Great Falls weekly tribune., 1896-01-17
SONGS At SING SING.
THANKSGIV NG DAY FUN ATTHE GRIM
PRISON.
COnyictS Allowed Two Hours of Vocal
Freedofn-A Dog Show Not In It--Cuu
Mans Voice Frightened Him, He Tad
Not Heard 1t Fer So Long.

JOY oyeriowed in Sing Sing priscl
on Thanksgi day.
Song ana laughter filled the old stpne
building from end to end.
AS Il rule there is not much mirth i1
Sing Sing. 1t is safe to say that never il
the memory Of the Oldest inhabitant
was thoro such wild hilarity as th8t
among the folks who are doing unple4s-
ait service for the state
Chicken aud nince pie alone did not
cause all the enjoyment in Sing Sing
they come with every Thank sgivino
and Christmas This year, for two whole
hours, the "onvicts were permitted to
talk, yell, shout, sing, whistle. 1t wa-
the first time that such liberty was
ever granted the prisoners, and it was I;
| bowling success.
Tie idea originated with Warden O..
| Y. Sage, and he was 50 delighted with
| the experiment that the same liberty
will be granted again at Christmas.
One OF the strictest rules Of the prison
is that silence must be preserved at all
times. 50 turkey and milce pie We're
, not III it with those two hours Of vocal
exercise
On Wednesday Warden Sage huti
| caused typeWritt"n notices to be pasted
IL ra"h cell, stating that the warden de.
sired to make the inmates as cUmforta-
bic and happy as circumstances would
permit; that he we'll understood how
The most trying rule to observe was the
| one Imposing silence, and that, in view
OF the excellent manner in which this
rule bad been observed, everybody, ex-
ccpt tloso il the hospita, and extension.
| world he permitted to laugh, whistle,
PlaF musical instruments, shout, tall
and sing TO their hearts contest, pro-
Vl!ed 80 improper remarks were made
or improper songs sung, between 3 and
y IL. rpnIiGing on cell doors was not
HeIn'N2d. Notice was also given ihut
tha .'nrr Of , would be announced lv
three strokes on the gong and the hour
Of . by iivp strokes.
Al : O'Clock in the morning the 800
prisoners had breakfast, consisting Of
chicken, nla:hod potatoes, bread and
tea. Then they took their exercise ana
Werr locked up until 1890 O'Clock,
WhG they were formed in companies
for dinner, which they took back with
them to their cells, to eat when thc7 so
Desired 1t consisted ct chicken, i'll al
d'tioA tn which each man received one
tH!iH "f Il mlncn pie, one half pound Of
cheese, four apples tea, sugar and two
cl4"r*.
livery zebra was waiting aMNioUalr
13r the gong 10 strlko 3, and the quiet
"Er'trm"Ar among tie mon w"i Won
deIfuI toWltn"-S, Some of them seemed
MY bnr>'1n% to yell ana shout ard
TO hear Ia" tholr voices sounded a@ail,
Wn"n lu' a5 tull pressure. Every lAo-
nent MAS counted. and, h urcidcur,
the pa lic~ had ten minutes mono #
vocal liberty than the warden }.Hd grant
ed.
At > 800 Il messenger from the N@~d
en- entered Ga" OF the galleries to call .
ke"p"" d" raised his hand, and thc
person in charge u the gulg, tI,inl,..-.,
TINS signal 10 strike, struck, The
sharn stroke. rang onr, and bedlam Wa.
let loose, The biggest dog show ever
had Was 'ta quiet H@ Il l1uaEcr NEE ting
compared to H. From every cell came
yellS, BOW Is of d"IIGht, songs, shout" If
dehHoua Jo%. No Gle paid any attell
tion to what any one else WAS shouting.
and 80 tie din continued. ConTlets just
stretched cut IN th"jr cots and roareI.
Down IN one corner Of the prison
there Was :: slight iWIl Whon Convict