New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-10

ron treated to the new form OF punishment and
hence the name.
The City Hall was the only prison until 1850,
tnd in IL ZenGer was confined during his struggle
for the freedom Of the press. which was men
toned in the chronology OF that date In 1853
the first real jail. what was until a short
time ago the site OF the Hall Of Records was
built At first named the New jail. It after
ward became known a. the Debtors Prison
i was a small stone building. nearly square,
three stories high, with belfry rising from the
centre There was no settled allowance in this
jail for the prisoners. had they bedding
The Humane Society. before mentioned. and do
nations from friends and the public were all
they could rely on Its limits extended 10 the
whole city and island south Of Love Lane
nty-flrst-st.). In The Gazette and Mer-
curry" OF July q. 1772. is an advertisement
showing the condition OF the prisoners IN the
Debtors Prison and the attitude OF the public
regarding them: The Debtors confined IN the
Gaol OF the City OF New-York, impressed with
& grateful sense OF the obligations they are IN
der TO q respectable publick for the generous
contributions that have been made 10 them,
beg leave 10 return their hearty thanks, because
they have been preserved from perishing in a
dreary prison from hunger and cold
In 1875 the Debtors Prison was too small to
building. known as the Bridewell was built in
the park on the west side Of the City Hall. It
was a small structure OF gray stone. two stories
high, besides the basement. On the first floor,
on the right. was the afterward famous Long
Room. occupied entirely by females. in which
there division to separate the whites from
the people Of color On the second floor there
We're two wards, called the Upper Hall and the
Chain Room. The Upper Hall was occupied by
the higher class Of convicts and the Chain
Room by the lower class. Except when pris-
oner was under sentence OF death. letters
were applied, and even then only light iron
chain was fastened TO one leg.
On August o. 1776 when the British took
possession Of the city. they found the Debtors
Prison and the Brideweu empty. and placed the
former in charge OF Cunningham. the brutal
Provost Marshal OF the Revolution, from whom
its later name. The Provost. was derived. Cum
ninghan had not forgotten the injuries he had
received the preceding year at the foot Of the
Liberty Pole and, the opportunity having ar
rived when he could be revenged on the patriots
he took advantage Of Il. Through the infu-
ence OF General Gage he had succeeded TO this
post on the retirement OF William Jones In 1878.
and so pleasing. We told. was his conduct to
his superiors that he retained his place until
the evacuation. Of his treatment Of prisoners
Al4 dLL--pI4l S say Inc C Ut4ty pTGSllSeQ low
ard the inmates Of the Provost rivals all that
may be found In the annals OF Christendonl.
Not content with seeing them die a slow death
from cold and starvation. he poisoned many by
Hingling a preparation OF arsenic with their
food. and Is said 10 have boosted that he had
thus killed more OF the rebels with his own hand
than had been slain by ali the Kings forces in
America"
After the Revolution the Debtors Prison was
again put 10 its proper use, but in 1917 the
debtors law was amended ITO confne only those
who had incurred debts for amounts larger than
SO" thus doing away with an excess Of mis-
cry IN 1880 II ceased 10 be used as a prison
and In 1885 became the old Registers Office
and served the interests Of the people until it
was demolished last summer 10 make way for
rapid transit Improvements.
The Brideweu was scarcely finished ct the
time mentioned. the windows were yet IN
glazed with nothing. says the historian. but
iron bars 10 keep out the cold Yet, despite the
excessive inclenency Of the weather more than
eight hundred Of the unfortunate patriot pris-
orers Of Fort Washington were thrust within its
walls on the Gay Of the capture, and left there
Tor three days without a rnouthfuI OF food
Every indignity which human ingenuity could
Invent was heaped upon the wretched prisoners
N the furtheIence OF the policy which hoped
nus TO crush the spirit Of the army by disabling
those that had been taken prisoners for future
Service and terrifying the remainder by the
possibility Of a similar fate"
This prison, after the Revolution, or. rather.
after the War Of 1872, for many English captives
Were confined within its walls during that time
resumed its career as the general city Jail The
prisoners picked oakum or were employed on
pubic works al the discretion OF the Mayor
ana we're allowed each day half pound OF beef