The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-01-22
SONGS AT SING SING.
THANKSGIVING DAY FUN ATTHE GRIM
PRISON.
Convicts Allowed Two Hours of Vocal
Freedom-A Dog Show Not In It-Onc
Mans Voice Frightened Him, He Had
Not Heard 1t For So Long.

Not Heard 1t For So Long.
Joy overfiowcd in Sing Sing prison
ON THANKSGIVING day.
Song ana laughter filed the old stone
building from end to end.
AS a rule there is not much mirth in
Sing Sing. 1t is safe to say that never III
the memory of the oldest inhabitant
was there such wild hilarity as that
among the folks who are doing unpleas-
ant service for the state.
Chicken and mince pie alone did not
cause all the enjoyment i'll Sing Sing;
they come with every Thanksgiving
and Christmas. This year, for two whole
hours, the convicts were permitted to
talk, yell, shout, sing, whistle. 1t was
the first time hat such a liberty was
ever granted the prisoners, and it was q
bowling success.
The idea originated with Warden 0.
V. Sage, and he was so delighted with
the experiment that the same liberty
will be granted again at Christmas.
One of the s%trictest rules of the prison
is that silence must be preserved at all
times. So turkey and mince pie were
not IN it with those two hours Of vocal
exercise.
On Wednesday Warden Sage had
caused typewriter notices to be pasted
in each cell, stating that the warden de-
sired to make the Inmates as comforta-
BILE 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 had been observed, everybody, ex-
cept those i'll the hospital and extension,
would be permitted to laugh, whistle,
play musical Instruments, shout, talk
and sing to their hearts contest, pro-
vided nc improper remarks were made
or improper songs sung, between 3 and
B p. In. Pounding on cell doors was not
permitted. Notice was also given that
tie hour Of 3 would be announced by
three strokes on the gong and the hour
of 5 by five strokes.
At 8 O'Clock in the morning the 1860
prisoners had breakfast, consisting of
chicken, mashed potatoes, bread and
tea. Then they took their exercise and
were locked up until 10 80 o'clock,
when they were formed in companies
for oinner, which they took back with
them to their cells, to eat when they so
desired. 1t consisted Of chicken, in add
dition to which each man received one
third of a mince pie, one half pound Of
cheese, four apples, tea, sugar and two
cigars.
Every zebra was waiting a%nxiously
for the gong to strike 3, and the quiet
excitement among the men was Won
derful to witness. Some of them seemed
fairly bursting to yell and shout and
to hear how their voices sounded again
when run at full pressure. Every mo-
ment was counted, and, by accident,
the prisoners had ten minutes more Of
vocal liberty than the warden had grant
ed.
At 2 80 a messenger from the ward
en- entered one Of the galleries to call a
keeper. He raised his hand, and the
person in charge of the gong, thinking
this a signal to strike, struck. The
sharp strokes rang out, and bedlam was
let loose. The biggest dog show ever
had was as quiet as a Quaker meeting
compared to it. From every cell came
yells, bowls of delight, songs, shouts of
delirious JOY. No Il paid any atten-
ton to what any one else was shouting,
and SO the din continued. Convicts just
stretched out on their cots and roared.
Down in one corner of the prison
there was a slight lull when Convict
Fisher, 1.-The celebrated female imper-
senator" announced that be would sing
the Sidewalks Of New York" He
did, and the chorus was frightful, but
hearty. Fisher next sang Home and
Mother, his voice tender and pathetic,
and there were plenty Of tears when he
finished.
Convict 2, q life prisoner, who has
been SO long inside the walls that he
has forgotten to count the years, had a
hard time getting his talking apparatus
into working order. For years and
years he has only spoken a few words
in a whisper, and when he spoke ont
loud his voice almost frightened him.
When Warden Sage passed along the
tiers Of the cells, the convicts gave him
three cheers. The warden is very strict
but the men know he is their best friend
and willing to aid them all he can. No,
a man abused the talking privilege, and
the warden felt proud Of the fact.
When, at 5 o'clock, the big gone
sounded again, bedlam ceased as by
magic. Many Of the c~onvicts were
hoarse, and some of them could not have
talked and shouted much more. Theil
supper consisted of the regular prison
fare, but nearly ALI had enough lef
over from the generous dinner to make
an excellent supper, SO there was a mu
tual boycott on dry bread.-New Yorl
Recorder.