San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-02-26
SUNDAY IN A PRISON.
aurderers snd Thieves Who Sing Nearer,
My God, to Thee"

My God, to Thee"
Six hundred men in striped clothing lis
tened to the sermon of the Rev. Mr.. Barn
will at the prison church in Jacksonville
Yesterday morning, says The Louisville
Times Since breakfast the cells had been
OPEN and the men sat about in the corridors
amusing themselves by singing, telling
stories and in divers ways.
1t was curious, yet withal a sad sight.
Among them were great, powerful fellows,
with splendid muscles and intelligent faces
men who, had they stuck to the paths of
honesty, might have ranked high among
their fellows in social and political life.
Then there were scores of low browed con-
victs, with the peculiar hang dog look that
always characterizes sneak thief, who did
not seem at all out Of their proper sphere.
There were large men and small men, fat
men and lean men and ugly men; in fact,
every type of mankind could have been Sc
lected from among them. There were many
present whom the reporter knew in happier
times.
Towering high above all the rest was the
figure of man who now owns one OF the
finest farms in Clark county and who once
stood among the foremost in his neighbor-
hood 1t was Jack Robinson, who is serving
a life sentence for killing his neighbor, Sam
uel Hay, in a quarrel about the boundary
lines of their farms
He is over 70 years of age, his hair and
beard are long and gray, and it is apparent
that his sentence will be short one.
Looking about him the reporter saw
dark bearded man eyeing him intently. 1t
was Edward McDermott, a man with whom
many years ago the writer played at school,
Upon every hand there were murderers,
forgers, sneak thieves embezzlers and men
who previously obtained a livelihood by
ways that are dark and tricks that are
vain"
At II o'clock the big bell on the top of the
prison sounded, and the men quickly formed
into line and marched up to the chapel in
single file. Each had his right hand on the
shoulder of the man in front of him.
The first rows were first filed then the
second, and so on until every seat was
taken. A space in the rear right hand cor
ner was reserved for the colored convicts
On the right side of the pulpit is a space
reserved for visitors, and here the reporter
sat, while on the left is the little organ and
the benches for the choir A smooth faced,
youthful prisoner took his seat at the instru-
ment, while the choir, the members of which
all wore stripes, took their seats.
The little organ responded to the touch of
the convict player, and the choir sang,
Nearer, My God, to Thee" as well as they
render it in most churches where the mem
bers are free. Several other songs were sung,
and then the chaplain preached an eloquent
sermon.
Every man listened attentively through
out, and there were tears in the eyes of many
when the good man had concluded Then
another song was sung, the benediction was
pronounced and the men slowly filed out
to dinner.
In the afternoon they were again let out
in the cell house until 4 o'clock, when they
were locked up for the night This is a fair
sample of the way every Sunday in the year
is spent.