The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-07-10
Sing Sing.


dard Of those III other state prisons of
more modern and improved construc-
tiOn. The visitor who is used to beliey-
ing large and airy bedrooms, with un-
impeded ventilation, necessary to health
and well-being, would recoil on glanc-
ing for the first time into convict's
cell at Sing Sing. Entering by low
broweu and narrow door you come into
a space, for it cannot he called Il room,
only 81 feet wide. Most Of this small
breadth Of space is occupied Dy the bed,
which extends from end to end of the
cell, and is fixed up to the wall during
the daytime. Imagine, i'll addition, u
not over high ceiling, and you have
some idea OF a cell at Sing Sing. a
bucket and Il few washing utensils COM
pletc the furnishings of the cell, though
some OF the convicts have ornamentcd
their ''dens" with pictures and other
articles. The small width Of the cells
is the most obvious defect in the inter-
lor construction Of the prison. For this
as III other cases, no one now connected
with Sing Sing is to, blame. The
present management, as we'll as those
connected with every other good prison
in the land, will admit that 3 feet & i'll
ches is not sufficient width for cell oc-
cupied night after:night hy a.human be-
Ing, and i'll many cases DA two. Passing
along the corridors, looking into the
smaH open doorways, as the% stretch
before and behind in rows of LOO each.
the visitor imagines he is gazing into a
number OF interStices or right-angled
holes, cut into this erect mass Of stone
by some huge machine at regular inter-
vals and OF uniform size. That they are
bedrooms can hardly be realized. The
convictS are marched back to their cells
every evening after supper and are al
lowed lights by which to read until
8 O'Clock, when ''lights out'' is the
order, and sleep is supposed to super
Vene. keepers patrol the corridors all
night. At = the convicts rise, have
breakfast and by 7 o'clock commence
work, returning not to their cells dur
ing the remainder Of the day until work
is over. On Sundays they remain in
their cells all day, except to go to their
meals and return. There is no regular
recreation or walking exercise at Sing
Sing. Work, meals and the cells are
the alternating occupations. Indeed,
II there were amy regular hour allowed
during The day for walking in files or
go-slS-you-please order, there is no suit
S
enclosure large enough to allow 900 or
any large number Of men to parade at
the same time. All the available space
is occupied as sites for the present
buildings, leaving few roadways be-
tween each.
When one comes to the manner Of
pumshments i'll Sing Sing, dangerous
ground is approached. Many have been
the stories published of cruelty in COR
rectng the deniZens Of this institution,
and sadly sensational have been the !'re.
Velations" made by released prisoners
ot what goes Oh behind the bars. a
casual visitor has no opportunity OF ex-
pressing an opinion one way or another
as result of his inspection, for he
merely uses his rcportorial instincts
and describes as well rs he can what he
sees and whathe is told. On the occa-
sion otthe recsent visit the corrcspon-
dent was "taken to what was formoly
used as the punishment room"--;l DIM
ly lit chamber, comfortable looking
enough, boarded half way round. Into
one OF the boards was fixed a hook. upon
which the handouts on a mans wrists
were securely placed, SO that his hands
were held to the wall high above his
head, while his feet were tied to an ar
rangcmcnt in the wall close to the floor.
Lis back was then barred and, under
the old regime, the ''paddle" applied.
The ''paddle," the correspondent was
told, is now a relic only for logging has
been abolished at Sing Sing for nearly IL
year. The 'paddle" is inotfensive
enough to look at. Many people seem
to have an idea that it is q piece Of thin
wood perforated with holes, which
cruelty tear the flesh. 1t is simply IL
piece Of leather, plain, fiat, pliable and
moderately thick, six inches long and
three inches wide, with a rolled handle
about foot long.