The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-01-30
The PRISON GRAVEYARD.
cling sings Buryips Ground for Convics.
Death cf Prisoner.
On the side OF n steep hill whose

On the side OF steep hill whose peak
q many hundred feet high, and whose
base IS ut the granite walls OF Sing sing
are two graveyard5 divided by winding
country road. The one nearer the prison
IS tho old plot that was used for burying
dead convicts until the small stretch or
level ground was thickly sprinkled with
ROUGH wooden crosses and small roughly
carved stones, and then a much larger
place turtle. mp the hill was set apart ios
this use.
The big prison has stood on its present
site for more than fifty FEARS, and although
tho number Of convict5 there has In
creased proportioaately with the CROWN
OF tho POPULATION. the average NUMBER OF
deaths within its walls las not increased.
Humanity aad science have cut down the
death rate. On an average ten persons q
wear die IN the prison, and nearly all OF
those who have died have been bur.el IN
the prison graveyard and left there IN
disturbed. 4 few have died By accident
In the work shops, but the percentage OF
deaths by accident Is so small IS 70 be
scarcely worthy Of note. 4 large major
ity Of deaths has hcea caused By con-
sumption, which, however, is rarely con-
tracted within tho prison walls. Aprisoner
suffering from consumption Is shown every
consideration possible with prison Giscip-
line His work is made light, aud as soon
rs lie shows the symptoms OF breaking
down &c IS sent to the hospital
In the prison graycyards repose the
bones OF about 800 convicts. This makes
the number of deaths average nearly ten
n year The old graveyard on the slope
nearest the river looks like a deserted
Gods acre Of olden times. = dozen years
ago, when the burying ground was moved
turthor up the slope, the feuce OF the Ole
place was left 10 take care Of itself, which
It has failed 10 do. The mounds have
been beaten down until they are leye.
with the ground. The rough wooden
crosses that bear u number corresponding
70 one in a big ledger In the prison, in
which record Of the dead IS kept, stand
in struggling fashion. These were origin
ally implanted pieces Of wood nailed to-
Cether in the form Of @ cross, and driven
into the earth. \ few OF them have been
kicked over, but even on those that are
still standing the numbers that were on
them once have been so deiaccd by the
NCUlANL Llllst NIltN N4t EaA.4 NSAs 4~eAbANs
The newer graveyard Is IL q much Bet
ter condition The wooden crosses are
comparatively new, and the numbers that
are on them can be plainly seen. At tic
head o. few Of the mounds stand rough
stones, crudely cut Every one OF these
stones tells q story more pathetic than Go
many Of the pretentious monuments IN
big and finely Kept cemeteries. These
stones are all the work Of prisoners, VINO
labor during hours Of leisure as acts OF
friendship
When prisoner Is very i'll and there
seems 10 be danger that he VII die, his
friends are notified, and the iron rule Of
the prison is for the time unnOt!ced. He
IS allowed TO settle up IN the presence Of
his friends all Of his worldly affairs, ana
TO have them about his bedside until tic
end comes. There are occasions, otcOurse,
and many Of them, when the prisoner j.
either absolutely friendless or is only anx-
ious TO die without making he shame
known 10 his friends. When the end
comes the body is then free, and to the
friends OF the dead man is given the mel
ancholy privilege Of bearing the body out
side of the prison walls. 4 prison funeral
IS usually q solemn affair. The big bells
that are used In the prison are always
Changing out some kind Of an order 10 the
prisoners or q summons TO the keepers
and they always stir world Of echoes in
the silent corridors. When prisoner Is
dead the fact is generally we'll known,
and an unusual silence is preserved, even
for this dreary place. Then the whisper
is heard that the dead man 10 TO be buried
in tho convict ground. The coffin is
brought forth, the body placed in 1t, the
chaplain reads a service and then it g IN
TERED New York Sun.