Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-12-09

We have all natiOnalities
That came across the main
From ON the suOw-ciad hills OF Russia,
To Germany, France and Spain:
The Englishlnan and Scotchman
And likewise Erin's son,
Are all hqddlsd mp together,
Oh! they talk OF Libby prison,
And likewise AndersOnvllle,
But If you'd seen this pest house,
1t would give to you q chill.
TO listen to the arguments,
Than in humber Eighty One.
As gaze out of the window,
And look into the yard,
1 see victuals scattered around me;
tell you 1t is hard.
But my time Is very short,
And soon will be gone,
But pity these unfOrtunates.
That's confined In Eighty One.
They are all shapes and sizes.
Some lost a leg or arm,
Men with snow white locks.
That have faced many storm.
Likewise soldiers and sailors
Who stood nObly by their guns.
So this is their reward for it,
While confined in Eighty One.
We have blind men. deaf ones too,
And likewise Il few crankS,
Tradesmen, likewise fishermen,
It's from Newfoundland banks.
There is no respects for old age,
From father down to son.
They all live on bread and water,
While confined in Eighty One.
IT they call this Christianity,
don't know what to say;
But hope God will forgive them,
Upon the Judgment day.
He may forgive, but not forget,
But the time will surely come.
When they must stand mp side by side.
With those in Eighty One.
SO now my song Is ended,
And am much obliged to you
For giving me your attention.
To these few lines so true.
So now eat my breakfast.
For the beefsteak 1t Is done;
wish could pass some of 1t
Into number Eighty One.
The author of the above was very much
in earnest. He wanted to print the burn
ing recital Of his wrongs, and as it is q lit
tie fervid, representative of the 1NTELLI.
GENCER stro!lcd out to the Jail yesterday
to see how much of poetic license our bard
took.
Not much.
Things at " Bummer Hail. arc good
deal as no tells them.
As Watchman F. G. Albright opened
the door Of "S1' - a sight to make one
shudder presented itself. This hall - Or
cell is the northern part of the ground
floor of the new brick building erected in
the Jail yard some years ago. 1t is large
room, with grated windows, we'll heated
by q basement furnace, has a hydrant, a
water closet, walls, ceiling and floor.
That is all the furniture.
As VIC stood at the grating, inside the
door which the turnkey had opened, the in
mates pressed to the front. They were
twenty-one in number and the first glance
at them inspired disgust and almost terror.
They were nearly all barehcaded. three or
four of them wore no shirts, several had
no shoes, the feet of enc Of them were
each mass of sores and he piteously mis-
took the visitor for a doctor few were
fully clothed the vermin could almost be
seen to crawl over some the scant cloth
ing, brutality of features and filthy sur
roundings of the group made them very
repulsive-
At first glance.
Nearer inspection OF them and individ-
ual examination, disclosed that after all,
they were very. like the common run Of
men and, when conversed with and in in
telligent conversation, they revealed that
the apparent terrible character of the in
mates of Bummer's hall is due very much
to the character of the institution. There
are few low, dirty, brutal looking fellows
there who do nor seem to have much exis-
tence above that Of the animal, but Of the
score or more of men in "Eighty-One
yesterday the most Of them, in decent
clothes. would pass anywhere for decent
men. Two or three Of them, spokesmen
for the party, appeared to be
intelligence, who admitted that they
boI I,oov, <lw,,uL Int <hov xvoro n
to work if they could get it. One old man
of fine presence would pass for senator
in claw hammer coat he says he has
followed boating for thirty years and only
happened "on a shine' in Columbia.
Another, little Irishman, says he worked
in the country all summer and just took
few drinks before going to job at Best's
boiler works. One stout young fellow, who
gives the name of au old Lancaster family
and calls two prominent business men of
the city his uncles, says he went to the
station house for nights lodging and
was sent up here for he don't know how
many days. Several say they were eds
orderly" in that they rode on freight
trains, and quite number declare that
they were induced by officers to give them
selves up on promise of getting good shell
ter and keep.
No doubt some of them lie about it.
But the worst Offense they have been
guilty of is drunkenness and disor'lerly con-
duct and their commitments range from
five to ninety days.
We have said the furniture of the place
is a hydrant. Their mattress is the floor
and their covering the ceiling, their bed
curtains are the walls.
When we asked them what they got to
eat there was loud responsive murmur.
sect me that ration" cried one Of the
spokesman. a stumpy little fellow
darted into a corner and brought out
a quarter of loaf of bread. The under
keeper answered: :'They each get a pound
of bread day." Scveralresponded Eyes
that's what you say, but we don't get it
not more than ten ounces" The ration
submitted to us certainly did not weigh
over ten ounces. 1t takes big loaf, of
very mean bread, for quarter of a loaf to
weigh pound or anything near it.
Since November the rations at Bum
mers hall have been reduced to this pound
or ten ounce lump-of bread every |
morning. On Tuesday and Friday they
get soup.
They can also get water at the hy!rant.
As much as they want to drink.
Bread and water; and water and bread. |
The inmates are obliged to keep the !
place clean. 1t is dirty. They are dirty.