The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-19
Q u d G. E L r u T. E .
Horrible Sanitary Arrangements and Cb.
setnity in the Cells.
Now for Reforms and Changes by the
Charity Commissioners

"You are committed TO the workhouse fer
thirty daysn
The ABOVE judgment was passed with laconic
brevlty on about rough and unkempt looking
an individual as can well be conceived, even at
the prisoners bar OF a New York police court.
Strange to say the candidate Ior prison nonors
did not whine out any Liteous appeal 10 the
Judge for lenlency. He quietly bid the Judge
good morning and turned away az once 60 follow
the officer, whose duty 1t was 10 conduct MIN
down stairs TO the large cell in which the prison
await the coming OF the vehicle known as the
"Biack Maria" which conveys them To the Black
Wells Island steamboat dock, at the loot OF
Twenty sixth street. The scene was LAID In the
Jefferson Market Police Court, the magistrate on
The bench was Judge Blxby, and the COM
mltted prisoner was the writer OF this
story. Scarcely had the bolt of the door
been shot after had entered the cell before De-
gan to reflect the contrariety OF things IN gen.
eral. Here were some dozen or more men and
lads, who ncd slipped behind prison bars with
facility which must have been excessively an.
aoying TO them, while I had only succeeded In
6fnlng them alter considerable dificnlty and
much time spent in making ARRANGEMENTS. Being
1esirous OF learning something OF the realities OF
prison Lie on Blackwell's Island / was actually
compelled to take the Hon. Isaac H. Bailey, The
titles and Correction, aud Judge Bixby into my
confidence and 10 secure their cooperation IN
little plot py which could enjoy short temper
AIRY seclusion at the country seat OF the denizens
Of the Kingdom of vice and crime without posi-
lively committing any offence. But thanks TO
Mr. Bailey, wac entered more tnan heartily into
my enterprise. everything went WELL and I was &C
last in the clutches OF the Jaw, "as nice nine
pence,n as the old saying has 1t.
on CHANGING AROUND THE CELL
found that, with the exception of three lads.
VINO bad been arrested or insulting ladies their
return home from church on he street corner the
previous evening. all nv Fellow prisoners were
ltreehed at iull length upon the benches, sleeping
ID the results OF trelr last nights deoauch. They
we're all 'urunE and dlsorderlies," as the court
pGicers term such cases. One and another would
occasionally rouse up when the doorkeeper called
bis name at the request OF alert individual no
seems 10 earn living by carrying messages for
prisoners 10 their friends, and fancy. In cases
where his discretion tells him that ne may do so
with safety. advancing small sums OF money, at o
ngn rate of interest," TO prisoners TO enable them 20
make up their zines and thus escape Roing up on
the Island. suppose such harpes are useful
In their way. During the hour or two we
we're awaiting our despatch to the Island two Of
the boys and one or two OF the men were released.
to their infinite jog and TO the envy OF all the
others. They oil faithfully promised TO go i'm.
medlatey and see this person and that person on
behalf Of those they left behind. Whether or net
they kept their words 1 am unable 10 say, for the
arrival Of the Black Maria stopped oil such efforts
10 avoid Incarceration. BY the way,
THE BLAcK MARIA
IA q pure blonde In color. being painted O cream
shade. Ii - a sort OF sheet iron box on wheels
and, should judge, Is about eight feet long and
four iess WIDE. Into this box we we're all
crowded-nine men and iour women-and away
we went rafting and Jolting over the stones, as
thought, on our way TO the steamboat dock.
was wrong. on the door being opened for
rs 20 get out l found, 10 my profound
astonsnment, that we we're in the In.
ner courtyard OF the Tombs We were
the male Observation-Disclosures hurried into
. cell without stick OF anything in 1t, and
were shortly aftsrward reinforced, German col
lego professor OF Languages being among the new
arrivals. In o nelgnboring cell a half soDered fe.
male was giving vent 70 her grief over her misior.
tune and moaning and grooming IN q heartrend.
Ing fashion. rscare old Or. Watts lne:-
Hark from the iooos dolstai sound.
This same unfortunate lady aiterwaro occupied
seat on my lap during the urney ron the Tombs
70 Twenty sixth street. AID II was as mucn a.
could 40 TO prevent her assuagIne Der grief by
putting ner arm around my neck ana kissing me.
Before leaving the 1omps eacn prisoner mad 70
step up TO the CLERKS desk and state bis name,
age, birthplace. occupation, whether married OF
single, no many children living, how long In this
country, where he landed. &C. 70 al or these in
quiries made replies at variance with the truth,
and l think all those not gnOwn TO the police aid
much the same. Where then IL the value
or such a record On our second trip In
the Black darla we had fifteen inside passengers
all toiG--4leven "l7diesr ana four gentlemen"
How on earth they managed TO cram Us ali in
don't Anow We we're literally packed Ike sar.
dimes, and VI hen we reached Gus destination there
was great difficulty in getting out the FIRST one
shai not soon forget that ride. The horrible mix.
ture Of odors arising from the foul stomachs OF my
lehow travellers was fearful, accompanied as IL
was, ~ THAT OF the pro.use perspirau0n reeKing
rom every pore OF their levered sklns. 1he at.
mcspnere 5000 became intolorabe- almost
Rspnyxiaiing; and vsritaDly believe that had
eur journey lasted ten minutes lonzerI must have
ainted. ibid not recover rem tna nausea in
iuced By It until had been Tor some time 10 the
Issn air OF Blackwel's Island. Tnas ride IN the
Black nara gave me some conception Of the nor.
r0rs D the hold OF SLAYER VI han q century ago
/ was rather surprssd 10 see 80 may more
wosaan th6M msn 10 the party, rut then. as tue
gnlsai grsneamau rsmarEsd g." las ysfnmea