The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-27
SINGING CONYICTS.
Unique Entertainment in smoking Car on
the Road to Albany.

to New York occupied two OF the big settees In
the room OF the New York Central Railroad in
the Grand Central Station recently while walt
ing for the 9:10 morning express. Other pas
sengers looked at them curiously. as IL
they were dime museum freaks or equally
strange beings. The men did not resent the
inspection. but seemed to enjoy it. Mono OF
the inquisitive strangers spoke to them. or
approached within ten feet OF them. Fourteen
OF the seventeen men were united by
bond harder to break than any sentiment
that was ever discovered It was a
chain OF steel. the links OF which were
IN inch In thickness. Tho fourteen pairs OF
hands wero in steel cuffs attached to the chain.
To further prevent any separation OF the four
teen each had shackles on his legs. Twelve Of
the fourteen were negroes. eight being full
blooded Tho two white men who headed tho
gang were Of Irish extraction. but they. too.
seemed to be hardened and Indifferent to tho
attention they attracted Several OF the ne
grocs munched sandwiches, while few
stood up and looked out Of tho window at the
street scenes. When women stopped and
looked at them with plying curiosity they
whispered to each other and chuckled.
When the gatemen announced that the train
was ready the gang arose and shuffled to the
door. tho shackles being too short and heavy
to allow OF FREQ walking The other passen-
gers waited until tho gang was we'll outside
before they started through the gate. Three
white men in blue uniforms conducted the
gang to seats in the smoker. The two white
prisoners sat In front and tho negroes sat in
pairs In the other seats. Tho gang chains
rested on the tops OF tho seats. dividing the
occupants into two rows. Tho three guards
Sat on tho other side OF the cars with
little valises containing revolvers within easy
reach. In tho front Of the car the
guards put large bag made OF striped bed
ticking. AS soon as tho men were comiorta-
bly, settled this bag was opened by one OF the
guards. who took from it large number
Of sandwiches. which no distributed to all who
wantN them. Cigars were also handed out.
and soon each prisoner was pulling out big
volumes of blue smoke. Only u few OF the
other passengers ventured into the car, but
those who did were rewarded by a unique en-
tertainment
Had tho chains. shackles. and guards not
been present, no one would have imagined
that the darkies were convicts about to be
confined in prison. Soon attss the train had
started all the windows on the prisoners side
of the car were opened. although 1t was cold
day. and the negroes were sticking their heads
out to SEQ the sights along the road They
gossiped and chartered as merrily rs a lot Of
girls on an excursion. and were utterly in
different to the fate that awaited them. In
contrast to their good humor the two white
corvicts sat glum and silent. except when
one turned occasionally in his scat and
shouted grnfily: shut ut up yer - noise;
oo f Sc .dof t6 basDefSs sS
kept on with their tun nevertheless. The
guards paid no attention to them. except to
supply them with fresh sandwiches or cigars
when ey asked for Them and were remarka-
BY considerate. After the train had been on
struck str ey up plantation song and all the oihers
Joined in. They did not lack the melodious
voices frequently possessed by negroes. One
ed over and over again:
Down In de ole melon patch
Once in while a singer would be out of
tune. whereupon there would be a general
protest and everybody would cry out: Who's
DIT .pt niggsh dat don't don't know how keep Tine,
windows remained open: WIsnever some:
they stopped singing to talk about It. Severa!
had been oyer the road before. and they called
sshts @ese ts tho e Ss to and
the tunnel at Sing Sing interested them most
and y the last; named caused discussion 81 .
incredulous negro Of the informant
:, It's up ovah do tunnel. you ole fool" was
Immediately as many heads as could reach
the prison as the train drew out Of the tunnel;
quart kept watch while the other two took o
short nap. All were very tired.
Eood al se fe
writer NEARLY all Of these fellows We're born
in Washington, When we have hatch OF the
hear singing. These conycts come from
washington and we IRE taking them her to the
a does not provds for the keep"s
imGrsonm,ent; We have model jail , at Wash J,
keep prisoners sentenced for more than ono
Every convicted ted IL II With tho ps
ths less tSnn ye even III M only one
day day short. S" that he can stay in, Washington
Jail Being in the capital; and visited so fire.
sorfidors are wide thG cells large arg; j.; airy; and
srs are better treated than in any other jul In
the world They have plenty OF exercise and
h1s hsHns roF In S MnsF the RSs
SSs f LIZ" there is so fcrnsH Ss
get il, an the long term conylcts arc sent to
prison In other States, with which the Wash
good many to, Albany penitentiary. 1t costs
eonst st That aT' wa Msshn s
authorities supply each convict with such
clothes rs no may need before sending him
away. and when Ills term is up he gets a new
suit OF clothes transportation bncE to Wash
ington and 50. The transportation expenses
Of each convict amount to SlD. We travel
by tho Royal Blue line to New York, and are
transferred by coaches to this railroad. The
no sleep during the trip We left Washington
at II o'clock last night. and we'll not have any
sleep until wO leave our men In the peniten-
tiary. Wo will go back to New York on the
boat. and will get some sleep that way. OF
prisoners 80 lar. and that is why we use these
chains and shackles. Sometimes we bring
women. and then we don't use the chains
unless they are troublesome. Most Of the
women a re sneak thieves. confidence operators.
or abandoned women. The latter are nearly
Washington is famous; I brought several
along u my last trip who we're well known ut
tho capital. They are usually very handsome.
and 60 to prison wearing the most stylish and
costly dresses, Kate Friday and Mrs, Lewis
suul l. lns nd diamonds Nobody on the trim