Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-26
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NEXT!
bathing hour for only few men had preceded
me i'll that particular bath. The liquid in the
tub had not therefore become too thick or too
sticky to perform Its cleansing duties. Another
man was in the tub with me and we did not in
terfere with each others movcm ents for the
tub was large enough. In'the opposite corner
OF the same end OF the room was another tub.
and in this the colored prisoners dipped them
selves and were theoretically made clean.
Even as had been hurried into the bath SO
was hurried out, the principal object of the
officers being to have as many persons as posi-
BILE go through the dumb show of washing off
weeks CRIME rather than to see how clean the
men could make themselves. 1 stepped out of
the warm water on the brick floor and
ASKED FOR A TOWEL.
1t was pointed out to me, and must confess
that had it not been introduced to me never
would have recognized it. 1t was an old rice
terlai which would naturally unfit it for the
uses to which it had been applied. In addition
to its many other disadvantages it was soaking
wet, and instead of drying me it simply added
to my moistness Without having derived any
advantage from my acquaintance with it hung
it upon its appointed nail and proceeded to
scramble into the clothes which were handed
to me. The first article was blue hickory"
shirt, too short in the body, too long in the
arms, and too thin for winter wear. pair of
stout drawers was the next garment l crawled
into, and then / put on pair of socks. The
socks were marvels Of the workhouse SOCK
repairer's art. They were patched and darned
until they had lost all semblance of their origi-
nal shape and color. Then came the striped
pants, upheld by the same strap which had
done duty as part of my tramp costume.
A vest, short jacket, and my own shoes COM
pleted the toilet. and then was marched up
stairs, after having first my civilian outfit
tied up and taken away to be steamed.
The "habitual drunkard,' who had been
with me all day and who had been fellow
passenger in the van was nowhere to be seen,
and for a little while l wondered where he had
gone; then l recolected that he was on terms
of at least friendship with Mr.. Stoutenburgh,
the intendant. so 1 worried myself no more
about him. l subsequently ascertained that
he escaped the ordeal of the public mud-bath.
IN QUARTERS.
We late arrivals sat for some time on the
long seat in the hall, and when the bread for
supper came in, piece of it, weighing proba-
bly, about four ounces, was handed to each of
US. / was hungry, for neither food nor drink
had passed between my lips for more than
twenty-four hours, but my appetite was hardly
whetted to such an extent that it longed for
dry bread. Before any of us had time to make
much of an impression on our allowances We
were ordered upstairs. The regular supper hour
had not yet arrived, and most of the prisoners
were either going to Or returning from the
bathroom. We waited awhile, in the confu-
sion on the second floor, and then we were sep
arated-I being assigned to cell No. IL. Here
received hearty welcome from three of
the prisoners already in possession. They
were getting ready for the bath, and in a
minute or 80 after my arrival in their midst
they had joined the band of unwashed pill
grfms who found their Mecca in the base
ment. The bathing was Of the most per-
functory description, for the occupants of No.
IL had hardly been gone long enough to make
the round-trip before they returned.
'You didn't have much OF wash?" said to
the foremost.
Didn't have to-" was his reply. ''The keep
ers are in too d-n much hurry to give fellow
a chance. I just jumped in and out again; put
on the clean rags they gave me, and here I
am"
"How do you expect to keep yourself clean p
queried.
Don't expect TO-" was the ready and care
less response.
must confess to having then and there in
dulged in a little shudder at the thoughts of
close association with the dirt that knew must
be in my immediate neighborhood.
Supper was a little late on Saturday night.
It had to be delayed considerably because sew
eral of the prisoners unreasonably insisted on
doing their utmost to cleanse themselves in the
bath. 1t must have been a lamentable failure
in most instances, however for one of the men
VINO was down In the tuD after pretty nearly
every one else had bathed told me that
THE WATER WAS SIMPLY DISGUSTING.
little additional hot water had been turned
on once or twice during the bathing hour, but
the great bulk Of the alleged cleansing fluid
had remained in the tub throughout the entire
time. More than seventy-fve white men had
laved their bodies in the same water, while on
the opposite side Of the room over 100 colored
men and boys had succeeded each other with
out a change!
HOW SUPPER WAS SERVED.
The cry of "all in, men," sounded through
the corridor in which my cell was, and the
prisoners scampered in obedience to the COM
mand. One of our mess placed four tin quartz cups
outside the door, and man came along with
huge tin vessel, through the spout of which he
poured out tea. Then the bread was handed
around-a colored man carrying it in basket
to each cell door. keeper followed, and
after much rattle and bang he closed each
grating and locked the crowd in for the night
1t was strange meal. / sat on the edge of
my bunk, as did the others. First would take
a bite of bread, and then swallow of tea to
moisten it, but the harsh taste of the unsweet-
ened and coarse, cheap compound was less
palatable than the slightly calculated flavor
which marked the Bread. SO would indulge in