The Detroit times., 1914-08-04

being put on by the convicts who
came up two weeks ago
Z, As the newcomers climbed the steer
roadway from the villages below and
gradually the forest shut down around
them. the roadside lined with ripe
Ibiackberries, raspberries and blueber-
ries, and the still air sweet with the
odor Of wild flowers and shrubs, the
faces OF the prisoners were moved
by emotion. Some were pale. some
excitedly smiling, and others nearly
In tears. Yesterday, after a charge OF
dynamite had blown boulder to
flinders and the men came out from
behind rocks and trees to begin work
again at the cry "All right, boys"
from a keeper. one OF them carried In
his hand a maidenhair fern. He was
showing the delicate feathery thing to
another prisoner. MY mother used TO
love them" he was saying. II can re-
member''-and his voice trailed of
into a murmur as he picked up a
crowbar.- --------
There is little to remind the men
OF their life In Sing Sing. All the
dishes and most of the camp fur
nishings are. new. At Sing Sing 1t Is
considered an important advance
ment In prison history in this state
and the special reporter of The Star
OF Hope, the paper printed in the in
stitution by convicts, was sent along
to write up the expedition. It is his
first "out of town" assignment In 10
years behind prison bars. He is as
enthusiastic over IL as cub reporter
on his first train robbery story.
"It is the greatest thing that has
ever happened in the history Of Sing
Sing" he said yesterday when The
World correspondent found him at
work in the shower bath house help
ing the plumber. I'VE are as happy
as kids on a school picnic. We are
perfectly at liberty here so far as
any outward sign goes. The two off,
GERS simply stand around looking In
terested, and after work Is done at
night we can do whatever II pleases
us, go swimming, walking, fishing.
and the only time we see the officers
is when they come in and say good
night and go away and leave us TO
our dreams.
mo one watches us at night, and
certainly you couldn't call It watching
us I'm the daytime when we are scat
tered all around at work with the
woods and mountains ct our elbows.
We prisoners had a talk among our
selves before we came up here and
agreed to do the square thing, not TO
Infringe any rules and to give the
very best that was in us. Every one
10 willing and every one working
hard. This Is the beginning OF a new
era In this state, and the prisoners
realize II and want to show by their
actions that they appreciate what Ia
being done for them.
The new warden OF Sing Sing. Mr..
Mccormick, IL the best man who ever
held the place, and who say II have
seen II wardens come and go with
TIE slow years that I have been In
bison. When have served year
and FIVE months more I shall have
finished 20 years, and 7 ought to know
The men who have charge OF the
camp here, n NJ. wait. the division
enRinecr: David J. Shaw. the engl.
neer on the lob: Michael r. Fender
CAST. the superintendent. from the
highways department. and Keeper A
w. Mcclellan and Oficer Bernard
Simmons are AZ anxious 10 prove N .
success as We ore. and are doing
evervthlns tfey can TO make Il pleas.
an' for us and for each other.
I'VE are getting some basebails and
bats M from town and are going Ia
have some real games pretty soon