New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-12
ENTRANCE TO THE PRISON.

1, and has little room In which to dress and
dress himself He lies upon cot the bottom OF
which is about fifteen inches from the hoor IN
Guiding the covering say OF winter time and the
upper surface OF the blankets. HIS PROSTATE form
would extend the height to about three feet. Now.
IN NIT another man In that cell and provide him
with an upper cot would permit the occupant or
the lower as well as OF the upper cot about SIX
inches each OF space for breathing and turning
over on his couch. II this system prevailed al
Sing Sing Prison to-day during this hot weather as
II has during the summer months OF many years
mast the conditions can be fully appreciated. But
for wears this condition has existed and to the
extent mentioned To the credit OF warden ours
ton this murderous policy has been discontinued
but not before the ghost OF many dead man $1,000
at night glazing through the bars and gratings or
the shrieks OF madmen transferred thence TO the
insane asylum for criminals at Matteawan echoed
through the gloomy corridors Responsibility must
repose somewhere for the results OF neglect TO pro-
vide for better health Of the convcts VINO nave
died and for the possibilities OF the continuance
NJ the vile practices which have led to such liberal
contributions 10 the madhouse. The way In which
this system was reformed was simple. though
dangerous In its accomplishment. Many years ago
women convlcts were sent to Sing Sing. and occu-
MED an old stone structure across the road from
the main prison Warden Durston. finding himself.
when he assumed office utterly unable to relieve
his overcrowded dollhouse by transfers to other
State prisons fitted up the old establishment across
the way and thus permitted no more than one
man anywhere to occupy a single cell The pan
involved a larger expenditure for guards. nasmuch
as the structure Is without high protecting walls
and men are required be constantly on the watch
throughout the night. The Warden appreciated the
fact that he assumed considerable responsibility
hu, he looked upon It as a moral duty. and there
fore assumed the risk.
A BREEDING PLACE OF DISEASE
In his last report. Superintendent Lathrop. re-
Earring 10 the deaths which occurred at Clinton
Prison. nine in number. states that Of these five
ware from tubercular diseases and that all had
been transferred from Sing Sing Prison; also that
ton NJ the nineteen who died at Auburp were trans
fers from Sing Sing In Sing Sing Prison itself there
were sixteen deaths during the year. and OF this
number eight died OF tubercular troubles and three
of BrIght's disease Ii Is undoubtedly true mat
some OF these deaths. at least. resulted from the
"doubling up" process. In his report TO Superin-
tendent Lathrop. DR.. Irving. OF Sing Sing Prison.
said that the discontinuance OF the practice Of
nlaclng two In cell was an unquestoned
factor IN the reduction OF the death rate. though
he added that the officials had still 10 contend with
the III effects OF small cells. bad ventilation and
the unsanitary conditions OF the buildings.
PERHAPS the significance OF the statement that
there IL not a cellar under any one OF the group OF
buildings within the Sing Sing Prison Enclosure
VIII attract little attention. even from the prison
reformer; but II ne should visit the place and see
for himself Just the quality OF ground these stru