New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-16

LOUIS D. PILsBURY.
At work upon the same Job. 10 help them In their
esorts 10 escape The trench down about four
Net from the level Of the ground and about wide
enough for Two persons TO lay in side by side. but
the three prisoners managed 10 squeeze themselves
into the narrow limits. Boards were placed over them
and then earth was thrown upon the planRs so as TO
deceive the officers. The roll was called at the usual
time and the three were reported missing rom the
squad. With peculiar system of talles and iaarus
n was ascertaned that the three missing men had not
been ont Of certain neighborood and therefore must
h. within the narrow confines allotted 10 their work
Under the blanks these human moles were at last
found more dead than alive and quite anxious to re
turn TO their cells 1t would be hard to escape from
the prison now, and il is rarely attempted. one
would believe after reading the following story of the
rigid supervision here described, that no efforts at
escape would be attempted.
Al & 40 in the morning the cells unlocked and
the prisoners are formed each tier and counted and
the count has u tally with the number OF prisoners
recorded as being each tier They then go 10 the
washroom where they wash and an officer supenn
tends them, when they again counted and put IN
their cells and each man counted in his CELL and while
they are securely locked In their cells the officers go
70 breakfast After the officers breakfast the prisoners
are again brought from their cells and again counted
each tier separately. Then the number OF each ter
is counted and compared with the census number IN
the hail. and If IL does not agree with this test as 10
total number search is at once begun, and the
absentee discovered. After breakfast they return 10
their cells and are again counted.
The number of inmates in the Penitentiary varies
from 900 10 600 There are more always In the
winter than in the summer time II was common
Jest at one time TO refer TO the Pententay as the
aoh Homestead" and truly that can be said OF the
prison on Blackwell's Island. II Is indeed a home
for many forlorn creature who has known no other
In the summer time the vagrant the thief the tramp
or all three may take 70 the highway and along the
country road his dusty body may rest beneath the
spreading tree and a brook may Quench his thirst;
the uotato patch the stalk furnish his dinner
and the hay stack the barn his couch at night but
when the biting frost and the nights cold
and drear the outcast commits some petty theft that
he may get back again to the old Homestead the
Island IL is the best home he has known They
are back so often and IN the ranks again that we
hardly miss them" said the deputy.
The bell is rung at O'Clock 70 prepare for work
The prisoners are again brought from the cells counted
as they stand upon each tier again massed counted
In grand total In the ran and then they assemble
the parade ground in charge Of their keepers. The
various gangs are called out the blacksmiths shoe
MAKERS iailors and carpenters called 10 step few
PAGES 10 the front and marched of by their various
trades 30 perform the work of their respective calngs
Each officer then in charge Of gang gives the number
of his men and their TO the proper officer to put
in his book The result OF the gang count given
bOOkheeper WHO mas CndrRe OF Ihc gangDOOK, ana
the hall keeper adds up the gangs to that TALES
with the census, and this il must do. All over the
island at different points placed ookouts and every
time gang Of approaches his post this lookout
will approach the officer in charge and ask how many
there are in his gang and this officer Will give the
number BY this system IL there is an escape from the
gang 1t is precisely in what neshborhood the
prisoners escaped because restricts them between
certain sentries Every time the men move they arc
counted
Around the island on the opposite shores are a
Gordon Of boats. Each boat contains an officer Win
carbine laying ready the seat in front of him.
The policy OF keeping the boats the Long Island
and NewYork side instead Of the island shore, has
been demonstrated 10 be better rlan because the
prisoner escaping would swim toward the boats and the
officer would have better chance 10 capture the
prisoner and aim II is significant fact that
nearly all the attempts to escape have been made On
the Long Island side Of the island. Skirtng along the
Shores constantly watching the shores Of the PenH-
Tertiary are those sentries in boats. one would think
that they were fishermen in skfs, ont for days
work. but for the telltale weapon Which lays ever
ready in front OF them. These officers have long
tour of duty and they come 10 the island Tor
their meals except when they hear what is known as
the @an right bells from the Penitentary. which tells
them fsat all the prisoners safely housed.
At twenty minutes Of II the bell rings for dinner,
agnin the men are counted and placed in their cells
where they again counted The officers get their din
linen the prisoners taken ONT ana counted
taken to their midday and counted then divid
ed into gangs and counted and start of 10 their
work and return al night 10 be counted for their
supper After supper they are marched 10 the tiers
and counted and in this regard prison authorities
have rule which adds % the general watchfulness
which eharacterzes the place. One often read in
the escapes Of prisoners Of dummy body that
had been fixed up Of straw bedding or old clothing
and placed upon the bed resemble the inmate
and when a guard comes around ne gIances into the
cell and satisfies himself with a sight OF what he
believes 10 be his prisoner and reports all right,
but the warden Of the Penitentiary has rule which
never falls. The prisoner when the count is being
on the grated bars and work his fingers up and down
SO that the ofncer in making his count can see IL.
Dummies, said the deputy warden, "cannot work
their fngen.'
II would be difficult therefore, with al this watch
funess for prisoners 10 escape and they know it, Quick
capture before they the shore the deadly bullet
they atemp. 10 cross the river land years ago
escaping prisoner brenstng the waves sank IN them
With the sentry's bullet in his headJ the equally
swift punishment they break prison rule-sl deter
them from attempt.
prisoner named Alfred Hall on March % OF this
had an experience in effort TO escape from
Blackwelps Island which no viii remember for some
hne.
stone wall was being built near the prison. and
n made uo mind that he would secrete himsen