New-York tribune., 1912-04-07

I steamer and wait for the water to back
down.
Within the Ievee is long whitewashed
dormitory The windows are small, iron
barred and mosquito barred shed, rooted
! but open on all sides. serves az dining rooih'
! Among the rafters are boxes. one Tor edch
prisoner. and all padloCked the prisoners
| carving their keys on strings around thelr
necks There Is a storehouse containing
supplies. the captains little house and cab
| ins for the guards. Beyond the storehouse
| is the kennel containing dark-colored' long
cared nabby-lpped bloodhounds. on the
| levee sit the guards seven In number at the
time OF my visit shotgun In hand. alert
grim and still. save as they smoke. Eight
other guards for day duty were "off.' At
night there were only three guards on duty
the nick of all the guards. They presided
over the dormitory, one at each end all
night long. watching the PROSTATE forms.
OF these convicts there were l63, two OF
whom were white men, both In Tor huruer
They did the clerical work OF the camp
kent accounts. cared for the stores and sup
plies.
| II was Sunday and the cOnvicts were OH
duty. Some squatted around little DON
] fires built on the packed ground. talking 10
ono anotber. Some edged toward the white
men as though they would enjoy the same
comfort Of proximity to their guards thdt
dogs enjoy in pressing upon their masters
! feet but these were held back by gestures
or sharp commands. Others sat apart by
themselves. morose and forlorn. Several
naccd back and forth, from end to end or
| the little inclosure, or wandered restlessly
| around. elancing furtively from under their
! brovs on these the guards kept their eyes,
watching for signs Of insubordlnation or In
/ sanity.
The convicts' faces were most inter-
eating study. Few Of them had the look
of the hardened criminal which one sees
IN Now York police courts but those who
had were frightful one was especially
conspicuous His forehead was high ana
| full he had thin lips. sunken cheeks mar
ing ears and more chin than most OF MS
COMPANIONS He sat apart from the rest
| leaning against post, his eyes gazing Tow
| ard the woods beyond the levee His hgure
and face were full of savage longing-long-
ing 70 grin some one by the throat, to Judge
nv his appearance. Murder was his crime.
| The arrival of visitor in Louisiana calls
for coffee. Here in the convict camp cap
| tain BARROW hailed the convict cook, who a
,noment later came with a tray. tiny cups
| and drip coffee as black as coal and de-
,cjous. The convict camps have plenty OF
cooks. To entertain visitor Captain Bar
row called up some musicians-there were
dozen banjos and guitars In sight' a
6ddler. too came with the rest.
Go get Nmbo Sam. Find yellow
Where's that fellow plays the guitar with
vou -, were asked In rapid succession, ana
then as an after thought. I'VE want some
singing. too You can sing-yes, you cam
I've heard yOu-and you-get that man VINO
gent round the dormitory. | seen I'M!
Thus the camp orchestra and glee cluo
were brought together. The man with
fiddle was stood up to play-his was y
most doleful dlrge weird and in keeping
with the place
you cayn't play!' somebody said stop
| that
Then Say. Bob sing!" And Bob. trem-
bling. black and STOPPING. sang. He was
nitifully scared IL caynt sing ne
walled, II cayn't sing-sing" His wall De-
lied his words. but he was excused. One
by one the stage-frightened were weedod
| ont and at last six singers and two guitar
! players were chosen to entertain. They