Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1881-10-01
SIGHTS AT SING SING.

ibout winch ne says: turning from
;he verdure-clad hills and the park-like
acres which enclose Sing Sing to the i'm
mense buildings which lie at its foot
and within high walls, there is the
place of confinement for state criminals,
where they are dreadfully punished,
and yet so we'll treated that this prison
is Familiarity called the prisoners para
disc. Erected in 1926 and many times
and improved, it has held the
most notorious convicts of this state.
It's stone corridors are we'll worn, the
rutted flags telling Of the tramp of the
army of beings who have by their mis-
doings banished themselves from the So
ciety of their fellow-creatures The long
row of cells look gloomy and dingy and
unrelenting, and one unaccustomed to
this place cannot but see the ghost of
misery within the bars Of each door,
and speculate upon the degradation, re-
morse, the hope and despair of the
WItbCu0S WIZ udN0 OCCuPlCl
The mess room, with its seats for ], 200,
is also suggestive of the keen punish
ment of this prison, for although
there is full and plenty to eat, and such
as is served is excellent, yet to be COM
PEELED to herd with such company
and eat off tin, sitting on stool, is not
In y,1riO11c RI COW tho 1ooct
After tour of the old Jail one is
sternly impressed with the fact that it
is place of punishment. A term in
Sing Sing prison means hard labor,
which man must learn to do, do we'll,
and this while suffering every depriva-
ton that makes life agreeable. This is
the intention, most faithfully carried
out. There are 1900 convicts in the pri-
son, 300 of whom are colored. Besides
the officials and guards there are 800
men each day on the grounds teaching
the convicts the trades. Nine hundred
are employed in the foundries, where
stoves and ranges are made under con-
tract, and the remainder are distributed
in the laundry and shoe shops.
The convicts all look hearty and well.
Those who arrive at the Jail ill generally
come to good health after growing &C.
customed to the regular way of living
early hours, plain food and whole
some labor. Once used to the latter,
they dislike holiday, for that means
being shut in their cells. Sundays,
when they get but two meals, and are
confined from 1890 o'clock A. NJ. until
the next morning, they call He'll day"
How busy place is Sing Sing prison
may be known from it's not only having
become self-supporting, but from its
clearing about $4,000 monthly besides.
There are 40 men in this prison
serving terms for life. Michael Cor
man, who murdered his wife, has been
there the longest time-25 years. He
is an old man, and takes care Of the
chapel. Ishmael Freeman, a colored
Methodist preacher, also wife MUIR
derer, is in for life /; Hayes, who killed
Delaney, has passed nine years of his
life sentence, and. is so we'll behaved
that he is waiter in the principal
keepers Office.
J.Lloyd Haigh is the most noted
criminal in Sing Sing, from his social
position before his disgrace. He is in
the shoe packing department, and like
all the gentlemen prisoners" gives nc
trouble. "Johnny" Hope the bank
burglar, is serving bis eighth term, and
this for twenty years. Ira West, lad
of seventeen years, is imprisoned fol-
life for burning barn, and with the
others who have seen better days, has
to labor with the lowest class O.
criminals, and march to his meals o.
cell with his hands on their shoulders
be they white or black.
Shaving the heads of convicts ha
been abolished at Sing Sing prison
Their hair is cut short and their facei
are shaved weekly. They are not per
mitted to have newspapers, but hooks
and story journals are allowed and sup
piled. Two papers of tobacco week..
are given to each man-nearly all chew
and it is said that many of the femal
, prisoners when there chewed tn
narcotic weed also. Letters may be re
ceived daily and written monthly
Friends are allowed to visit for half a
a hour every two months.
: In conversation with the principt
d keeper, John Dixon, who, for twent
n years, has stood firm and faithfI
i at his post, his views upon punishin
convicts were obtained. Without til
q use of the paddle" or leather impl'
! ment for fogging, Ae states it would /
. impossible to keep in subsection th
- hundreds of desperate characters VII
are sent to prison, and who make an e
fort there to initiate their comrades an