The New York herald., 1876-01-17
THE ISLANDS.
wHAr CONVICT SAYS OF THE OPPORTUNITIES
AFFORDED FOR ESCAPE FROM TIE PENTrEN-
TIARY-cHAHGEs AND Reforms

WHAT A CONVICT SAYS OF THE OPPORTUNITIES
AFFORDED FOR ESCAPE FROM THE PEEITEN-
TnRY-cHANGEs AND REFORMS.
The Commissioners Of Charities and Correction, Il
seems are aware Of the fact that unless they take
prompt steps to put stop to the continual escape Of
prisoners and the mysterious murders that are
constantly occurring, a terrible outbreak will take
place ere long 1t that the prisoners are be-
coming bolder and boder and they have little TO fear
from their keepers, providing they all united in
general outbreak To show the actual feeling existing
among the prisoners we give a little conversation
which took place between reporter and Of the
most notorious Of the gang who few days ago at
tempted to escape
REPORTER What caused you to make the effort 10
escape the other day9 Did you expect to get OF from
the Isand2
PRIsoNER-Why we could have got away without
any trouble had not some Of the gang give us away.
bigger lot Of had charge of prison than
the keepers OF the Penitentiry. From the manner in
which things are conducted here there would be no
trouble should feel disposed to provide ourselves
with all the firearms that required but the majority
have desire escape provided they well treated
The only who does give the any consideration
whatever is Warden Fox, the rest act like q lot of
brutes.
REPoRTER-what was the cause Of the disturbance
PRIsoSER-we we're almost choked TO death while
filling in at the upper end OF the Island with ashes 1t
very cold and windy, and we asked to be relieved
until the wind should 90 down. At this request two or
three OF beat over the head VIII CLUB one OF
the men being Knocked senseess know OF three
men who had pistols in their possession at the time,
but they had the courage TO use them II IL had
been me would have shot the damned Keeper
REPoRTER-How would you have managed your es-
cape from the Island had IL been successful breakf
PRIsoSER-Why II would have been the easiest mat
torn ne
different places the Island where boats could be Sc
cured Look at Warden Fox's private boat house The
men are all up stairs and the boat left below. gang
Of us could rush down ana jump into this boat and
shove of, regardless OF oars, and no one be any the
wiser
REPoRrER-Had IL not been for Commissioner Bren-
and Warden Fox some OF you would have escaped,
would you not?
PRISONER tlaughing)-That was the most ridiculous
statement that in the paper, that Commissioner
Brennan up ana cried out, Don't shoot don't
shoot" Every time anything occurs on the Island
always notice that Commissioner Brennan is the first
hand. The fact is, he Us never here when any dis
urbance takes place but he gives the reporters TO nm
derstand that he is the great 81 am" think If a
pistol should be fred by any OF the prisoners in the
vicinity OF the Smallpox Hospital, which is located at
the lower end of the Island in ten minutes Mr..
Brennan would be found the other end of the Island
Some day the citizens Of New York Will wake up and
find the Penitentary left with nothing but petty thieves
Il seems that the Commissioners have been making
investigation among certain officers OF the several
institutions, and during the past week nave removed
Deputy Warden James Brown, of the Workhouse 1t
appears that Browns character had proved TO be
OF the best, and Commissioner Bailey Instituted
an investigation which resulted IN his removal
Warden Keen, Superintendent OF the Workhouse,
who has been lying dangerously i'll for some time past
is rapidly improving He is in his seventy seventh
year. and for the past thrty1ve years has been con-
nected with the different Institutions Peter Daley is
now acting as Deputy Superintendent OF the Work
house.
At Randall's Island most OF the children who are to
be removed under the new law have been transferred
to city institutions by their parents and guardians
Warden Stevens has been removed and John Walker,
Superintendent Of the Idiot Asylum is now IN charge.
The old schoohouse on Randaps Island II is pro-
posed should be turned into female prison. as most
of the female prisoners now housed in the chapel
connected with the Penitentiary.
on Saturday last the Commissioners opened pro-
posals for 800 600 worth OF goods for the several nst
tutons. The guard who 10 be put on duty around
the Island is considered by the Warden and employees
who reside the Island one OF the best steps
taken by the Commissioners