The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1892-12-08
The Tombs.

LSy pOloIA o1SIl1COCOuIO. O1Au W UO UllC
purest example of that style in this
country, but for its locality. 1t is sit
uated in low, hollow place which was
formerly occupied by the Collect, sheet
of water connected with the Hudson
river by a strip of swamp, called Lis
penard meadows, through which ran a
little rivulet, once spanned by stone
bridge, which was buried when the
ground was heightened by filling in,
and the canal disappeared. 1t seems
almost incredible that this portion of
the great city was once submerged, but
such is the recorded fact. History also
states that the Tombs covers the site
of the precautionary gibbet which
was planted on small island The
most noticeable execution it saw was in
1741, when seven of the negro slaves,
accused of incendiarism and cOnspir-
acy to massacre the white people of
the town, were hung upon it. Others
were burned at the Five Points, and
still others hung in chains at various
places in the vicinity. So from the ear
Hest days it seems as if this site was
destined to be the scene Of retributive
justice, for the gibbet upon which so
many malefactOrs have since been exc
cuted within the TOmbs stands upon
the spot occupied by the gibbet in the
old colonial times. Internally the
TOmbS is rather series of buildings
than single structure, and to reach the
old prison, as it is designated, one must
cross stone court. In this part of the
building the male prisoners are kept.
The cells, in which they are confined to
await their trial, are arranged in tiers
one above the other, each row being
provided with a separate corridor.
Those cells on the ground floor are ap-
prOpriated to the prisoners who have
been sentenced to receive capital pun
ishment; they are dark and gloomy, and
the officials in the office at the entrance
guard their inmates jealousy from the
curious gaze of visitors. The cells on
the second and third floor are well ven
tilated, and lighted from the skylights
placed in the roof above the corridors,
in which the prisoners are permitted at
certain hour to take exercise. a cheer
full aspect pervadeS this part of the
ward and but for the iron grating in
the door of the cells, and the fact of a
man being locked in the little space of
eight by ten. one would almost forget
one was within a prison. The female
ward is located in the main building.
and is constructed on the same plan as
the male department. The women, how
ever, not being deemed such dangerous
creatures as the men, are not. during
the day, confined to their cells, but suf-
fered to wander at liberty through their
corridors. The juvenile quarter of the
Tombs is presided over by kind ma
sometimes the lookup was crowded
with children. But at present they were
evidently on their good behavior, for
there were not more than six or seven
boys in the ward. They crowded around
the iron gate to look at us, and appeared
quite Indifferent to the mild punish
ment they were undergoing. One said
he was accused of stealing a watch, and
was given eighteen days. Another that
he had fight with one of the boys. and
broke his leg. "A third acknowledged
that he had stolen small quantity of
lead. which he sold for eighty cents.
The police courts are in the rear of the
TOmbs and connected with it, the whole
building covering an entire block. Here,
also, the Egyptian style of architecture
prevails; but the entrance to the court
rooms loses the crypt-like solemnity no.
ticeable in the prison entrance, and ex-
pands into the majestic grandeur of a
temple, the roof of the porticO being
supported by large, massive columns,
crowned with obiride capital. The cell
ing of the vestibuled hall upon which
the various court-rOOms open is similar
ly sustained, the whole presenting
very antique and imposing appearance.
What a contrast this republican prison
is to those in many European countries!
In the TOmbs, while prison discipline
is strictly maintained the laws of n.y.
giene are also observed. The humane
treatment of criminals within the pris-
on walls is one of the best evidences of
the advancement of nation in civil
cation. intellectual cultivation and NOR
al rectitude; in this respect the annals
of our great republic stand pre-eminent.
1-CarOline Martin, in Wocerley Moga-
zine.