Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-05
WARD sHOVELING ASHES.
His Hands Blistered By His WOrk-He
sleeps Well, Eats Well, Works Well,
and Bas Nothing TO Complain of.

Sleeps wen, Eats Well, works WELL
and Has Nothing to Complain of.
From the Ee,O York Tribune
If visitor TO the Sing Sing prison Mon
day had passed through the two iron
gratings which stand as perpetual senti-
Rels at the gates OF that huge pile of ma
sorry, had then skirted the courtyard
with it's Competing of green set off at its
centre with flowers, had walked thence
down the stone walk toward the Hudson
and turned abruptly to his left, going on
till he came to brick structure, had en-
tered that building and then had de-
scented flight OF steps, he would have
found himselfin asuperheated room where
the pulsations OF mighty engine shook
the walls and where pent-up e-places
gave out tremendous rush Of heat when
their doors were opened. In front of one
large boiler stood barrel partly filed
with coal ashes. Beside it stopped "A man
OF slender form, with a pale face, who
grasped shovel, pushing il into the
ashes under the huge boiler before him,
lifted the stoyeltul and stra ghtoning him
self deposited his load in the barrel All
day long from the breakfast hour till din
ner time and then with an interval for his
midday meal till evening, he kept pa
tlentlY, uncomplaiuingly, at work. He
-
broad, black horizontal stripes. His
name was Ferdinand Ward
He had risen at $50 at the sound OF the
rising bell, and d essed and washed him.
self, taken his bucket in his right hand.
and at 6:lj a.. m, when the prison was
opened for the day, had fallen in as the
ninla man from the leader IN his stove
gang Of forty-hve men, and had marched
from his cell, No 921. down three flights
a 4 Ia nn L.,
step with his left hand on the shoulder OF
the man before him 10 the spot where the
buckets are emptied. Then he resumed
his tramp 10 the mess-roOm. The man i'm
charge Of the gang was Keeper Scripture.
wards seat was nearly in the centre
of The room, nearly filled with its
l,2OOuccupants. His manner was subdued
and as transformations as that OF any
one Of the other 1000 men. He had a
good appetite. He had been relieved Of
the presence OF convict Ulrich, who
passed She first night in a cell with him.
and had slept well; so he ate heartily OF
good beet hash nicely Drowned, with
black cOHee and the wholesome brown
bread for which the prison is famous. AT
l;20 Ward rose from the table, fell in with
his gang, aud the marcn that followed
took him south, then toward the Hudson,
then up the three fights OF stairs TO tho
was ready To take his first lesson In filing
castings. Rut that WAS TO be deferred
until tomorrow. because IL was found
that no bench had been provided for him.
keeper Scripture conferred with Prlnci-
pal Keeper COnnaughton, and it was de.
termined 10 send Ward TO the engine
room 10 shovel ashes. lie was assigned
TO his post, took up his shovel and went
10 work brayely. lie kept on steadily
until the bell sounded at 1850, when be-
washed OILS hands, fell into line as the
gong was struck at noon. marched 20 the
mess-roOm, and part0ok heartily OF pork,
cabbage, potatoes and coffee. At t2.4O
the work-whistlo sounded, and few min.
utus found Ward az work IN front of the
bot fires. He had 20 retreat once I'm
while and go M to the room above 20 seek
temporary relief from the sudocating
temperature.
Alta few minutes Of 4 p. m. a Tribune
reporter was seated IN the room OF Prinei-
pal Keeper tOnnaughtOn. when a sub
ordinate informed the principal kepper
That Ward had eXprl ssed desire to sec
him. MIR. Connaughton sent for Ward,