The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-19

az SIX O'Clock, the boss dismissed rs with sulky
motion Of the head, and we all started for the
prison.
SUPPER.
on reaching the han we were marshalled into
the prison dining room, where all the other pris'
0ners were already seated at supper. was by
this time luriously hunary. having eaten nothing
since my early breakfast before going 70 the
police court; The law. In whose power was, nav
ing furnished me no fo0d and preventing ne rom
obtaining any on my own account. Our supper
consisted solely oil large Tin dish or corn meal
mush, with spoonful Of molasses daoDed In the
middle | am not partial 10 musn-lt Is by no
means an epicurean dish--but should pronounce
the mush in question very fair in quality. The
nolasses was nasty having strong nayor of
paregoric AS soon as we had tnish our supper
we were marched OF 10 the cells, and few
minutes later the bolts shot and
we were all locked in Tor the night. For
the moment it was quite u relief 10 me to be qni-
city sitting ON one OF the hammocks after the
ex elements and novel situations OF the day; but
soon became restless, and at once busted myself
In becoming better acquainted with my leHow
prisoners and in an inspection OF my quarters
50 far as could judge by pacing the cell 1t was
aoour % feet by &c. win three strongly Darreo
windows facing tine west and grated iron door
in the eastern wall. The cell contained twelve
hammocks, shat Is, piece of canvas laced Win
cord on to q light iron framework. There were
six upper and six lower hammocks, Ike the
berths in a snip. / was provided with straw
pillow without case and TWO army blankets,
and am bound TO say that could NOT complain
OF them; neither did experience any practical
evidence OF the presence of bedbugs or other yer.
min SO long as remained In the prison.
BUT THE SANITARY ARRANGRMEN
are barbarous in their primiriveness and dis
graceful TO any prison in these days OF boosted
civilization. Tue only provision for the twelve
prisoners in my cell consisted OF three common
house pals with some lime In them. The con-
sequence was that by nine O'Clock In the evening
we had three miniature open cesspools 20 poison
the atmosphere or the cell. Ny companions
formed a motley group, and sat for some time on
the hammock studying the most noteworthy 4
them. they one and all removed their boots and
socks (when Iney had the latterI. some even took
! OF their trousers. l was thunderstruck. With
one exception their feet were coated with greasy
4 black dirt, and, in many cases, their legs we're
\ prmy TO O negree, even above the Knees. am
surprised that the Keepers do not make prisoners
/ take bath when thev are brought in. The CON-
missioners have a regulation that every prisoner
shall take a BATH on his arrival but the lazy keep
I ers disregard 1t.
The Brst took note of was little, half .witted,
/ formed loot and ankle, which gave crab-ke
I movement to his locomo;on. Ho mad managed
10 get hold OF one of The prison loaves OF breat,
/ and spent the first half or the night In slowly
muncning 1t away lie was the butt for all the
! slangy wit or the party, and had been satirically
nicsnamed "Pocahontas."
Another was very dwar1sh individual. with q
i bumped back, who rejolced In the sopriquet or
'snorty." He was very lively fond OF singing
sentimental songs. and seemed TO be adavorlte.
4 third was an lrishman, who had arrived in
4 company with myself; tall, powerfully built.
\ jolly, eood-numored and good-natured fellow OF
4 about 1ty-dye years OF age, and with an immense
shock head of silver gray hair. AS he assumed 10
| Know something OF the ways OF the place was
1 emboldened TO ask him If he had ever
/ stayed In that hotel before. he laughed
/ heartily and replied. "Be dad an its only
4 last Wednesday as went out" He told me that
/ he had left the prison with ninety cents in his
! pocket; had en- tered liquor saloon on Twenty
/ sixth street on leaving the Island steamboat, and
! had there and then got drunk on his ninety cents.
! The following day Thursday he had earned o
i dollar By hauling coal in the same mel IN Doehood ;
4 had got drunk on that dollar on Friday; had been
arrested in the evening, and committed for ten days
on Saturday morning. They calleu him "Havsr.
\ straw from the fac, OF his sometimes WORKING
In the prlcx ards OF that village.
! Then there was young English Jew, who was
always addressed as sSheeny." He had @ fair
baritone voice. ana regarded himself as second
\ Grananl. Perhaps the most entertaining OF the
number was regular New York boy, about nine :
teen or twenty years OF age, very great at break
downs aud mimlcry, fnl OF stories and adven-
lures, and apparently knowing a. much OF wild
life as most men OF thirty; and, perhaps,
may Characterize myself as one OF the note
tho slightest suspicion OF my identity. 1 was
Obliged TO faoricate history of myself 10 satisfy
the yearning curiosity Of my companions. told
them that had been drinking hard all the win.
ter; that had asked my folks TO nave me home,
bat that they had refused TO do so TIL I got
\ Strengthened up bit; that feeling sucn de-
i vouty 10 be wished contamination was hopeless
4 OF accomplishment II remained in New York I
I mad asked Judge Bixby TO lei me come up on the
+ Island for q week, and That that stern dispenser
OF justice had rntnlessly committed me for q
month"; to my indnite disgust This last announce
/ ment procured me the general sympathy, and
brought down louo and deep curses on shat
4 brute, B,xoy.r beg here 10 oner my humble
apology TO the Judge for thus taking his name in
vain but think he VIII be the first to admit that
could hardly help myself
4 .'wel,n said one, II guess it'll be q varnin' TO
\ you TO give up rum. ! never mean to touch q
4 drop again alter get out this tIme.u
/ was surprised to hear expressions OF deter.
/ mlnatIon 10 reform on all sides. / fear that In
most OF the cases the good resolutions are likely
20 vanish in she atmosphere OF New YORK. Rabe.
iais said truly when he wroie:-
''rhc devil sick. the devil a monk would be;
The devil was WELL the devil q monk he
The first evening passed away quietly amid a
glowing sunset. The new prisoners were not very
cheerful, and had the remains OF their mornings
headache to keep them quiet; the old ones were
anxious 10 learn the stories or the new corners,
ask what was going on In the city, and inquire
1 after possible mutual acqualntances. Before
4 the color had faded out OF the western
\ SKY wss the only one NOT In his
\ hammock and the only one not
asleep with the exception or ''Pocanontas.n
VINO lay silently muncning his loaf OF bread. 1
stood gazing Gus OF the window into thar busy