New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-07-12
MISS DAVIS LEADS
ISLAND SERVICE
Commissioner Addresses
Prisoners and Talks of
Obedience to Law.
ISLAND MUTINEERS
GOING BACK TO WORK
Commissioner Hears Grievances
and Gains Inmates-Drugs
Blamed for Outbreak.

Katherine B. Davis, Commissioner Of
Correction, continued her tour OF per-
suasion among the prisoners in the
penitentiary on Blackwell's Island yes
terday. She received delegations OF
prisoners from the various tiers and
talked TO score of them personally
who had asked to lay their grievances
before her While Miss Davis had no
fear in visiting the men in their cells.
Warden Hayes provided bodyguard
OF four keepers. who kept constantly
near her as she went about the prison.
There were no disturbances during
the day. When Commissioner Davis
left the island after the prisoners had
their supper last night she expressed
herself as confident that the trouble
was over. She said. however. that she
would 20 back this morning and spend
the day at the institution. She slept
in the womens part OF the workhousc
on Friday night so as 70 be on hand
carly yesterday morning. She was in
the wardens office 10 begin her days
work of pacifcation before the prison
crs he'd breakfast.
During the afternoon she turned
preacher" and conducted the Jewish
services in the chapel for about two
hundred young prisoners of that race.
which is usually conducted by Rabbi
Louis Bernstein. the prison chaplain.
breaches to Prisoners.
She preached to the prisoners on the
necessity Of obcying the laws and prac-
tising self-control They applauded
her when she had finished. Some OF
them had been among those who were
leaders in the recent uprising. She
read passage from the Jewish service
and they made the responses.
She even attempted to play the organ
herself and have some Of the Jewish
hymns sung. but found IT too much
physical exertion and omitted that part
Of the services. She said she intended
20 preach TO the Catholics At the enrly
mass to-day and to the Protestants at
the later services.
The service yesterday in the great
plain room which il the prison chapel
wa Impressive. There were many hard
faces, though ell OF them were ycung
looking. confronting her from the
bcnchcs where the men in the broad
prison stripes sat.
Nov and then q smiling comment
would pass between two prisoners about
the little. determined woman on the
platform, but for the most part they
sat erect and paid her strict attention.
Il ,ves merely coincidence that some
Of the passages she read from the Jew
;sh service were read BY Rabbi kof-
stein to tie four gunmcn in the death
house at Sing Sing at one OF the last
services held for them before their eN-
ccuton.
These passage held out hope. how
over and were not significant of an
approaching doom ~
One of them ran: This year We are
bondsmen. let US pray we VIII be Tree
next year" And another began:
"RIcsscd be the Lord God of our faith
ers. may He spare us many years OF
life and liberty and VIC Will sing song
Of praise"
81 want you boys to understand
ehc told them. that the laws here arise
from natural conditions. AS they have
from the time of Moses, your great
teacher ms well as ours, and the Ten
Cnmmandments. The only law we had
II the beginning of my thirteen years
cxncrience at Bedford Reformatory,
Which was posted about the institution,
was The Ten Commandments 20 here
There were few girls there then. and
,,s more came we had 20 make rules as
,be conditions demanded them.
"With I 400 men together. as you are
here. IL is necessary TO have strictcr
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