The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-13
At THE REFORMATORy.
Northern Prisoners Received After
Not Unpleasant Ride.

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind, April r.
Warden Hert has 291 new prisoners locked
in cells of the Indiana Reformatory tonight
and is much puzzled about how his newly
arrived guests from Michigan City Peniten-
tiary will take to the Reformatory regula
tions that prevail here. The young convicts
probably will all be placed in the second or
probationary class dressed in checks, until
the good ones are promoted to first class,
with the privilege of blue serge uniforms,
and the incorrigibles are sent 10 the third
class, with regular prison stripes. 1t may
be that ere long stripes will be done away
with in the Reformatory.
Warden Harley and his assistants have,
for the past week or two, had their hands
more than full arranging the details OF the
transfer to the Reformatory. Said Mr..
Harley on the train that left Michigan City
this morning with the convicts for the Re
formatory: THE popular opinion is that the
convicts from Jeffersonville are the more
dangerous. in effecting their transfer, but
that is mistaken impression. Those long
time prisoners from the Jeffersonvlle pen
itentiary, hardened and desperate as many
of them are, all realize that their only hope
for clemency lies in their good behavior.
But these young fellows-well many of
| them are 'tough-that word describes them
better than any other; they are new TO
crime, new to prison life, and L have found
that they are really the worst men to ham
de
The closest secrecy had been maintained.
Guards and prisoners alike We're entirely
ignorant of the fact that Monday had been
determined the eventful day. and 1T
therefore came as a great surprise when,
at noon Sunday, the prison gates We're
locked and preparations were begun for the
journey south. The guards assembled, i'm
| mediatey after dinner, in the guardroom
| and Warden Harley gave them minute in
structions. Then followed the distribution
| of the lists bearing the names of the 2Sl
men who were TO be sent to the Reforma-
| tory. Each guard was assigned certain
number of men and the work OF noufying l6,d ,iing
| begun simultaneously in each of the enor-
mous celrooms. The faces of the convicts
| were interesting studies when their blue
| uniformed keepers halted at their cell doors
| with the order. Many of the men had re-
moved part of their clothes and were lying
| idly on their iron hunks with newspaper
or book in their hands. doubtless looking
| forward to another long Sunday afternoon
| of monotonous inactivity. Most or them
| flung their reading matter aside and sprang
| to their feet, their faces aglow with the
| prospect of a most unusual event in their
| prison life. The prisoners were ordered 10
| pack up at once as much or their baggage
! as could be carried in their hands, and so
! soon as the men had gathered together
| their possessions. the guards unlocked the
! cells and the men stepped out into the cor
| ridors, forming in a long line along the
walls. Warden Harley walked up and down
in front of the lines and eonyersed pleas
| antly for moment or two with many or
| the prisoners, whose tired, weary eyes IN
variably frightened at kind word from
Please, SIR" said one poor fellow, as he
| lugged heavy wooden box out of his cell,
may take this here along?~ ~
What is it?? asked Mr.. Harley.
The box was thrown open, disclosing lot
of paper toys and innocent little trinkets,
| the manufacture OF which mad douptiess
| helped TO while away many weary hour
| The man reached down in the box and
brought forth "A photograph of a woman
and little boy.
A CONvICTS TOYS.
| "Them's my folks" he said. proudly, as
| he held them before the warden's eyes.
You may take the box with you," said
| Mr.. Harley.
Thanks, sir" and look Of deeper grati-
| tude never was seen on a mans face.
When every transfer man. had taken his
| position in the long lines in the corridors.
an order was given for absolute silence,
while the guards searched all the men for
| weapons. The rules imposed We're strictly
| obeyed, and the best of order prevailed dur
| ing their transfer to new quarters for the
night. All of the south cellhouse convicts,
| booked for the Reformatory, We're marched
| TO the north dollhouse, while those prison.
| ers in the latter place who were to remain
cellhouse' Thus the regulars occupied
| one wing of the prison while the trans
| fer. men," for the time being, occupied the
| other AS the convctS marched across the
courtyard in lockstep from one dollhouse TO
| the other. guards. carrying guns. appeared
| on the prison wall at each end of the yard,
| where they remained like statues until the
| heavy iron doors had closed behind the last
| man. The transfer was completed without
a break by o'clock, and all was quiet
| again in both wings of the prison.
| AT O'Clock at night a company of guards
! formed outside the prison gates and pro-
ceeded in double file to the Monon tracks.
half Ia s1iCfn rhnr hoy Eci i1yad
| I'll the arrival Of the special train from In
dianapolis bearing Company ID. State
| Of Lieut. Frank McCrea- The soldiers ar
| rived shortly after o'clock and were es-
| corted by the guards to the prison hospital,
Where they were lnstalieo lor tne nlghi. ,,.
| across the cement pavement of the yard,
| a yell arose from the convicts in the two
steady tramp of the militiamen; and they
| knew that the soldiers had arrived.
| Whether their yells were cries of greeting
or defiance it was difficult to determine.
| but doubtless that weird, uncanny noise
| sent something of thrill into the hearts
| OF the soldier boys. But their disturbance
| down in the cellhouses, and the prison was
| wrapped in silence.
At $3.50 O'Clock this morning the difficult
| task of Stacking the prisoners was com
| menced. Three iron blocks were placed at
the entrance of the north cellhouse; and
! each block where the right leg of one man
| and the left of the other were fettered to-
gether- As soon as the work was accom-
| plShed the men were marched in squads
to the dining hall. and after breakfast they
We're promptly taken to the train of coaches
| waiting inside the prison yard. The con-
| victs were assigned their seats in the
| coaches while the state militia boys
| mounted guard on each side of the tracks.
A prison guard was also sta
onef on the wall @iih of the PRISON yard facing eh
the train. There was no disorder. The
| train was all ready for the start by $50
| o'clock. Shortly after Z o'clock the engine
arrived and few moments later the start
was made. The train contained nine
coaches in ALL Next to the engine was the
| In this car on cots were the prisoners who
after examination by DR.. Spinning. the
prison physician, were pronounced too sick
TO ride in the regular cars DR.. Spinning
| with a complete surgical outfit accom-
panied the hospital car. Next came six
coach in the hands of three guards, WHO
carried no other weapon than the usual
| heavy canes which they carry when on
| duty at the prison. The convict cars were
| barren Of all the usual day-cOach equip
| ments excepting the seats occupied by the
| men. Following the last of the convict cars
| came the coach filled with the soldiers: and
| last of all was the private coach occupied
| by several of the prison officials railroad
| and newspaper men and invited guests, in
Guiding the following: Warden Harley
| President Nebeker Of the Board of Prison
Directors. Clerk Whitiker, Chaplain Alex
ander United States Attorney A. w Wish
| ard. Major @. =. Van Deusan OF Michigan
| City. Representatives Henry Schoal OF
| Michigan City and j. A. Hedgecock OF
| warden, III. Van Voorst OF Monticello. secre-
l tarv of the DriSOn directors Sheriff n