Year: 1873

From the POughkeepie Eagle, Dec. 291


The rumors extensively circulated within few
days as to the prevalence OF typhoid fever in the
state Prison at sing Sing have caused intense ex-
element among the relatives OF the prisoners
confined there, and the authorities at the prison
have been frequently written TO on the subject by
persons in New York


Warden Hubbell, being interviewed upon the
subject, stated that number OF the convicts had
been seriously ILL., and some had died. He said
they had discovered an unhealthy shop in the
prison which all the cases sprung from This led
to an examination, and one OF the drains under
the shop was found to be obstructed with horrid
mass or decomposed vegetable and animal
matter. This drain led into a sewer, and all
the water with which the men washed their
dirty hands on leaving work ran into it. The floor
ing was all taken up and replaced with new tim
ber, and the drains were also cleaned out, AT
least calculation over cart load Of filth was taken
out OF the place. The Warden knew nothing OF
this pestilence breeding spot until the prisoners
began to be taken sick one after another


Two died. Their names were Fritz Ernest, from
New York, and Lawrence Erhardt, who was in for
convicted at White Plains Of mansaughter, He
was the worst case the doctor had, but the doctor
thinks he might have saved his lie If his wife had
kept away. Her presence excited him too much.
These were the only two deaths by fever. At one
time sickness SO bad that orders were given to
put the lazarett0 in habtable condition. The laz-
arctic is yay up on the hill, but is in poor order,
and could mot be occupied without extensive re-
DR.. Prime stated that at one time 10 convicts
were seriously III.


In the large ward on the upper moor. near the
entrance, were Barrett and Kearney, quite young
fellows, whose pale faces and emaciated limbs
showed that they had been great suffere IS by the
not yet out OF danger. Slowly moving about the
room were three or four other patients Just recov
matter said they didn't know.


AT the further end of the ward, half sitting and
half reclining on an extemporlzed easy chair was
Stokes.


''why, truly I'm glad to see you,- he said to tho
reporter. 'Come sit down by me II you amt
afraid OF typhoid fever, and tell me all the news;
Tor we don't see any papers here and don't know
anything more that's going on In the world than II


ssHow's your health2n queried the reporter.
'.Oh, very bad; ! am suffering terribly yet from
asthma but hope to be about soon. We don't have
many comforts here; It's not mucn OF place for
diSSpatl0n.'


In answer to question about the typhoid fever
Stokes said 1t had been very bad. "You see those
empty iron bedsteads over there,n said he point
ing across the room; ''well, their occupants went
they died. and 1t didn't seem more than five
minutes to me after the breath left their bodies
before the whole atmosphere OF the ward was filled
with a dreadful and horrible smell. Before the
boxes could be brought up and the bodies put IN
them the smell was SO offensive that ! became
carbolic acid and bychloride OF lime, and all the
clothing OF the dead men, with the bedding and
two other young fellows over there now who came
near following the others into the valley OF the
were several others sick, don't know how many:
but believe they got well. One man has been
taken down stairs.r


stokes said he had been assigned to duty by the
warden, and had to keep a complete record or all
the prisoners names. ages, descriptions, for what
convicted and how long-in fact, the entire books
OF the prison, except the financial records.


DR.. Prime said that the lever was OF o very dan
perous type: but now tnat the cause was removed,
ne believed the sickness would soon disappear.
Disinfectants had been freely used throughout tne
prison. and he believed there was an end OF ypnoid
lever. In his previous prison practice OF many
years he had three cases, but none were as violent
a prpsent.