Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-11-02
FERD WARD IN SING SING.
Locksfep with Burglar Smith 10
supper on Bread and CoGee-Sef fo
Work To-day Grinding Castings for
stoves.

stoves.
Ferd Wards greatest nxiety after he left the
courtroom in New York, Saturday, was to get
to Sing Sing prison as quickly as possible.
Sheriff Davidson wanted TO wait until the four
O'Clock train, but his prisoner prevailed upon
him To take the 2:3O train. Every one knew
who was on board the train before it left the
station. The result was that the smoking car
was crowded with curious men, and about 900
people gathered on the platform and peered
into the window at which Ward sat. They only
saw thin-faced young man. who looked as
though he might be a theological student ex-
cert that he was smoking a dark cigar with
ciarei-colored coat, and his spirits were OBJ
viouSly improved by the bracing air and the
chatted pleasantly with his companions and
occasionally took a dip into one Of the evening
papers that Was handed him He was about
the last man ON the train who would have been
taken Tor "A feion on his way To prison.
THE JOURNEY To SING SING
Ward lighted a fresh cigar after the train had
got out of the tunnels, and handed one to
Sheriff Davidson.
"They ought to be pretty good he remarked;
81 paid forty cents apiece for them"
When Spuyten Duyvil had been passed and
headed up the river, Ward became less chatty
and sat looking over the white caps that danced
the water To the Palisades, covered with the
faded spendor of the autumn foliage. They
looked cold and melancholy. and seemed to
suggest depressing comparisons to the prisoner.
His face grew pinched and sad, and the old
hunted look that had been observable at times
during the trial came back To his face for a few
moments.
When the brakeman in a loud drawing voice
cried out: Tine next stop is Sizing Si-iingr'
the financier heaved a little sigh and let the
coal of fire on the end of his cigar die away and
go out between his fingers, while his eyes rested
glOomily upon the distant hills over the water.
The journey on the railway was soon over
now, and Ward and his companions went
quickly TO "A carriage that stood in waiting.
The few people about the platform paid little
attention to him. and the carriage drove rapidly
off, followed closely by another that was loaded
down with reporters. Ward had little to say on
the way To the prison, and when he got out of
the carriage he was taken directly down the
stone steps to the heavy iron grating. through
which he was u>hered He was then in the
the presence Of Gatekeeper j. W. TOmpknS, "a
stern-faced man with wary eye and peremp-
tory voice.
IN THE PRISON.
Not unkindly, but with an information of au-
thority, TOmpkins told Ward to fold his arms
and face the wall. This Ward did, standing
with his nose about six inches from the wood
work over the solid masonry. In this position
he was kept tor some five minutes until the
formaliteS of his transfer To the prison au-
thorites had been gO:.e through with. Then
the chief keeper, Mr.. J. COnnaus iItOn. directed
the gate Keeper to open the heavily ironed
Ostken door into the prison proper. Through
this Ward was conducted, and then he was
E:iriy inside the living tomb which he will, in
all probability, not leave for many years 10
come. He looked weary and anxious, but he
kept his courage up we'll and moved promptly
In response 10 orders.
He was taken to the reception room where a
man sat before table in the middle OF the
room with big hook resting open before him.
Fold your arms and stand with your face 10
the WALL, was his first greeting tn Ward.
This looked little mOnotonOuS. but Ward
meekly obeyed, and for ten minutes or more
stood inspecting the paint ON a board at the
close range of about half foot. Then he was
called To the table, where convict Smith who is
II ON a twenty years sentence for burglary,
Ormed his acquaintance, anu conducted him
~ another part OF the WALL and slid mark
down until it pressed upon Wards thick brown
hair. The mark revealed that he measured
five feet eight and a half inches, and the scales
near by told his weight to be just 129 pounds.
with folded hands told his name ana age and
and that he Was born in Geneso. BY occupa-
tfon he banker and broker.
Have you anything in your pOcketSe'
Ward had and proceeded to empty upon the
table "a roll of bills and some coins. gold match
box, two blue neckties, a bunch of keys, soft
1elt hat, and pair of eyeglasses. He was al
lowed to retain the eyeglasses.
How much money is there heree" he was
asked
i don't know" he replied. 81 think about
$50"
There are s1sis7," said the official. at
will be deposited Tor YOU"
Ward then said he used tobacco, drank in
was boy, and was Protestant. These last
Two answers We're made in response to questions
by the chaplain.
HIS FIRST LESSON.
The warden read him a long speech on prison
rules and concluded by saying: Ward YOU
have been sentenced TO ten years at hard labor
and this you will have to do. An honest, fair
days work will be required OF you when you
are IN good health, from 6:15 every morning
until at night, with one hour for dinner The
state allows you three and half years off your
sentence for good behavior. Any insubOrdina-
ton. disobedience OF attempt To escape will for
felt your Claim to this, and L therefore warn
you solemnly 10 obey our regulations. You will
low go To the storerOOm and get your clothes
Ward stood with bowed head and folded arms
curing this speech, and never moved a muscle.
He was then told to sit down on a bench which
he did, and a bundle of clothing was placed be-
side him. 1t was his prison garb. With this
under his arm, and in the charge of keeper he
was marched across the wide yard to take his
bath and be shaved. During his absence Chief
Keeper Connaughton, who has kind face and
gentlemanly address, told the reporters that
ara would be put TO work on the stove con-
tract. on which 900 convicts are employed
He will go to mounting stoves, said Mr..
Connaughton; that is grinding the castings
and putting them together. I think ne will
make a good one. He will be assigned to cell
921, on the nineteenth corridor. Ii is in about
the middle OF the north wing and the window
opposite looks out on the railroad track He
viii have roommate for time. The room
for eight years for assault. Next To him in cell
S2s, Is Mcdonald. who was sent up in 1882 tor
first degree. His other neignbor i'm g26 ia
william Wright, sent up for three years for
burglary. He viii be in a gang OF forty-fve"
IN A STRIPED SUIT
"A Hian ID CONVICT garb, accom- panied by
Keeper. was now Seen coming across the ward
he had a bundle of clothing in his hand .aud
dropped articles from time to time stoonino
awkwardly 10 pick them up. 1t was Ward of
course, In a brand new suit of stripes. with The
crestses standing out firmly down the legs OF
the trousers where they had been folded The
clothing lifted him better than the pepper and
salt suit. and was not unbecOming. He looked
at distance like some of the Genesta Yachts
men in their yachting suits. His little mus
taehe was gone, but il was so small and light
that its absence did not materially change the
expression of his face. His hair was not cut
That Is not done except in case of very long
hair
Ward walked with a springy step and seemed
refreshed by his bath. He was taken to Dr. III
Barber. the prison physician. Here he was put
through more questioning and his lungs were
sounded. The doctors report was:
low vitality and only fair health. No or
Then his head was infinitely inspected for
what might be found IL TO scars and
pointed out u big scar on his neck.
The gangs of prisoners were shutting past to
their eefis, their days work over. By the door
way was long table loaded down with big
slices OF the prison bread. Each prisoner
helped himself 10 as much he wanted as he
passed. They have coffee and bread for their
supper, and they eat ii in their cells Wards
gang lad gone in when he was ready
pat burglar smith Was ordered to take
him In charge. He was now back In the
cnief Keepers room. Ward started UP to fol-
low with his bundle OF bed clothing In his arms
snd put on MS prison cap.