The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-09-12
A COLONY OF CRIME.
Early Morning at the Parish Prison

This reporter was one of several reporters tina
got up early on Saturday morning.
1t Is not the habit of the reporters of this city
as class, to get up early. Anybody that know
anything OF the life Of reporter would not ex
pect 1t OF them. They frequently go to bed earl
: in the morning-but when they get there, the
stay there until the hour when business open.
is swinging round
However, the several reporters of which thi
reporter was one, made solemn compact to &c
up early Saturday morning, and to get up earl,
was understood to mean to rise at daylight
Something new was promised. 1t was said tina
the scene at the Parish Prison in the morning
was worth Witnessing, and the several reporters
determined among themselves to witness it, nc
hence the compact.
The prison from the outside did not look any
different In the early morning from what it looks
at noon. Perhaps it was somewhat fresher and
cooler in appearance, but that was simply be.
cause the sun had just started to work, but
while it was creeping up the sky its rays were
stealing down the walls of the prison, and the
prison itself was gradually settling down into
its MONDAY sweltering condition.
The keeper, who was wide awake and was
playing with little dog, said he was very glad
to see us, and the keeper, who was fast asleep in
the chair, woke up with start, expressed him
self as very happy, etc., and explained that he
had just been relieved. The little dog alone
seemed to object to the visit 1t had interfered
with his sport, and he uttered his protest in
short, sharp and splteful barks.
The keeper said it was good day to visit the
prison; it was cleaning up day." They cleaned
up every day, OF course, but every other day
they had the floors dragged and bricked," and
this was one OF the other days, "and the gen.
tlemen can see the provision given out they can
see how it is done, and how we feed them" sug-
gested the sleepy keeper, and the wide-awake
keeper cast on him look of scorn, but acquiesced
ana continued, and as an amendment, said,
land see the prisoners turned out of their cells"
The provision wagons had not arrived they
would "be on hand in short time," the keeper
said: "Capt. Pegram was in," and he would
call him, and call him he did.
Capt. Pegram appeared and warmly welcomed
the reporters. He expressed himself as particu-
larry pleased to see them as there had been so
much talk " Of late about the management of
the prison, and, coming so early, they could see
the system on which II was run, and Judge for
themselves.
At about half-past the cell doors were opened
and the prisoners turned out, and in fifteen min
utes after, all over the prison, there was rum
bling noise, never rising, never lowering, and
by way Of explanation, Capt. Pegram conducted
the reporters to the inner walls Of the prison
and showed the prisoners scrubbing their cells.
At about 6 o'clock the provision wagons
arrived. They contained beef and bread for the
three hundred and twenty five people that make
up this colony OF crime, and, when it is known
that each of the prisoners gets loaf and pound
of meat as ratiOns for the day, the load of the |
provisl IN wagon may be imagined.
At the suggestion of Capt Pegram, the bread |
and meat was examined
Leon Lamotte, Esq, who the reporters had in |
duced to JOIN the expedition, expert in the |
feeding" line, pronounced both bread and meat |
sweet and fresh.
While the baker was telling off his Ioaves into |
two large baskets, and the butcher was weighing |
his beef, under the supervision of the keeper
there echoed through the prison the cry, long
drawn out, Roll up here; and those prisoners |
whose terms had expired filed up and fell into |
line just inside the inner doorand gazed anxiousy
through the iron bars. Slowly l. ambais, the
wide awake keeper, called the names, and |
promptly the prisoners responded, while along
the hall passed the cry, "Let him come
a rolling, the worlds against him." and the men
and "a, women, thirteen in all, passed out.
Clifford, the burglar, the "dang erous and sus-
picious," and the 'bad man generally, was
among those released.
1t was rumored, and Clifford heard it, that he
would be rearrested on his release: and he be.
lieved it, for as he reached the door of exit. he
looked steathily out, and, half satisfied, stepped
brlskly to the banquette, cast a look each way
along the street, and stepped off in lively man
ner and disappeared in the direction of the Old
Basin.
While this was going on the baker was still
counting his loaves, and the butcher weighing
his beef.
The baker seemed utterly unconscious OF the
character OF the building he supplying. In
cool, methodlcal way he counted out three
hundred and twenty-five crisp looking pound
oaves, and likely mnlattO boy in for larceny
watched him closely. Two huge baskets mounted
On wheels received them, and at an appointed
time the heavy IRON gate swung open and they
we're rolled into long hallway Just back OF the
main entrance. Heavy shoulders of Juicy meat
followed, and whilst well known feion stalked
Along under large neck piece, petty larceny
chap in Difference to the others prominence, de-
erentlalJy fell in behind. Hal past came, and
with it the exodus of the prisoners, white and
black, from their cells. There was some laughter
considerable stretching and a general evidence
Of satisfaction that one more night had ended. {
At the end of the hallway before referred to- |
Earle, with large chopper, was cutting off and
weighing the rations of each mess-one pound
o eace man. Shoulders rounds and ribs disap
'eared, and ranged along plank lay Jumps OF
beef awaiting distribution. The signal was
he white and black yards, the captains OF each
ness ranged themselves in line. The bread is
oiled up and they commence dealing out.
Mess No. l." shouts the hall-boy, in a voice
hat would make him a fortune az keno caller,
Here" and Kinch Malone face is seen through
he window. Sc Five in that mess" sngs out the
10Y, Eve loaves, five pounds of meat and his
tentorian voice echoes all over the building as
iinch makes off under his load of provender.
Mess No. g."
Another villainous face at the window and
more meat and bread vanish, and 80 it goes on,
lntil each mess has been supplied. The same
hing Is going on in the negroes yard and in an ,
Incredible short space of time the three hundred
md twenty-five guests Of Capt. Pegram are all
uppied for the day. few minutes el4pse, and I
here passes along the cry of Tea, oh l''
The cook-house being on the white side it is
necessary for the negro prisoners to go over for
heir tea, which with bread, is their first morn
ng meal, at IL o'clock there being given them |
what 10 more properly termed their breakfast.
The captains OF the colored messes are again
ormed In line, bucket and their rations of meat
n hand The command is giv6n, and the small