The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-22

K-Vestibule Of Offices.
click at long intervals Of the watchmens' tread
as they patrolled with long, heavy step tne
prison buildings.
"How does he seemf" asked Waterman Oh
Keeper Orr, as the latter passed him.
..Well. he's quiet, but he's doing too much think
ing. Pm afraid; it wears him fast" was the re-
snonse. from voice full of the deep music Of hui
man sympathy spite Of the uncouth ideal formed
OF the speakers calling And they went their
ways.
The scaGold was almost completed at this time,
but the night was so dark that its outline could
hardly be distinguished, and 1t was only by the
cleaning OF the yard lamps that any part Of 1t was
rendered discernlble. crowd Of
HALF.DRUNKEN RoYsTERERs
passed along the street outside the prison, making
night unbearable by their vociferations. play
ful wrangls followed, and one Of the number with
hlgh-pitched voice. shouted,
s.Na, g,way from me, tell va, or III put hole
in va"
Wonder II he remembered that threat lew
hours later, when the town was alive with the
news of the fatal leap made by one whose threat
was less explicit, within that enclosure over whose
wall the voice rang 30 clearly
SPV0
marking the intervals Of repose, and the clock OF
Ola St. Johns spoke out the hour with musical
measured voice-"one, two, threei"
Five minutes before Foster had risen from his
chair and said quietly, 81 guess I'll 60 to bed
now" He babe the watchers "good night" and
stopped to enter the low, marrow door OF his cell.
In i've minutes he was
LYING ON HIS COT,
with his right arm thrown on the pillow. IN an
other fve he had forgotten the world In deep
sleep.
His cell doors remained wide open, and the
deputies moved their seats into such position
that they could see all that might transplre IN the
little apartment. When they were assured that
his sleep was unfeigned the deputies relaxed their
vigilance little and INDUCED in short walk by
turns At last walking and smoking both became
monotonous, and, while the convict slept away the
ast-ravelling remnant of his life, they told stories
german to the occasion.
THE KEEPERS STORY.
Orr the gray-headed veteran, with mild blue eye
and kindly voice, who has spent over twenty years
of his life among the pariahs of the metropolis,
crossed his legs and let himself down in his chair
as he toyed with pair Of giant keys, FURNISHED
like gold from constant use.
Some one asked els he going out firm In the
morningY'
ssOh yesi he will 60 out like man when he is
wanted replied Orr. "M0st men, when the lime
comes, can brace themselves up for It, I've seen
good many 60 out, and l never saw but one
man back right down, and that was Frery. But,
then, he was bravado and coward at the same
time. Before he was wanted he used to Jump
around In the corridor, square on to box with most
any one and said he was going to die game and
all that kind o. thing. When he went out was
afraid he'd have to be carried and after they got
him out, so they tell me, he came near dropping on
the platform.
.swer, didn't you see him hung'" asked one Of
the party.
.Me ~ said the tenderh hearted Keeper turning
his thumb to his breast. "No; never saw man
20 up, and don't want to. s'pose I've seen more
than q dozen OF em 60 out, but It wasn't neces-
sary should be there and didn't 60 to see It,
seeing Friery 60 up, as happened to cross the
yard as he came out. heard the click as they
sent him up and was close to the corner Of the
'ten-day house' and lodged behind 1t. But,
TALKIN' ABOUT GAME MEN,
that Niger, Thomas, was the gamest ever saw.
why, right as he was going out with his arms
pinioned and ALL he turned to me at the desk as he
was passing held out his hand az well as he could,
and said In right cheerful tone We'll, goodby,
Mr.. ORR He was all quiet decent courage; no
braggadocio about him. He never said anything
about his own gameness-he showed It,"
''That was that yellow nigper wasn't it'"
eyes, that was the one. But tell you, new. Real
had all the nerve that was wanted He talked
cheerful all night nearly, and along towards morn
ing he went out in the yard with me and stayed
out couple OF hours. He looked at the scaGold
and spoke about 1t and walked up to 1t to look at
it.r
s'when was this scarold first used, and who
made itY"
SWELL" responded Orr, 81 am not quite certain,
but am almost positive that Nathan Gordon, the
SLAYER, was the first man hanged on 1t. The old
one had become rotten, and old Sam Atkins made
this and used to put 1t up. He dice, though, last
year, and think his son is putting it up this time.
Old Sammy took good deal Of pride in making q
good working scafYold."
"Is JsAAos TO BE THE HANGMAN
Tomorrow" asked q man with long mustache
and imperial.
"Isaacs, oh. moi he's given IL up. He's Twin up
in Harlem, and has thrown up the business While
he was at IL, though, he liked It, There's no use
talking he had taste for that job; nothing
pleased him better than to stand on the platform
before the execution. when crowd was round.