The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-12
PRISON RIOTERS
QUIETDOWNA
VOTETOREFORM
Blackwcll's Island Mutineers
Decide to Obey Miss
Davis.
400 STAY on STRIKE
DESPITE HER APPEAL
Eighteen obstinate Ones Are
Put on Bread and
Water.
TANNENBNTM Is AMONG
THE rNRULI CONNICTS
Woman Commissioner Holds
Services for Inmates and
breaches Sermon on Law.

The best proof that Miss Katharine Y.
Davis, Commissioner of Correction, II win
hine her fight TO subdue the discontinued
prisoners In the penitentiary at Black
wells Island. who since week ago yes
terday have been striking" against prison
work. icerng Warden Hayes and his SUBJ
orlinates and generally making nulsances
OF themselves. is the figures showing how
more and more prisoners were admitted
back to the mess hall yesterday at sue
cessive meals.
or the l.iOo prisoners only 500 we're
hood enough TO he admitted to the big
mess hall for breakfast. nv noon $50 were
ranged along the tables eating the regular
luncheon fare Instead Of the bread and
water diet that had been theirs while they
were in revolt At meal time last night
1000 prisoners sat down in the mess
hall
Since 6 O'Clock in the morning Miss
Day.s, who had gone to the island the
DAY before and had installed herself in
ce.yiug delegations Of prisoners and listen
ing to their grievances, fancied or real.
against Warden Hayes aud his assistants
When the day WAS over she told reporters
that she hoped" the trouble had been
settled. The jeers and the catcalls had
ceased.
In all the industrial departments OF the
penlteniary except the shoe and tailor
shops work had been resumed before the
day had gone far, The reason the shoe
and tailoring workers were not employed
., was that an engine belt in the shoe shoI
y which was cut early In the revolt had moi
BEEN repaired, and in the tailor shop work.
men had not yet Strengthened out tn,
wreck caused In that department wher
prlsonerS set it on fire recently.
More Water for Tannenbaum.
or the 400 prisoners still striking just
MISUNDERSTANDING Frank Tannenbaum OF
J. W. ". notoriety-were in SOLITARY
last night. Solitary means that they
are IN cells in which there are no beds and
into which light comes only through the
grated door. II SOLITARY" wants e
sleep he must stretch out on the ston,
floor Miss Davis was merciful even to
these eighteen iringleaders, however, t.
the extent Of Issuing orders that hence
forth their fare of bread and water b,
increased, especially In the matter O.
water.
I don't think any good can be accom-
pllshed,' Miss Davis said again yesterday
~ making prisoners thirsty
Votes were taken yesterday from tn
mon along the various tiers as to whethe
Or not they had decided to be good
The votes were tabulated by trusty run
ners, who went from cell to cell. If NOR
than half the prisoners on tier voted 4
Quit the hckers and return to meals ant
regular work the entire tier was takei
back Into the fold. Thus to the mnorit,
Of kckers on a gwen tier was refused tn
JOY OF continuing TO be agln the gov
b.. eminent
There Is not any single cause for tn,
revolt Miss Davis told the reporters las
night There are many contributor
causes, of which the drug habit is a
important one
! feel sure that there are some prison
eFs here still saturated with drugs an
Others are suffering because drugs hav
been suddenly denied them. From m
long experience in penal work l thought
knew about all the ways that drugs ar
shugglcd 10 prisoners. but I've learne
curing the last few days that there ar
Almost innumcrable methods in the prise
urug traffic that / never heard of before.
Al o'clock yesterday afternoon Mis-
Davis accompanied by Warden Haye
ana SIX keepers, conducted Jewish Sab
bath services for l25 frs; and second OF
lenders, the greater number of whor
were youths. Rabbi Louis Bernstein wa
unable TO 20 TO the island. wherefor
Miss Davis took his place.
Little sermon on Laws.
She began by trying to play the oil
gan but learned early that the "pumr
ing process taxed her strength The
she read from tho Psalm and followe
The reading with heart to heart tall
oil Of which was listened to attentivel,
From the time of Moses and the TIE
commandments" she began. down
h' present day know of only one inc
ueht IN the universe where there was r
. Jaw You have all read OF course
u's with smile-"the story OF Robii
"n Crusoe His case is the only or
KNOW of where there was no law. Il,
,ne moment his man Friday appears
Avs became necessary.
when went to Bedford Hills TO tai
snArse OF the retormatory for girls thi
.sen years ago there were no law