
ness Of his spirit He does not incline TO proseytsm,
but pOurs forth upon every soul the dew of Christian
teachings He celebrates mass at 10 O'Clock every sun
day. and IL may judge from the goodly number of
and women who gather at the altar for com
muuion the seed is not scattered upon stony ground
ELEMENTS OF CRIMINAL REFORM LACKING.
On Sunday afternoons there is generally @ service
by the representatives Of ,the Protestant denOmt
nations who make visits in turn The leading element
OF the prison however is Irsh and the spiritual element
is consequently Roman Catholic. The Sunday afternoon
services, therefore, not attended with the same
general interest and they rreverenty called by the
prisoners "matnees." Occasionally the excited ervor
of the campmeetng IS INDUCED IN by lay preacher
who fred by the dreadful aspect Of his congregation
Earnest as exhOrtaOns enter the paths of virtue
may be- the depraved prisoners only make jest of
his phrases during the succeeding week. and mimic his
style and gestures
Irepeat that the true elements Of criminal reform
lacking in the present system of discipline and the evil
Of n ia in he IA
prisoners at the Pententiary since December last
There were few days ago, according TO the prison
blackboard 8O3 and 1l6 women This is tue largest
Of male prisoners known TO have been there
at one time The male prison only accommodate
496 with a single prisoner IN cell. The Branch
Prison." as il is called, Randalls Island,
can only accommodate 90, so that to relieve
the crowding of the male section side of the female
prison has been occupied by men for some time past
This, however is not sufficient now, for after
available cell is filed there nearly $50 prisoners who
have to be doubled up that is TO say two in a cell
which, owing TO the depravity Of their natures,
duces to many evils greater than those already
ferred TO as the consequence of the mixed system.
Well TO bring my story TO close have made the dis
cOvery that Blaekwes Island is great social cesspOo
Of New-YOrk