New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-27

and tho dun gray walls of the penitentiary the full
significance OF my situations dawned on me. There
are moments IN lives when the most trivial
details make q lasting impression upon our men,
cries This. for me. Of those moments.
! recall as II II were yesterday the pattern OF
that prison door and the detail that II thickly
studded with nails of an enormous size. remeIn-
Der that the cold walls were partly covered with
luxurious growth OF what is commonly known as
a Virginia creeper which gave touch OF color and
q hint OF warmth to otherwise bleak and desc
late outlook. On one sle were life and hberty-the
birds. the <rees the sunshine the hustle and roar
of great city: the other was solitary confne-
ment. with the world the great. throSbing. mex
hustlble upiverse-combressed into a by cell,
feet in height The gate opened to receive me III
the springtime. As the door swung Into place
toned gong broke the silence. very counter
part OF that sad. mcuotonous bell that rings out
when funeral procession Is slowly vending Its
way through cemetery gate,
Once inside the prison. the door was heavily
barred. There came small covered passaseway.
and then we were confronted by another closed
gate. The two gates are never allowed 10 De
opened az tire same time. The second door was
carefully unlocked and opened. and walked
across an open courtyard into the office of the
prison physician. He made minute examination
of my physical condition. My personal history was
entered on the Receiving Book 1t told my age.
my nativity trade. complexion. color OF eyes and
hair stature the peculiar marks my body,
names OF my parents the fact that knew how to
read and write. temperate. unmarried and
owned property. When the clerk had con-
cluded | was taken another room. stripped and
given my Hrst prison bath After putting the
prison suit consisting of a Hanntl shirt. pair of
trousers and blouse OF blue material and pair
Of heavy soled shoes. lost my name and became a
number.
My cell-my future ho:ne-caused my heart
sink II Hpotlcssy clean. but cheerlt ssly cold.
The furnishings were meager. An iron cot. on one
side, contained pillow counterpart and quilt.
There was no chair-in lieu there was a little
woooen two legged stool On the wall was fastened
a mite OF closet. where. ! was told. might pun
the remains OF any of my prison meals-tf there
ever wers any remains. little sink completed the
trappnes the narrow abode which was TO be
mine nearly two long years. As stood there.
loosirg through the iron gratings into the dreary
corridor, felt sick
For time | walked around and around the
sramped apartment. Hike a rat in trap. There
~ux a re... door. which. afterward learned. led
q tiny yard where the prisoners were permitted ar
go for fresh air and recreation during a certain
period each day.
T passed sleepless night on that hard
bed and when in the morning felt my posi-
tion more keenIy than ever. found tin basin
and discovered that my supply OF wa ter was con-
trolled by means Of stopceck- There was a
coarse tsv9sI on n rack. comb eud brush and Il
toothbrush Besides these things there was
scrubbine brush and sweeper tor each convict
was expected 10 keep his cell clean When ha6
washed my tnce and hands and combed my hair.
sat and waited for the ovsrsser 20 visit Not
sound vas 70 90 heard anywhere. I reered through
the lattice work OF my cell not a living being was
IN sight The Cypress lveness OF silence began 10
prey upon me. Oh. the agony OF il! l only wish
had the power TO express 1t In words but that
would require the sixth OF q Stevenson or the genius
OF & Hugo il bore down upon like an awful
nightmare Did you ever have horrible dream
when weight Ike lead seemed 10 be crushing you
20 the earth and when you had an intense desire
20 veil ct the top OF your voice and could not find
The power to do so? Well. that feeling only begins
30 give ysu an inklins OF the tortures / suffered
from Tho ghas,aV. eeGEhiy slenee Ct nny n-st few
GAYS in tina peni1snSary.
''rress~tly when the sadness had become merry.
hacking ! heard footsteps in the corridor Tba
ov,rseer came along with a handcart I mn, o.,
my mess pan. and huge piece OF bread partly on,
into slices was placed in IT can. holding nsar,r
a quart was nled with smoking hot coffee Eo,
dinner ! had belIed mutton and potstoss and 20.