Wichita eagle., 1888-01-31
THE PRISON GRAVEYARD.
Sing Sings Burying Ground for Convicts.
Death of q Prisoner.

| Dihk 1rOuNu COnVlctS.
Death of q Prisoner.
On the side of steep hill whose peak
| is many hundred feet high, and whose
base IS at the granite walls of Sing Sing,
are two graveyards divided by a winding
| country road. The one nearer the prison
| is the old plot that was used for burving
dead convicts until the small stretch of
level ground was thickly sprinkled with
rough wooden crosses and small roughly
| carved stones, and then a much larger
place further up the hin was set apart for
this USE
The big prison has stood on its present
site for more than fifty years, and although
the number Of convicts there has in
| creased proportionately with the growth
of the population, the average number Of
deaths within its walls has not increased.
Humanity and science have cut down the
death rate. On an average ten persons a
year die in the prison, and nearly all Of
those who have died have been buried in
the prison graveyard and left there I'M
disturbed. A few have died by accident
in the work shops, but the percentage of
deaths by accident is SO small as to be
scarcely worthy of note. A large major
ity Of deaths has been caused by con-
sumption, which, however. is rarely con-
tracted within the prison walls. A prisoner
suffering from consumption is shown every
consideration possible with prison discip-
line. His work is made light, and as soon
as he shows the symptoms of breaking
down he is sent to the hospital.
In the prison graveyardS repose, the
bones of about 500 convicts. This makes
the number of deaths average nearly ten
year. The old graveyard on the slope
nearest the river looks like a deserted
God acre of olden 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 has failed to do The mounds have
been beaten down until they are level
with the ground The rough wooden
crosses that bear number corresponding
to one in 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-
gether in the form of a cross, ard driven
into the earth. A 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 defaced by the
weather that they are scarcely legible.
The newer graveyard IS in much bet
ter condition. The wooden crosses are
comparatively new, and the numbers that
are on them can be plainly seen. At the
head of few of the mounds stand rough
stones, crudely cut. Every one Of these
stones tells a 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
labor during hours of leisure as acts of
friendship.
When a 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 presence Of
his friends all of his worldly affairs, and
to have them about his bedside until the
end comes. There are occasions Of course,
and many of them. when the prisoner is
either absolutely friendless or is only anx-
ioUs 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 mel
ancholy privilege of bearing the body out
side of the prison walls. A 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 summons to the keepers,
and they always stir a world OF echoes in
the silent corridors When a prisoner is
dead the fact is generally well known,
and an 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 cofin is
brought forth, the body placed in it, the
chaplain reads service and then it Is IN
TERED. New York sun.