The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-17
Visit to the SchOOlShip and Black
wells Island.
William M. Tweed in His New
Cell and New Dress.
HOW HE RECEIVED THE JURORS
No LuXuries Now and Few at
Any Time.

siAth street, East RIVER LOT the purpose or making
a trip through the institutions on the Islands. ana
with q secretly kept intention OF observing the
manner OF treatment TO which William NJ. Tweed
Is subjected. The Grand Jury representatives
comprise the foreman, Charles Haswell; william
Sloan, Samuel Abraham. Even Mcintyre, Ed
ward Lambert, 7. Timson, william F. Buck
ley, David Hoyt, James l.. Dannet ana Richard
=. Dana. While waiting for the Commission.
ers OF Charities and Correction the party
had an opportunity Of witnessing the arrival and
departure OF boat load Of "bummers" to aud
from BlacEwes Island. The weather was severe
for this unfortunate class OF erring citizens. 1t
was nice question to decide whether the arrivals
or the departures suffered the largest share of
misery. Headaches and thirst afflicted the one
and the want OF clothes ana money was an un.
happy fact and reflection for the other.
The Minnehannock and Bellevue were drawn up
at either side OF the Commissioners wharf The
former took on board the usual morning batch OF
prisoners and vast quantity OF lean meat for the
two days. consumption OF 5000 patients and pri.
soners. The other steamer, destined for Harris
Island and the schoolshlp Mercury, had quite
number OF female passengers, most OF whom car.
ried baskets containing dantles OF one kind or
another for the boys on the ship or the patients
on the island.
START FOR THE sCHOOLSHIP
AT half-past ten O'Clock the three Charity Com.
misstoners, Isaac II. Bailey, Townsend Cox and
Thomas s. Brennan, made their appearance A
change was ordered In the programme or visiting
SO that IN place OF first going to Blackwe,rs and
the adjacent Islands 1t was determined TO start
for the Mercury schOolship, eighteen miles away
to accommodate q couple OF eccentric jurymen,
who were curious to see the boys turn somersets
In the air from the masthead and other elevated
portions OF the Rigging. The boys failed to ex.
ecute any such performance, as the regulations
forbid somersets in winter.
The steamer Bellevue was selected for the trim
instead OF the Minnebannock the latter having
quite enough TO do to carry and deliver her cargo
Of food at Blackwell's Island. The journey, owing
to the ice, was protracted. Arrived at the Mer.
curry quite number Of dccently dressed women,
baskets and all, were bundled on board, and soon
afterwards singular sight VS. presented
in the school room on the ship. Here and
there some fierce young irreclamaole nest.
led In his mothers or sisters arms and
received from her hands such delicacies as he
might hope In vain to get on board the Mercury.
Ten days hence the ship would put to seq, and
this was the fare well visit Of affection on the part
OF these loving women. The boys thus favored
were. of course. the envy OF the wretched home
less ones who stood shivering between decks, all
gathered III q compact mass to keep each other
warm.
wRETCHEDNEsS OF THE DoYs.
No two opinions existed as 10 the inhuman folly
OF Withholding the appropriation Sc.u.!ly allowed
for this mertorious institution. On the ground OF
economy alone as Mr.. Townsend Cox argued. 1t
would have Deen better had the Mercury been sent
early IN the winter on West Indian cruise. In
the tropics the boys would eat less by tw0.thirds
than they do now with keen nOreaster to sec
their appetites OIL edge, and make them feel as II
they never had enough.
No ifv,I
any boys reormatory on, the civilized glOoe than
was presented between decks yesterday on board
part the souna Ia New YorS we ia ne
IL hard to keep warm among walls OF brick and
mortar even with heavy oyercoats and iur caps
ana collars. what must be the condition OF these
poor wretched boys rom day TO day of this trying
weather, with nothing but thin blue cotton panta.
to be wool. They are bad boys, oil OF them, but
the law surely never meant. as Mr.. Lambert, OF
means OF retaining them. AS an instance Of the
cruelty OF subjectlng these boys TO extreme idle.
sup, mentions the TACT that d. ty OF them were
lad up with bronchitis. produced oy cold ana in
soa Sy SHsnns was relief TO the Jury to be
the tropics. stores were being put on board and
every preparation made for the summer cruise.
All this, however, according to Comm. sloner
Brennan, is done at the Boards expense in the
cover IT,
LEAVING THE MERCURY
tuc parry DuCk Ut SLOW speed. the Ice Sill
continuing TO impede the little steamer and cut
short tine luIfllment of the entire programme.
Kanda nso Island wncn was the Intention 70
Island now became the point OF destination.
VISITING THE PENITENrIARIEs.
The venerable and experienced warden OF the
workhouse had lunch PROVIDED for the occasion.
1t was SO good thar IL was made away with In
warden, the jury lost no time in bearing up for
the the Pc, penitentsry: Warden Fox. the newly ap.
vsors lie showed them eS Of the tine
novelties OF the prison, such as opening all the cell
doors IN o flash and closing them with equal
rapidlty. The deep, silent, secret curiosity, how
ever IN every Juryman's breast was to see Boss
Tweed and talk t. him II possible. Some little
distinguished criminal Is incarcerated appeared to
come over the party, but wnen Commissioner
Brennan and an enterprising reporter led the way
they followed qulckIy.
BOSS rwRED's ROOM AND CONVERSATION.
weeds 1om as the Grand Jury saw It, was
house family. 1t consisted OF a small apartment
eight feet by ten, parltioned on from the hospital
top floor OF the building on the Astoria branch OF
the East River. The Ice IN the foreground and
the eafless trees IN the distance. the silence and
the absence Of stirring lfe made dreary picture.
"The commerce OF the Sound in the summer,
iively,H remal ked Mr. Tweed. with tinTe OF sad.
ness In his voice; "put now it's dat enough"
$500. the view rom prison" observed juryman,
wen, never studied the subject before" 70.
sponded the prisoner; but there is more in II
to you 1t Is worth more than thousand other
injuries to one confined as an. 1t IS good deal
to be able 10 see the sky. whether clear cloudy,
and the river or the trees, either In winter or
IN summer"
Nobody will deprive you OF that small com.
fort" said the jury man, alphabetically.
"Well, | think no;," replied Tweed, 'for that
would We making me al exception to the rest OF
the prisoners"
MS APPEARANCE AND FURNITURE.
He sat in o cane.Dottomed armenian which,
along with small table, q Dedstead, q fe ~ books
and papers aud o steel engraving Of the death Of
cardinal Wolsey constituted all the furniture that
could be detected. The prisoner was clad In q
SACK coat OF me "mlsdemeanor" quality, which IL
white mixed. Tue trousers were of n dars
slate color and woollen also. As ne sat in ms
GUAR, win ms spectacles on. engaged In writing
out tue regular hospital entries vi the moruin T. Il
was diMcult 10 recognize the BIZ Tweed OF FORMER
Gays. rne clothing was ono great barrier 10 re.
cognt:on, put the greatest OF all was the lstiess
sttituue OF the man who was won't 10 sit like q
nionarch on his throne. with eye nashinG ana
every nore OF MS irame strung 10 Its utmost ten.
slon' In MS conversation II Is correct 10 say he