The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-02-09
SlNG-SING'S CEMETERY.
A Convict's Dying Hours and the DISPOSE
ton of His Remains.


On an average ten persons year die
in the prison. and nearly all of those
who have died have been buried in the
prison graveyard and left there undis-
turbed. a few have died by accident
in the workshops. but the percentage
of deaths by accident is so small as to
be scarcely worthy of note. A pris-
oner suffering from consumption is
shown every consideration possible
with prison discipline. His work is
made light, and as soon as he shows
the symptoms of breaking down he is
sent to the hospital. When Ferdinand
Ward was sent to Sing Sing for ten
years there were scores of persons,
among whom were some intimate
friends of Ward, who said that he
would not live year. Wards appear
ance favored this prophecy, for he was
thin, with colorless face, round should
ers and a narrow chest.
He has been used to high living"
it was said, land luxurious quarters,
and rough prison fare and confinement
will kill HIM"
If Ward friends knew as much then
as they have learned since they would
have received the news of his convic-
ton and sentence with Joy. 1t was his
high manner of living that was prov
ing disastrous to his health. Ward
now looks as well and strong as any
q Il
There is luster in his eyes that is
new to them, and lightness in his
step that he did not possess when he
was free.
In the prison grave-yards repose the
bones of about five hundred convicts.
This makes the number of deaths aver
age nearly ten year. The old grave
yard on the slope nearest the river
looks like a deserted Gods acre of old
en- times, A dozen years ago, when
the burying ground was moved further
up the slope, the fence of the old place
was left to take care of itself, which it
had failed to do. The mounds have
been beaten down until they are level
with the ground. The rough wooden
crosses that bear q number correspond
ing to one in big ledger in the prison
in which 4 record of the dead is kept,
stand in Struggling fashion. These
were originally implanted pieces Of
wood nailed together in the the form
of cross and driven into the earth.
The newer graveyard is in q much
better condition. The wooden crosses
are comparatively new, and the num-
berS that are on them can be plainly
seen. At the head of few of the
mounds stand rough stones, crudely
set. Every one of these stones tells
story more pathetic than do many of
the pretentiOuS monuments in big and
finely kept cemeteries. These stones
are all the work of prisoners, who Ia
Dor during hours of leisure as acts of
friendship.
When 4 prisoner is very i'll, and there
seems to be danger that he will die, his
friends are notified. and the iron rule
of the prison is for the time unnoticed.
He is allowed to settle up, in the pres
ence of his friends, all of his worldly
affairs. and to have them about his bed
side until the end comes. There are
occasions, of course, and many of them,
when the prisoner is either absolutely
friendiess or is only anxious to die
without making his shame known to
his friends. When the end comes the
body is then free, and to the friends of
the dead man is given the melancholy
privilege of bearing the body outside
of the prison walls. \ prison funeral
is usually solemn affair. The big
bells that are used in the prison are
always changing out some kind of an
order to the prisoners or a summons to
the keepers, and they always stir
world of echoes in the silent corridors
When n prisoner is dead the fact is
generally well known, and IN unusual
silence is preserved, even for this
dreary place. Then the whisper is
heard that the dead man is to be buried
in the convict ground. The coffin is
brought forth, the body placed in it,
the chaplain reads service, and then
it.is interred.-N y Sun.