The New York herald., 1875-12-26
SING SING PRISON.
How the Prisoners Fare and What They
Are Doing.
A World Of Woe and a Hive
Of Industry,
Sectarlanism in the PGnitentiary The Fe-
male Prison.

Whoever visits the picturesque village Of Sing Sing
for the first time cannot but be struck by the ominous
looking iron-barred building there, erected a
siderable cost to the State, the left bank Of the
Hudson, close 70 the waters edge II is the Peniten
tiary, where bad men, and women, too who have al
lowed their evil passions get the better OF them and
broken the law, serving their various terms Of i'm
prsonmenL
Approaching the dismal edifce from Sing Sing the
visitor pauses TO contemplate the unrivaled beauty OF
the river mountain and woodland scenery spread ont
at his feet either hand or away in the distance
From the contemplation Of this charming in the
Hudson's beautiful valley tho beholder is rudely
aroused by the scream of the steam whistle the
ring Of the convict quarrymanis pick he forces II
into the rude rock apparently working for other OBJ
ject than TO give him something TO do Tho
points of vantage ground and elevated spots
the side and in the immediate neghborhood OF
the prison occupied by sentry boxes and little
guard towers which tenanted by vigilaut guards
whose duty is to watch the convicts at their labor
sngy or in gangs about the grounds The river front
Is also well watched by armed keepers On the east,
about 200 yards from the prison. the guard house is
placed and still higher ground behind il stands
the female department of the prison
THE Converts HOME
Descending step two into the Office and reception
rooms the visitor the apartment at hts left
hand, and sees fronting him daily bulletin, from
which might be learned that on the 10th day Of De-
cembcr, 1875, there 4S9 male and 141 female
convicts in this State establishment The visitor is
conducted down low and poorly lighted passage
until at the distance of fifteen twenty PAGES he comes
opposite the south end of the east side gallery with its
long vista Of
TIERS OF CELLS
extending to the right Close to the left hand, hung
against he wall Ia a detail hoard which shows tho
particular occupation which each convict is en-
ployed on that day. The prisoners designated by
their names and not after the degrading custom
of calling them by numbers, as is done In Europe
The east side gallery Is divided by iron partition
running across the middle Of the corridor There are
six tiers OF cells above the other. The gallery
contains altogether 100 cells that is fifty each side
Of the partition On the southern the gallery
the cell doors locked sngly with key and on the
northern section all the doors locked by
running bar having that falls down and secures
latch outside the several cell doors The bar
which in eyelets along the WALL is worked by a
and ratchet and is secured in its resting place
by strong key lock. No light falls into any
of the cells excepting what is reflected from
the corridor and the barred windows let into
the high wall which shuts the prison from the outer
world admit but little of sunshine gadness TO ilnm-
nate the interior The other galleries similarly
constructed and lighted The passages and cells
very cean heated and comfortable but redolent
with that dsagreeabe, haffctid odor which is always
present badly ventilated apartments that have been
long overcrowded with inmates.
Cell No $50 was tastefuly painted in squares and
other geometrcal figures traced along the walls
reddish brown paint but whence the coloring matter
taken who the particular convict who adorned
his cell with IT, the keeper could not say The
the ecaIlo clear hutth
which extended the iron stretchers looked
dngy enough A number of pictures, some books and
few little harmless articles ornamentcd the walls of
the cells and apparently displayed 10 the best ad
vantage by their occupants The interior space OF the
cells is about ten feet long and FIVE feet wide.
Leaving the cell galleries the writer followed his
guide the yard the direction Of the refectory.
Marching in the same direction line Of convicts, in
their gray striped PRISON clothes, was observed They
followed each other single fe IN close order and
behind the leading man. each had his hands resting on
either shoulder OF tho who preceded him. This
prcCauton OF keeping the prisoners hands IN sight
Of discipline aud intended to prevent the possI-
bility of sudden resistance TO the officer In charge.
The room is very large square apartment fur
nshed with parallel rows Of tables Of which there
sevenysx calculated TO seat fifteen men at each and
three tables for twelve persons each making table
for l, JIG prisoners altogether it time
past noon when the writer entered, and the greater
part OF the convcts having finished their midday meal
had gone TO work. but there remained eighty a
hundred men seated at the south end OF the dnn hall
these we're eating repast at which many ndustr-
Gus, hardworkng aborer or mechanic would have been
glad regale himself Breakfast served at seven
O'Clock, excepting Sundays, when 1t Is ready at eight
The mornings meal consists oil meat hash stew
with potatoes coffee and bread, and OF these whole
articles Of food the prisoner allowed all that he
consume This treatment contrasts very iavoraby
with that Of European penitenaries especially those
Of Great Britain, where miserable pittance Of Diet
hardly sufficient 10 keep soul and body together is
doled out with parsimony that Is anything but credit
able TO the government The convicts sit down TO
dinner al noon, and at this meal allowed plentiful
supply OF meat potatoes cabbage Tor beams day
the week. The working hours are from a quarter be-
fore eight O'Clock in the morning until quarter before
twelve, and in the afternoon from quarter before
to quarter before four the fifteen minutes before each
rest or shit OF work being allowed Tor the men to wash
PRISON LABOR.
The various branches Of prison labor may be cass
fed chiefly under tho following heads :-Quarrying
lime burning shoe making, iron moulding and general
foundry work blacksmithing, harness making harness
iron and buckle making furniture and cablnotmakng
laundry work on large scale and tin and general
Jobblng shop
Is on the second floor, over the dining hall In going
from the lator 10 the former could not fai to no
the unpleasant odor OF musy cabbage and corned
beef; of half damp, musty bread, and dapk,
tilated atmosphere Under these circumstances IL
could not be expected that the air in the chapel should
be OF the purest The chapel is gloomy sombre look
ing, great square apartment lined with wooden benches
II has an extremely plain pulpit and few reserved
for visitors At the far end knot OF half
dozen convcts was seen around the little panoorgaD,
which faced the pulpit
''What are they doing herof" inquired the writer of
his guide
They are preparing for musical entertainment,
which IL lis intended will be given New Years Day
Approaching the group the instruments were found
to consist Of panoorgan, bass vo violin, triangle,
and two three singers also IN attendance good
natured looking prisoner, who minus the left arm,
busted himself procuring seats for the visitors The
musicians spent good des Of time in getting their In
sruments TO the proper pitch and even then seemed
reluctant 10 begin the music they seemed no way
desrous Of pleasing their audience Of two persons AT
last they struck up what outside the prison, might,
perhaps, have been a lively negro air, but the
ear with sad, long drawn out, dirge like sound,
which minor seventh frequently vbrated with solemn
Sadness
sEcTARiAyisM TIE PRISON
MI, Garfield 10 chaplain Of the prison. Mr. Canhold
y Pfesby teran minister, be has his study In the
library and Is officially charged with the OF souls
Although the number OF Presbyterians is very small
within the prison walls, the great majority who are
non believers IN the enets OF this denomination
obliged 10 receive their spiritual comfort through what
might seem 70 them disagreeahle because an nncon-