New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-20
A CHAIN-GANG'S SUNDAY.
HOW GEORGIA PRISONERS ARE CON.
FINED.
NEGRO SINGING AND DANCING-A PRISONER WHO
CHANGED HIS PRISON.

",
100 how a chain gang spent the day. After leaving
he progressive city OF Atlanta we drove OUT on
hady country road. fragrant with the smell vi nay
md clover blossoms. where wild mowers Oh ese''
,ue nodded at us in the morning breeze uh'n a.
os, we saw the convict camps glistenng In the u.s.
ance We entered a high arch, the only attenip' d.
ornament in the camp. and found on one sue VI
IS a row OF cheap little cottages. the MONIES Oh '"e
,uards and on the other high picket fence-a'i
-ejoIcng In a new coat OF whltewasn. In the iooA-
,ut at one corner OF the fence stood a eua'u
,rmed with a gun like a watchman Of old. III case
here was any attempt TO escape. Tor WITHIN '"a'
,econd Enclosure the convcts are Kept wneh "o' NJ
work Outside of It, however, were dozen VI
wo TRUSTEES" wearing the stripes out not '"e
,hairs who had earned this meagre glimpse ol
re edom by good conduct.
We first took a stroll through the grounds past
he hut of the old paralytic. who can only SIT on
Via lonely doorstep and wait for the liberty that
.omes with death: chatted with poor blind man.
Who has called this place home for twenty years
OF which he has CROPPED In darkness
md waited for the pardon that never comes IL
vas ritlful to hear his pea "Mssus. they're tryin
o Kit me outer here-wont you help olu ohcie
Inn. too?" And when asked what was the iehsth
y his sentence he sighed. Jess allus." Then we
anne to the brlckyard 0or the making OF oricK Is
he principal Industry OF this camp. where the IRE
6 always burning in the furnace, so that to some
he dav of rest never comes, but those who DO this
xtra Sunday work paid a dollar a Day
"since they've separated the male and female
amps" the captain OF the camp expiaiheu 10
t. 1.-The men have to carry the brick mat used
q he the work of the women, and they could do
81. 40 much as the men too. but / mighty
lad 70 get rid of them for they were sight OF
rouh,e They'd quarrel. fight scratch. set the
ann on fire the minute your back was turned ana
.ou couldn't do nothing with them Ihey "ould
atber scrap than eat any day, and they'd put their
Dad of bricks down and make for each o'her IKE
Wildcats There wasn't any way 10 separate '"e"
,cent null them apart and you could beat them
or f. until you were frazzed out. ana as soon as
.ou let them go they at 1t again. tooth ana
oe,ou They could bite, too" he said. shaking
,is head meditatively, as II the memory or some
ormer experience stirred within him. NO there
int no way to conquer women. he remarked ue-
ts,velv. as IL summing up his knowledge Of the
ox In that one sentence, and the masculine ele-
nent of our party smiled sympathetically glanced
at this captain Of the camp, more than
yer convinced that he differed materially from
ny preconceived ideas of the sort Of an individual
Who would select this job. He was tall bilious
ookinc fellow of about thirty with pleasant
onest face and most attractive smile. but In his
aree brown eyes was the look of man VINO mas
ever known fear.
81 shouldn't think they would be much afraid OF
.ou." I ventured. captured by the smile ana the
oft Southern drawl, but still you're not the KIND
Il person | would like to run up against
mentally added. as noticed the firm chin. the
,os,tive set Of the mouth, and the keen flashing
yes.
IN THE KITCHEN.
We now stopped to take a peep in the Kitchen
vhere a large family OF purrng cats squatted
round on the floor and watched with mild ex-
,ectancy the movements of the cook. who was
utting I'D a side Of fat meat into oolong pieces
nd dropping IL into the frying pan. The menu
4 a convict camp is cornbread and fat meat TOT
breakfast and supper. the same for dinner with
-ege,a bic added. and syrup three times week On
sunday they have a more varied Dill OF rare con-
listing OF beef. Biscuits fresh pork ana other
INJURIES that delight the epicures OF the camp
nd reconcile their stomachs to the monotonous
let Of the approaching week. The law allows
ach man three-quarters of pound OF rations per
law but for some, blessed with voracious and
naue stoning appetite. this amount Is insufficient
nd has to be increased according to the individual
apacity Their meals were. | learned, put In tin
buckets and set the table In front or the
.itchen, and each man az he passed by picked up
. bucket and went his way.
We are now back at starting point. and the
aptain. unlocking the tall gates. ushered us within
he picket fence l two long buildings, with
light OF steps leading up TO the entrance and
mall uncovered porch in front and further back
~ the ward a similar but smaller building for
white prisoners on all the steps ana porches
vas n mass of color, ranging from the light muatto
o an ebony hue. with teeth and eyes shining in
he sunlight as they good-naruredly inspected their
.sitors "Do You want some cigarettes, boys?'
ried one OF our party. and he was at once the
entire OF a group of eager. grnning faces, and all
vas for the moment intense excitement Here
20 some nckes." cried another member OF our
rowd. as he threw handful OF shining pieces
BROADCAST in the yard. Immediately porches and
tens were utterly vacant and We a sea of
yoolly heads humping together and sprawling
orms covered the ground. Such squirmng! Such
cushing. Such yes of delight when one would
ecure a precious coin, Then came insinuating
.oices on every side. BOSS. please give me jess
ne Dat air black nggah dar got EN-, ever one
.Heah Boss. Use er lookin' at you an a-waitin'."
Boss give me a cigarette TO membah you by. You
no knows Plum Ugly BIZ, don't you?'
We laughingly beat retreat up the steps and into
he nearest building. and looked around me with
ndisgused curiosity. Imagine a long room. with
shelf running the full length each side filed
With straw and covered with coarse sacking. In
he centre OF the building was sink, with water
connections. for the morning additions OF the pris-
ners They all required to take bath every
saturday the captain told us. In great troughs
placed In the yard for that purpose. and 10 some
his was a weekly punishment. Each convict has
ring around his right ankle to which is attached
stout chain, long enough to reach TO the waist,
nd ending I'm another ring. At night. when the
prisoners are laid the shelf. so to speak, long
hahn is fastened at end of the bed. then run
through the ring at the end of each chain, much as
on would string a lot of fish. and the main chain
Z locked securely at the other end OF the building
hus rendering an escape practically impossible.
The room was now filed with jealous crowd
Who evidently considered an unfai.lng source OF
ckels and cigarettes.
SONG FROM THE NEGROES.
cant you sing song boys?" the captain in
uired and a dozen negroes stepped quickly for
ward.
"Do you want to heah de Postum song?' said
ne leader. and as the captain nodded assent. they
egan to sing. only negroes can sing. rollicking
Melody with a weird refrain:
oar WIZ an ole 'possum what lived in de hoer
Stand still my heart. stand STILL