The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-04-26
SIXTY DAYS IN WORKHOUSE
BY JULIUS MAILMAN
CAS- Told To Alex Jackinson)
Continued From MondaYl.

In the morning we were brought into small
where civilian dignitary took fngerprints. There
other prisoners sitting long bench waiting
their turn. Those who slated to go to the pen-
Tertiary photographed To add necessary color
sign bearing their prison number hung about their
necks This procedure did not have to go thru.
At eight o'clock each evening were lined up to
be counted. An hour later bell rang and the lights
were extngushed During the intervening time the in
mates took advantage of their short freedom. Some
played cards, others grouped about a game of dice
Experienced criminals related with bragative gusto
the various jobs" they pulled Tired bodies stretched
out the beds. Mice constantly across
the cemented floor, someone would notice its flight
and throw shoe whatever was handy at it. From
this pandemonium sounded the talk of hardened men,
occasionally punctuated by profane curses
Five A. M. the bell rang again and keeper passed
by striking all those who have not vet risen with
club After washing, lined up in fours again
counted and led to the hall for breakfast. The
first meal finished at six Till eight o'clock
allowed another round of freedom Then the bell
rings after which a keeper divides into
gangs and assigns to work Before that happens
he yells, Blankets in the barber shop" That
signal for to fold blankets and carry them to
the specified place Two chairs old table, few
prisoners and long bench all it boasted We laid
down blankets and joined the other prisoners.
Three days later the warden informed that
would be transferred to Rickers Island We hurried to
our dormitory and prepared to move. AS were
Tombs In this crowd we recognized several fellow
workers and exchanged hurried greetings
The six of together with several others stepped
aboard large barge. We were Immediately taken to
cell on the lower deck From a window able
to strip of shore rapidly disappearing in the dis
tance Our view terminated by large box being
placed behind the barred panel of glass either pur
pose accidentally by loading boxes of food tufs
Rickers Island is shagged piece of land surrounded
by water Here and there patches of grew
amidst dirt and ashes In the center of the island
green wooden barracks. We entered where at
tendant held an impromptu speech We arrived Sat
urday which day of rest" After ounging about
the premises stepped into the library. There we
found mostly religious books which held interest for
The following day attended the weekly church
services stepping in merely out of curiosity and
surprised to find that most of the others there
for the purpose Later in the afternoon we
watched the Sunday baseball game played between the
white and Negro teams.
The next day we were domciled in dormitory No. 1.
It slightly livabe here; cleaner, and
the food tastier. Otherwise life pretty much the
After first breakfast we were assigned to
work on the garbage dumps. We walked about ten
minutes along dusty road to destination The
keeper in charge of the gang led up and down hills
OF dirt. On our way we passed a maze of railroad
tracks upon which stood chains of "dinkey" cars.
Along the river front foated flotilla of garbage
filled barges arriving from New York. Huge derricks
bit into the putrescent rubbish and empted back into
1at cars NocanoeS Oh odofouS smoke CURED which
leadened the air with suffocating CRIME. Added to
discomforture the innumerable rats, which
scurried about under very feet.
This routine lasted sixty days 1t was always the
varied Once member of our group felt i'll, and was
sent to the doctor who extracted two black pills marked
&C from large bottle. They brought him no relief.
Some time later we learned that the pills were
given everyone, irrespective of their ailments.
Another time made the acquaintance of two gang
sters, former members of "Frenchys notorious gang
employed by Sigman to terrorize left wing ad-
herents. They related in detail how they were hired
for S15 day by Sigman's henchmen to beat up the
pickes in front Of dress shops called strike by the
Joint Board Police arrested them after which they
double crossed by "Frenchy' and convicted of
sault.