The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-03
WARDS SUNDAY IN SING SING.
How the Former Millionaire Spent the Day
with Burglars and Murderers.

How the Former Millionaire Spent the Day
with Burglars and Murderers.
New York Special.
Ferdinand Ward did not close his eyes in the
Sing Sing prson-cell last night The prison bell
tangled on his nerves harshly this morning HIS
face was dead white. his lips bloodless. and his
eyes had in them desperate, frightened look.
Hundreds of feet begin to shuttle and stamp,
heavy doors open and shut with startling accom-
paniments of chain rat ting, suddenly all the
cell-doors in the five long, gloomy tiers are
opened and the whole / 300 silent men step out,
and put their hands upon each others shoulders
as they form in line.
Ward is there He puts the tips of his long,
thin fingers on the back of the snllen man ahead
of him. and shivers as he realizes that mis- com
panions hands have been red with human blood.
The slow march begins Ward is at the end of
the stove-moanters' gang. Ii he were in the
middle his awkward attempt at the lockstep
would break up the line. Past hundreds
of dark, yawning cells he goes along the lofty
tier and then down four steep flights of iron.
stairs, out into the open yard, and thence into
the great dim meSs-room, with its of
benches and hundreds of tin-cups and platters.
At one end of the are the sea,npering
cooks, and at the other is Chief Keeper Con-
naughton, tall, grim and keen-eyed. with one
hand toying with his chin and the other grasping
a heavy black thorn club. There is loud rap
and ]. 073 men sit down with a suddenness that
makes Wards hair bristle as he stands alone
Then he sits down slowly and bends over a plate
of hash. Daintily, as if dissecting the flesh of
young partridge, the whilom millionaire picks at
the substantial but depressinely unheroic food.
1t is slow work, but finally the tin plate is
emptied Ward reaches for his quart cup of
Streaming coffee and takes gulp Then his
features soothe as the plebean boot leg" gurgles
down his delicate throat. Burned bread,
mixed with the real bean, doesn't com
pare at all with the delicious draught
of fragrant Java furnished at belmont
co.'s and the Ludow-street Jail. Ward
l. ~~1xo Ill
looks pleased. The bread is sweet and good.
He eats another slice and then he folds his
hands and bows his peaked face upon his breast
Ali the low browed thick necked ruffians in the
room are g)aring stealthy at him. When Ward
becomes aware of the battery of glances ne looks
uneasy, and passes his hand YEARLY across his
face. Two quick, hard raps. Everybody is on
his feet and the line begins to march. The Ro-
man Catholics wheel out and proceed to the laun
dry. All the rest trudge slowly up flight of
steps to the Methodist chapel. The sound of an
organ. low and sweet, steals softly through the
shadows Then it breaks out into loud strains,
but all through it is the sound of marching men,
AT the door of the chapel Ward falters. Then
he bends his head as he enters J. ag low cell
inged room filled with rows of re gh wooden
benches stiff backed and Imprinted. At each
end is an immense picture of the Hudson river.
seen through brick arches. 1t is the fancy of
some poor prison-p enned artist. In the front of
the hail platform surrounded by yellow
sits at the organ, and seven other convicts with
viols and clarionets suddenly sent burst of
loud music through the room. Ward sits in the
middle of bench thirty feet from the pulpit
with its open Bible. A burglar rubs elbows with
him on one side and man -saughterer on the
other. The pale mans eyes wander The choir
sings twill Jesus Find Us Watching? and six
hundred voices roar out the words in harmony.
Ward is silent and trembling. Now the choir
sings ..Wbv Do You Waltz Ward starts in
1,,sti ly in 81 appO 10
the next hymn. nodaing his head gently and beat
ing time with his little foot as he sings Gray
haired Parson Edgarton utters simple sermon,
and little jolly Brother Brown talks common
sense and wrestles vigorously with Satan. The
choir sings Waiting and Watching for Me- and
quartet murmurs Eternity"
The next moment handsome young fellow
advances to the front of the platform and rem
ders 'Oh, Fair Dove Oh, Fond Dove" in
sweet baritone voice, after which deep bass
voice declams I'VE Gather Them In"
It's all over, and the long line marches down
again. Ward empties his sop-bucket with the
rest takes his loaf of bread and three quart can
of apple sauce on his bent arm, and shuffles back
to his CELL
Such was the first Sabbath of the great Napo
leon of finance in prison. When Keeper Tier
man came around the prisoner eagerly asked
about the prison rules, and wondered how other
men stood confinement IF have nothing but
prison food offered me- he said, bitterly, III
starve."
oh no. you WON'T" said the kind hearted
keeper: you'll get fat on it, Keep stout heart,
and you'll be all right yet"
Warden Brush said that Ward would be treat
ed as an ordinary convict. His money could not
procure him any immunity from the common
lot Chief Keeper ConnaughtOn said that Ward
only weighed 129 pounds when he arrived at the
prison, but would weigh at least 135 pounds
within six months. Ward has been assigned to
work on the second floor of the stove mounting
shop, his task being to fit the rough castings be-
fore they are finished The work is easy and
comparatively clean. He will begin his labor at
7:3O o'clock to morrow morning and end it at 4
in the afternoon. The State will receive fifty
six cents a day for his services From the little
window at which his wise and tools are located
the prisoner can the lovely green Kinder
hook and the smooth river ripping softly through
its soping shores toward the great city in which
he broke one great heart and wrecked SO many
lives and fortunes.