Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1891-07-16

known our erfanO anu were SHOWN
down stairs to the keepers office
where we found him readyss and will
ing to show us around and answer
all the questions, that we might ask
which assure you were quite numer-
GUS
He was powerful large man and
with him as an escort and guide
we did not feel as much afraid
as we might under othercircumstan-
ces, though I confess little timid.
From his office we We're ushered
into room about forty by sixty
feet, which contained the cells.
Instead of being on the sides as
l always supposed, they We're in the
center of the room reminding one of
animal cages; with their great iron
bars, chains, and being most scanti-
~ furnished, are not a very pleasing
sight to look upon.
The first cell contained mau who
had been put there for being drunk
and disorderly. He was lying ON
the floor asleep, resting his head
upon his arm.
1t could not have been very con-
Portable bed, for the floors through
out were made OF stone and being UNI
der ground must have been damp.
The next one contained a man put
there sfOr the same reason as the
former. He was not asleep, but
sat staring at us through the bars
like a Gagged animal.
We walked down the hall taking a
look at each object of pity and the
settled expression ON most. of their
faces told us palmer than words this
was not the first time they had
been locked up in that place or one
of similar description.
Now having reached the end Oh
one side, we came to u room that
served as kitchen, containing the
cooking utensils, including iron
knives, forks, plates, and drinking
cups, for things here are not of a
breakable character.
From here we turned to view the
other side.
The first cell brought the express
ion from our lips "Oh! there's wO-
man.. The keeper informed us that
it was not through any disgracefu!
act that she had been put in there,
but coming to the city a stranger
she had lost her way and would be
kept there and advertised until her
friends could find her. AS that is
what they do with all that loose
their way here, she of course had to-
share the same fate. In a close ex-
animation we found that she was
better provided for than the other
inmates, having a good cot covered
with clothes that looked clean, and
also pillow which is a rare thing
in these quarters. Leaving her
asleep, we proceeded to the next,
where the sight that met our gaze
would bring tears to the driest eyes
and melt heart of stone. There
Gagged as they We're lay fivelittle boys.
AS l looked in upon those poor lit
tie unfOrtunateS, with scarcely
enough clothing to cover their frag-
lie forms, the only words that
could utter, were, wretched. wretch
ed. wretched. My heart was too full
for further utterances. All but one
was asleep and he locke as though
it was his first experience.
The condition of body and mind
of those children, the next morning
after having slept ON a bed of stone
all night, the readers can imagine.
They could not have been more
than fourteen years of age, and pos
sihly not that, and as / looked on
them, asked myself the question:
Have those boys homes, or. were
they like what | have been told, that
eight tenths of those little fellows
that cry in the streets "a shine. Nor
ming papers" could at night be found
sleeping ON dry goods boxes or a still
worse place the garbage boxes of
the city," Scarcely knowing what
the word home meant.
The keeper seeing this interested
us more than the rest, said 'they
had been stealing firecrackers for the
Fourth, and secreting them in an old
building in the alley near by.
AS this was the night of the third
they would have to remain there I'M
til the following Monday. Their
punishment. Had all the fathers
and mothers of rland stood beside
the cell that contained those poor.
little creatures. could they have just