The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-15
A DAY ON RANDALL'S ISLAND.



How PAupERs ARE RECEIVED ON THEIR ARR
vAL-wHAT THE SICK, LUNATIcs AND SOL
DIERs EAr-How DELISoUENCIEs ARE con-
CEALED.
Lately reporter of the HERALD proceeded to
Randall's Island !or the purpose OF investigating
the abuses said 10 exist there. the character OF
the food gwen by Warden stephens 10 the children
under the Of the Department of Charities ana
The charges made that the children are the GUS
jtoay OF debauched and drunken women, sent up
nom the worShouse. Arrvng ut Bellevue Hospital
soon after the snowstorm abaIed, he passed
very aged Woman making her way to the steamer
Bellevue, at the foot OF Twenty-siXth street, for
transportation 10 the Charity Hospital. IL was
with the greatest difficulty that the poor woman,
whose appearance proved that she was
unfortunate rather than criminal, could move
with the assistance of "a crutch aud a cane, carry
ing at the same time small valise in her hand
A glance at her feet showed that they were poorly
protected by pair OF woolen stockings and low
pair OF rubbers The snow was several inches
deep, and as the poor Invalid made her way
through 1t there were dozen lazy employees oil the
department standing around, but up to this hour
<ten o'c.ock) not 4 shovel had been used TO clear
= way Tor such poor creatures 10 reach the wharf,
The reporter looked down upon the pier and there
saw in the entrance Captain irwin, Commodore or
the DOlts, a -SOius poHcc"
man, who has charge OF tue per- and several Work
house men, looking up the street at the wretched
invalid She was the eve OF calling to the
oficer TO come up ana help her down,
when the thought occurred TO him that he might
possibly get dubbed Tor MS pans and SO he rem
dered the required assistance himself hen she
reached the pier, from which the snow had been
cleared, sympathetic pauper, employed there,
voluntarily went out ana aided the venerable in
valid III. The fat policeman aforesaid and the
Commodore, who were warming themselves over
Ihe stove, then condescended TO notice her. The
former gave her seat and the latter examined
1er papers. Then the lat policeman assisted her
down the docs, While the lnnocent Commodore,
WHO Tor seVera! minutes had watched her grauual
approaches through the snow and saw the writer
relieve he. OF her satcne. coolly turned 10 the
reporter, whom ne has known ior years and
Asked, lis that your satcnel p
BEEF FOR THE CoNvICTs.
sometime after, the pauper employees began load.
Ing the Bellevue with beef, TO be transferred to
The Institutions they dragged 1t over dirty
per covered with all manner oil NTH. dumped IL
the forward deck and. In the presence OF all
The passengers, it was de posted IN boxes barrels
and on trucks on the boat, where it was critically
examined Il curiosity III the provision line. One
hatcher, VINO was among The passengers, exam
lned the meat, aud declared tnat It was good
enough Tor convlcts. but he would .bet MS shop
against picay tna Boss Tweed did not eat IT,"
he stated IN answer 10 queries
convicts, VINO would eat anything Just then
President Bailey came on board pleasantly sauted
the writer. who examining the beer, and on
Ais attention being called to IL and asked how
much 1t cost he replied Five cents per pound"
This said with smile, which PLAINLY indicated
Il ut The President Of the Commission was thinking
. good deal about contracts and the way con-
cover whether his dirty meat, dragged through
the hta OF piers, steamboat docks and store
houses. was Intended for the pauDers or the s.ck.
VI hen the boat stopped at the piers he inquired OF
TIE men VINO were handling IL what institutions
1t was intended ior and lound It was destined lor
The Charity Hospital the Soldiers Home ana the
Insane Asylum, as well as for the couvlcts. 1t
was discharged IN the same reckless way III the
presence OF ana under the supervising eye OF
Commodore Irwin
THOROUGH INSPECTION
was made OF all the institutions on Randalls Is
land. 1t must be admitted that In the department
presided over by Warden stephens, who has
porter visited no fault could be found. Inc noors
beds and children were clean, aad the writer wit
Messed them al their dinner which certainly
showed that they lack tor nothing IN the way or
lood. and all or nearly all look FAT and happy But
when pleasant looking matron presented
spoon and asked the writer. IN presence OF War.
nen stephens. TO partaEe OF the oee soup OF which
spoonful ana retired. The soup was sayory
and well cooked. but the reeoeetions OF the beer
sssea .as :ssrss j.. Isa ia. , =, ssSs children
women sent up rom the worknousc as
nurses The facts justify no such charges. In
eight worknOuse women employed, as the books
yesterday showed, while there are tnirty.two
female helpers from the Almshouse. Nearly all
the iree help poor but respectable person,
who out OF employment, and, on application
~ superintendent Kellock. get assigned TO the
Cnildrens Asylum, where they can have home.
Warden Stephens reports that the children are en-
'rlrely under the control OF PAID matrons and paa
nurses, and. TON the motherly appearance OF those
he saw yesterday the reporter was satisfied that
they are in good hands. The Warden reports that
the cost or supporting the children Tor January
was fifteen cents per day De1' capita. careful In
kpection was maze OF
THE CHIID's NURSERY.
the Idiot Asylum and the Infants Hospital and
no cause Tor complaint was found either OF
Inem. AS III Mr. stephens department., the beds
were clean, the floors were scrubbed the venfila-
uon excellent, and a hlgh degree OF order main
tanned throughout. The recent revelations az TO
abuses IN the department have evidently put
oirciais on their guard and rendered them more
waichlul, az tile writer, during frequent inspec-
tons, covering period or six years. has never
found tue Randalfs Island institutions III better
condition.
1t Is impossible, as President Bailey yesterday
stated, Tor the commissioners 70 give tnelr n1l.
Vidual attention TO nearly 100 persona who are
now IN the institutions and abuses Will occur
Tue great trouble Is that the officials In the nst
.utlCns on the Islands always know wnen 10
pect their visits. aud prepare Tor them
they prepare Tor the appearance OF the Grand
Jury WHAT is wanted most is for the Commits
VINO will never be known TO their employees, TO
make frequent visits aud report irregularities.