Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-25

Morning came at last and was about to en-
ter upon the first day Of prison routine. With
the first graEtreaks Of dawn there were three
shrill whistles followed by great CHATTER and
confusion in the upper tiers which could be
plainly heard through the iron cravings over
head that take the place OF flooring. The con-
fusion was occasiOned by the tiersmen-prison-
ers who are released from their cells during the
day to keep the corridors and cells clean and to
give out the food or chuck to the several
cells. They had been released by the night
xuardsman to begin the work of the day. Fl
nally they reached our tier-about ten of
them-headed by the guard with a great re-
hecting lantern, for the interior of the iaiI was
yet dark and gruesome. One of the tiersmen
with strong voice. shouted, Buckets Quit
Put out your buckets" as the guard unlocked
each cell door. Then the tiersmen came along
with rush-they generally do everything with
q kind Of cyclonic unconventional seizing
the buckets hustled them off to the sink at the
end OF the corridor, where they we're quickly
washed and then returned to their proper cells
The iron doors were quickly locked and after
m interval of about fifteen minutes, which
was spent by the prisoners in making up their
beds and sweeping out the cells, one of the
rersmen. with large iron bucket provided
with long spout, came along the corridor
shouting in dull monotone:
Water to wash your face. Put up your
basins"
As he passed along the prisoners held their
basins close up 10 the bars of their cell doors
and had them filed with water The jaiI au-
thOrities DO not provide towels and the men
used whatever kind of cloth they had in the
cells to dry their faces and hands, must con-
fess that l was compelled to use my pocket
handkerchief. which proved to be a very unsat-
lsfaeiory towel indeed. Five minutes later an
other tiersman with a spou.ed bucketful of
water came along shouting:
Cool C-o-o-l! Water to drink! Gil. il
Git it,
And up went the tin quart cups 10 the bars
With a CHATTER as the prisoners each received a
cooling draught- This process OF serving drink
ing water Is followed every hour during the
day, and whatever else you can say about con-
nnement in the District Jail none OF the prison
srs need suffer with thirst The above is en-
acted every morning between 8 and 8 o'clock
At the latter hour the watchmans whistle again
sounds It is followed by a rush of feet and
considerable noise In the rotunda; then several
of the tiersmen shout in chorus:
CHUCK up" Chuck up!'
This means, when translated. that breakfast
b ready TO be served. The prisoners take
their places at the iron doors Of their cells tin
cup In hand, and await the coming of the tiers
men with the chuck" After a few moments
wait the cry Is heard at the far end Of the cor
idor:
Coffee. Hot coffee. Cups up."
The prisoners hold their cups up to the bars
and receive quart cupful OF black coffee from
great can with a long spout. The coffee
man then proceeds to the upper tier repeating
the cry Of Coffee, hot coffee" at short inter-
walls as be proceeds from cell to cell. Next
comes the bread men, two Of them carrying q
large basket filed with bakers bread cut nm
into half loaves. They sing out a. they move
rapidly along the corridors:
Hands out"