The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1885-07-22
A CONVICvS PRISON LIFE.
Daily ROUTINE OF TIE PRISON
ERs AT SING SING.
Furnishing Refractory Prisoners
work Of the ConvictS-Their Dntly
ISflI of Fare-The Sick Roll.

8NHt " NAAG AUNANAtNE- n hNAA AFaAAA
IStlI of Fars-The sick Roll.
Sing Sing prison has convict popu-
lation of 1860. AS there are only 1,2S4
cells, number Of them have two occu-
pants, much to the delight of those who
are paired. Life in Sing Sing is not
what it was, and for this keepers and
convicts are devoutly thankful. Prison
ers are no longer treated MS If they were
brutes, aud they have shown that kind
ness is not thrown away on them. There
are ten dark cells in the prison. Under
the old regime these cells were seldom
empty, and the sound of the paddle and
the curses of the poor wretches on whom
it was being laid could be heard at all
hours. The paddle has gone out Of
fashion. 1t has been superseded by a
punishment as efficacious as it is simple.
The punishment most in vogue for pris-
oners who refuse to obey orders is an in
vention of Chief Keeper Connaughton.
Two uprights, with slots in them, are
fastened against the wall about three feet
apart. Fitting neatly into the space be-
tween them is broad board, which can
be moved up or down on the principle
of an elevator. In the center of the
board is a steel hook. The candidate
for punishment is handcuifed. He is
stood up in front of the board. The
chain which fastens the handouts is
thrown over the iron hook in the board.
Then the latter is gradually raised until
the victim is standing on tip toes, with
his whole weight depending on his
wrists. Around the latter are the thin
steel cuffs, which cut into the flesh with
out drawing blood. The pain is excru-
ciating, and is increased, if that were
possible by the efforts of the victim to
change his position in a vain attempt to
lessen the agony. The toughest crimi-
nal in the prison has never taken a Sec
ond dose of this punishment The first
trial is always sufficient. The victim is
lowered upon crying Enough" Few
have been able to endure the pain for
more than thirty seconds, but one man
stood it for minute and twenty-five
seconds. When he was lowered it was
found that he had bitten his lower lip
through in his efforts to Withstand the
punishment without giving tongue to his
agony. There are eighty-fve officers of
all grades in the prison. Forty-five of
these are keepers. These are arswerable
to the chief keeper for the proper per-
formance of their duties, as he is in turn
to Warden Brush.
During the day the difference between
the lot of keeper and that of prisoner
is very slight, and is, if anything, in
favor of the prisoner. The latter is en-
ployed, while the keeper stands on a
raised platform in the center of huge
rfr IN, xtyhfnb krn ~
ate men are at work, and upon these men
the keeper is compelled to keep his eyes
at all times. During the day there is no
rest for him. He stands with his hand
much of thestime on the handle of re-
volver, with every sense alert. Not a
motion of the throng under his eyes es-
capcs his attention. Conversation be-
tween the men is forbidden, and the
sound of human voice is seldom heard
from morning until night in the busy
workshops of the great prison. Com.
paratively few of the prisoners are unem-
ployed. Nine hundred and twenty nine
of them are engaged in stove making.
Three hundred stoves of various sizes
and patterns are made every day in Sing
Sing. They are sent to all parts of the
world almost, and every prisoner engaged
in making them is presented with plug
of tobacco at the close of each week.
This is customary on all contract work.
Two hundred dozen of shirts are washed,
starched and ironed in the prison pei
day. Some of the prisoners become
wonderfully expert ironers, and two Of
three out of 130 men employed in this
department are so dexterous that theil
tasks are invariably finished before noon
When employed on certain kinds o
work prisoners are given task. The,
can work quickly or slowly so long a
the task is finished when the whistle
blows for knocking off. If they fnisI
their tasks three or four hours be
fore the regular hour for stopping
work they are allowed to retire to thei
cells, where they can read and smoke O
go to sleep. Three hundred men ar
engaged in making boots and shoes
They make 300 pairs per day, or nearl,
~ pairs per man. The boots and shoe
are all made with the aid of machinery
One machine makes wooden pegs anC
drives them into place in the shoe O
boot about fifty times as fast as an ex
pert workman could do the work. |
keeps a man busy to supply this pegginj
machine with soles. Another machin
makes steel screws, cuts them off a prope
length, and screws them in place j
countless soles in an hour. One man
task is to put heels on 800 pairs q
boots per day. He begins work at sevei
o'clock in the morning, has an hour fo
dinner, and has generally finished hi
task at three o'clock. He does it wit
the aid of a machine. which heels a PAL
of shoes in less time than an ordinary gil
can wink, even if she be in a grea
hurry and it's last chance.
The prisoners make their own clothes
They also make their own tobacco, bot
smoking and chewing. The head ma
in the tobacco department among tn
convicts Is Steve Raymond. He has th
distinction of being the only man VIII
was ever sentenced to Imprisonment fc
life in this State for forgery. There ar
at present in Sing Sing sixty-fve mul
derera serving life sentenpRs TwO-third