Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1874-02-17
Spirit Of Jeffersnr,
CharlestOwn, jefferson County, West Va.
TUESDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY II, 1874.
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.
4 trip to Sing .Sing-Among the Conricts-
tSmikeS-JOhm Brolvn.
New Yonx. January o5. 1874.


not sent there to graduate, like many of our
young New Workers. a great many young
men dislike climbing the ranparts of ancient
Troy under the supervision of old Homer
l mean college boys. Put those young men
in Sing Slug, once, why they'll climb any
place to leave that beautiful residence How
inconsistent
At eight A. NJ, was on nv way on the
banks of the beautiful Hudson. whirling along
at tremendous speed in one of Vanderhilts
finely upholstered cars. (Remember the cars
did the whirling) l could see the Jersey
side of the river, with its perpendicular
heights clothed in green pines. These
heights at first appeared to be the work of
some extinct race of giants. so regular was
their formation, but on closer inspection the
finger traces of omniyotence we're plain. The
unduhtiOns of the green banks. the fall of
crystal cstaracts, on the mountain sides and
the nesting villages aud cots near the chasms
of tho pno topped hills presents a scene of
picturesque beauty. 1t was among these hills
that Washington Irving laid the scene of Rip
Van WiOkle, aud other sketches in Broce~
bridge Hall
I was thinking of Ucnrick Hudson and the
early settlers of New York, when the cou>
ductor opening the car-door and shouted at
the top of his voice the word-Sing Sing
Yes we were at the town of Sing Sing, ouly
thirty-fnnr miles from New York
y number of hackmen were at the plat>
form cutting passengers over the head with
their whips. While trying to push my way
through tho surgirg crowds | perceiued tho
ruby countcnance ofmy much esteemed friend,
Smkes. who had taken trip from the CITY to
reduce his corpulency. Snikes aud ploded
our way up steep hill into the heart Of the
n
BY the way, that steep hill reminded me of
the ascent leading 10 Camp Hill in Harper's
Ferry and reminded Smikcs of the fact that
had climbed as steep hill in my time [
tried to persuade him to catch hold of horses
tail. which was at the rear of horse immed!>
a:cIy preceding us. Smikes said '.Nn. no, if
I Setch the 'cre animeeFs tail, Why, then he
might sit angry, slam his hind feet against
my shirt bosom-and might dirty it"
Having scratched our names on the hotol-
register, We asked the way to the prison -
About eighteen drty>f faced urchus t7nderad
their assistance. Smikes chose eleven of them
as griles
The prison i situated on the banks of the
Hudson, 90 We were obliged to go down 10 the
station near the river, whore the ragged bays
showed Us the stone stops Leading /" the prS-
on. i the head cr The steps which huns
IL
last time in their lives We suddenly came in
sight Of gang OF two hundred convjcts
working in quarry with their guards set
ting on the banks at their case Here we
passed little ysatch>house in which guard
set srnnakim-. All along the hills, at inter-
ya!s at scvcrs! bundled yards, we're similar
guard boxes, from which the contries we're
able to command view not only Of the cons
victS in the quarry, but of the prison yards
and surrounding country.
We walked down the road to the prison.
where We passed little graveyard 5nlotted 10
the lutor;uuatt7 who hal passed their last
days on earth, within dark dismal cell
Not even the hell"wei tears Of parent or
child dropped on the piers of the wayward
outcasts. Strsn"e to say. nearly all the epi-
taphs showed that those slcepiug under the
rude mounds departed this life at an imma-
ture aye. Ten Of them were over twenty-five
years! y fearful example Of dissjnaton and
crime would long to say with Goldsmith,
''NIy soul. turn from them. turn to survey
- noble IaCC,'
Or with Moore:-
Weep NOT for those whom the veil of the tomb
In iifc'5 happy morning Laih ind from your
Ere sin threw blight over the spirits young
bosO:u,
Or e:,vth had profaned what was born for the
We learned from sign hung in coBspc
uous place. that visitors should pass before the
guard house. where 4 guard you'd accompany
them through the prisons and work shops on
the payment OF twoD,y>fve cents This ad-
mission fee goes to buy religious books for
the inmates. The interior of the prison is
divided in five tiers of cells A window
about two feet in height and six inches wide
formed OF bars OF iron closely iinbeddcd in
the solid granite masonry, is allowed for each
inmate. Gas is kept burning IN the corridors,
by the rays Of which, shining through each
barred door the occupants Of the cells are en-
abled to Pernse their books after the DAYS toll
The warden showed US the dark cells ior re,
fractory criminals. The Led Of roses is not
without its thorns. Tie bed of roses is
nothing less than a cell. the floor Of which is
made OF round cannon, balls upon these the
poor convict is obliged to sit, stand, and sleep,
while perfectly naked. Here he's confined
for two or three days on bread and water.
until he is willing to submit 70 prison dis
ciPline. We next passed through the work
shops. where prisoners were engaged 10 the
manutacture OF cigars, iron buckles, boots,
ropes, etc.
They worked very industriously. but cbatted
pleasantly. And even cracked some Jokes
about Smikes and myself. The worden showed
us several murderers, who are confined for
life. and who have already serCed twenty years
of their lives in a nurdeIers cell. Among
the hard cases, | recognised jim Cusick,
known as the man e1icr whom | saw tried
and convicted of the crime of mayhem
Our next trip was through the hospital,
where Stokes, the murderer of James Fisk.
is confined on account of illness. There were
about l30 male prisoners confined in this
t.,,5lj
entered the bake house, where several cons
Wits .IrassnS II cIntI,.. IL o.;u.-..l -.-: