The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-06

He Sleeps Well, Eats Well, Works Well, and
Has Nothing to Complain Of

He Sleeps Well, Eats Well, Works Well, and
Has Nothing to Complain OF
New York Tribune.
If a visitor to the Sing Sing prison yesterday
had passed through the two iron gratngs which
huge pile of masonry, had then skirted the court
yard with its earpeting of green set off at it's
center with flowers, had walked thence down the
stone walk toward the Hudson and turned
abruptly to his left, going on till he came to a
brick structure, had entered that building and
then had descended fight of steps, he would
have found himselfin a superheated room where
the pulsations of mighty engine shook the
walls and where pent-up fire p laces gave out
tremendous rush of heat when their doors
were opened In front of one large boiler
stood barrel partly filled with coal ashes
Beside it stopped man OF slender form,
with pale face, who grasped shovel, pushed
it into the ashes under the huge boiler before
him, lifted the shovelful and strengthening him
self deposited his load in the barrel. All day
long from the breakfast hour till dinner time
and them with interval for his midday
meal till evening, he kept patiently. uncom-
gray, with it's broad, black horizontal ripes.
His name was Ferdinand Ward.
He had risen at $50 at the sound of lsing
bell, had dressed and washed himself, tan IN his
bucket in his right hand, and at 6l5 A. NJ, when
the prison was opened for the day. had fallen in
as the ninth man from the leader in his stove
gang of forty five men and had marched from
his cell, No. 927, down three flights of stairs to
the first floor, thence in lock step with his left
hand on the shoulder of the man before him to
the spot the buckets are emptied. Then he
resumed his tramp to the mess-room. The man
in charge of the gang was Keeper Scripture.
Wards seat was nearly in the center of the
room nearly filled with it's l. 200 occupants His
manner subdued and as transformations as
any one of the other ], 200 men. He had good
appetite He had been relieved Of the presence
of convict Ulrch, who passed the first night in
a cell with him, and had slept well; so he ate
heartily of good beef hash nicely Drowned, with
black coffee and the wholesome brown bread for
which the prison is famous At 7:20 Ward rose
from the table. fell in with his gang, and the
march that followed took him south, then to-
ward the Hudson, then up three flights of stairs
to the top floor of the stove mounting shop. He
was ready to take his first lesson in filling cast
ings. But that was to be deferred until to NOR
row, because it was found that no bench had
been provided for him. Keeper Scripture con-
ferred with Principal Keeper Connaughton, and
it was determined to send Ward to the engine
room to shovel ashes He was assigned to his
post took up his shovel and went to work brave
ly. He kept On steadily until the bell sounded
at l1:30 when he washed his hands, fell into
line as the gong was struck at noon, marched to
the mess ROOM and partook heartily of pork,
cabbage, potatoes and coffee. At 12:40 the work
whistle sounded and few minutes found Ward
at work in front of the hot fires. He had to
JT6dG once III Wnlle anu 20 To TOOTH ABOVE
to seek temporary relief from the suffocating
temperature
At few minutes of p NJ. a Tribune report
seated in the room of Principal Keeper
Connaughton, when subordinate Informed the
principal keeper that Ward had expressed de-
sire to see him. Mr. Connaughton sent for Ward,
who dropped his shovel and came to the Office. He
entered the room, cap in hand, and recognized the
visitor, saying somewhat hesitatingly, How
are youa' Then he paused as if to be spoken to.
lie liar hyniS &c die
tinct and striking characteristic. His salutation
was returned by the reporter, who had frequent
ly conversed with him in Ludlow-street Jail.
Mr.. Connaughton said there was no objection to
conversation, and so Ward was asked how he
was getting along.
Very well" was his quiet reply; 81 am sure
have nothing to complain Of"
Have you begun your work here yetP
''Well, yes; have been shoveling ashes to-
day"
do you find it hard work?"
Ward hesitated, and glanced at Mr. Con
naughton, who promptly said: eve have moth
ing to conceal here, and always speak the truth.
The work is not hard for used to manual
work He will get used to it after a little"
Then Ward said: "Well, l do find it pretty
hard work You see I'm not used to this kind
of thing"
"Have you done manual labor beforeg"
mo, have not"
'.You haven't blistered your hands, hope"
said his visitor
well, have, though" Ward replied, smiling
family for the first time. He extended his left
hand and showed blister as large as pea on
the inside of his left thumb. He added that he
had found the heat pretty strong" and had had
to seek the upper air several times for breath
ing SPELL II don't know how long can stand
this he said, thoughtfully, ''but am going to
do my best | am here. and l shall do every
thing am told to the best of my ability"
"Do you feel the result of the days work
much2"
Eyes, l do" was the frank reply, and Ward
added, with shrug of doubt: "It's pretty tough
work, and feel played out" A few words fol-
lowed, and then with hand shake Ward was
left few minutes with Mr.. Connaughton He
wanted to see the principal keeper to ask
the privilege of writing letter to his wife This
was granted, and then Ward returned to his
shovel, saying goodbye" to his caller as he
passed through the door.
Ward" said a convict clerk who occupied a
desk in an adjoining room, 'has already won the
good will of every man with whom he has come
in contact He is so gentlemanly and delicate
so submissive and wiling that there isn't a
man here who will not lend him helping hand.
AT this rate the hardest criminals mere will take
to him in few days. He is not at all stuck
up as some keepers have said; but he makes
himself one of US, and has the good will of us all