River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-10-21
An FIX Conyict's food Work.


faithfully in the laundry, and wen
keep the place open for you for six
weeks. You're sure to come back by
that time"
The speaker was Warden Clark, of
Sing Sing prison. He and Keeper
Conarton were liberating Michael
Dunn, who had served, up to that time,
thirtv-fve years in American and Eng
fish prisons. This was on February %,
1873. Dunn, to the surprise Of the
prison officials, failed to return to Sing
Sing, and it was conjectured that he
had left the country. Such, however
was not the case When he reached
New York, friendless and with only the
few dollars that had been given him by
the state prison association, he visited
Jerry McAuley's meeting, in Water
street. He was soon interested i'll the
work going on there, and he became
convinced that he could ameliorate the
condition of released criminals like
himself who were suddenly thrown
upon the world without recommends
ton or friends Assisted by Mr. A. 5.
Hatch of Messrs. Hatch & Foote, bank
ers, he opened a house of industry, at
305 Water street. He knew how to
deal with convicts He ascertained
when the terms of his fellow prisoners
would expire, and on their arrival
in New York he invited them to his
place. There they were at once set
at work shOemaking or shawl making.
In case they could do neither, he found
other employment for them.
10
the morning paper and read carefully
the labor columns. As soon as | found
something that one of my friends
could do | gave him his breakfast and
sent him out to apply for the place"
In this manner he found employment
he says, for nearly 800 now during the
last thirty months. Besides this he
has found ships for over POO sailors,
who, having spent all their money, had
been cast into the streets by the keep
ers of sailor boarding-houses The
sailor, as soon as he gets ashore after a
long cruise, is sure to become the prey
of the land sharks. VIGOROUSLY inn
provident, he soon gets rid of his hard
earned money. Then if the boarding
house keeper can get a ship for him,
he draws two or three months pay in
advance, to pay for clothes, and what
are too often Barmecide repasts. In
toxicated and ragged, Sack is hoisted
mp the side of the ship, together with
many more in the same condition, and
the anchor is weighed. This is the
class of sailors that Dunn gets hold of
before it is too late. Not long ago, a
sailor crazy with delmium tremens, who
had been elected from a boarding
house near by, was picked up by Dunn
and his wife. They dragged him into
the Home and put him to bed, Yes
terday the man seemed so well pleased
with his new quarters that he was
afraid to go into the street lest he
| should fall into one of the many pits
laid by land sharks; for these are to
the sailor what the barnacle is to the
ship, and no complete cure has yet
been found for either pest.
Over the door of 305 Water street. Is
the legend, michael Dunn, Shoemak-
err" Within, several ex-cOnvicts were
at work yesterday making shoes, while
others were knitting shawls. Near the
door solemn-faced young man, with
palette and brush, was painting fancy
scrolls to be hung on the walls. On
one of these is pictured prisoner in
his cell weeping over the figure of his
mother, who is kneeling on the stone
| floor beside him.
Dunn is sustained in his work by w.
R. Bliss, of West Eleventh street, and
Olive Harper, as well as by Mr.. Hatch.
Notwithstanding this assistance, he is
very poor He exhibited yesterday a
pawn ticket, showing that last week he
had raised 1926 on his coat.
"You see" he said, "as soon us | get
| a man whose time has expired in the
! penitentiary try to find work for him.
Sometimes it takes a week and some
times more. If he earns only two dol
lars week charge him fifty cents for
board. If he earns three dollars | charge
him one dollar, and if he earns four
dollars week charge him $50 for
| board.-NeU York Sun.