Show independence DAY AT THE PEN MARSHAL DYER ENABLES THE PRISONERS TO RELIEVE THE MONOTONY OF PRISON LIFE UTAH penitentiary july ath 1886 editor deseret news truly this has been a red letter day in the history of the utah penitentiary teut tent iary A resolution having been adopted by the inmates of this institution a couple of weeks since to celebrate independence day by getting up a concert aud and some athletic y portland port sand word to this effect having reached certain friends in salt lake city they decided upon arranging for our being supplied also with a least contributions in money and effi edibles bles sufficient to amply supply our wants in this line for tile the day were contributed by the following named generous bu business firms and individuals of salt bull lake city Z C M I 1 b S P F Teas clel deseret bank woolley young youna hardy co dark clark eldredge Eldi edge As 10 lo co Z 0 M 1 I shoe factory spencer clawson david james clerks in the trustee entrusts Trusts in 1 rusts office john joan Q cannon john gruesbeck groesbeck john W snell mountain let ice C co 0 john joan beck and swaner co bishop 11 13 cla clawson ason and brother janies james awat W atson ato from having each served a term terin of imprisonment here for conscience sake bake know how to feel for their brethren now similarly situated were chiefly lu instrumental in collecting and forwarding these contributions which were made tor the benefit exclusively of the latter day saints here conal confined 0 e d but which the brethren Athren br ethien on receiving tile the same decided to share with all their fellow prisoners the good things provided for our entertainment were received on saturday batur day evening and since then a force of hands the direction of a skillful skill tul chef de cuisine from the tater interior lor of the prison who was pressed into service for the occasion have been busy to serve them in as good a style a ay the meagre facilities ot of the lustI iou would wola allow breakfast being over this morning preparations were immediately made tor for the first part pait of the lays days entertainment a concert for which a rather elaborate pro gramme con consisting of twenty numbers had been ar rang caused led A rude stage made up of toe heavy tables from which we eat was arranged iu in one end of the dining room and a calico drop curtain to work on a sliding principle soon im promised pro ro while all the chairs and benches benches about the place were called into requisition upon which to sea seat t the auditors the performance commenced at andaas and was going off with a vim eleven pieces ha having vinz ai ready already been rendered when at a temporary lull was caused by the arrival of marshal dyer and citizens of the ath ward to the number of about forty most of whom were members of the choir under the d direction ir action of brother john M chamberlain ber lain their visit was not an entire surprise to us for we had incidentally learned beforehand that the fl marshal arshal had kindly consented to their coming I 1 promising romi bing to accompany cueni and ana to findly kindly allow them to enter the penitentiary tent iary lary and cheer us with some 0 of f their sweet music we were however surprised and pleased beyond measure to see so great a of our friends intends coue come co ue among us and at their being allowed to entertain eni ertain us by rn rendering dering iu in most de delightful delights lightf ul style some nine or ten pieces hymns choruses ducts etc our gratitude was not only drawn out in favor of these old acquaintances who had taken this opportunity ot of giving us an expression of their love but toward marshal dyer in I 1 an especial manner for his kindness and liberality liberal iq in permitting their visit and also for favoring us with his own presence at the entertainment A hearty vote of thanks was tendered to tile visiting party and also to the marshal who responded with a brief but appropriate speech after which a halt half hours intermission was taken during which time our visitors withdrew to the vicinity of the gate and were there allowed to 10 shake hands hand 8 with and speak to their particular friends and acquaintances the vi visitors then withdrew and our own pro gramme was resumed this consisted of an overture glee recitations banjo solo cornet duet comic songs original poem musical selections hornpipe dance character songs Marsel Marsell laise alse nymn etc all of anich rendered in good style the performance demonstrated the f fact act tuat there is a great deal dead of musical talent among the men here incarcerated and it ic was displayed to good advantage the days amusements concluded with foot racing hurdle j jumping tim ping sack racing and quoit pitching witches matches all of which passed off pleasantly not a jar or ill feeling occurring throughout the day t 1 wita two exceptions the inmates of this institution are now enjoying fair health a man by the name of moss is suffering ering from a severe attack of inflammatory flam matory rheumatism and brother wm win 11 bickley of beaver is down with the erysipelas I 1 am sure I 1 but echo the feelings of all my mx fellow prisoners as well as my own in expressing thanks and gratitude to all our f friends in the city who through their kindness and liberality aided in relieving the monotony ol oi prison paison life for the day and also to marshal dyer and warden dow for the praiseworthy consideration shown by them to us and our friends A very agreeable feature of our days pleasure was a surprise in the shape of visit from the wives of several of the prisoners who live at a distance whose transportation to the city was kindly arranged for by friends in we the city and who were also permitted to come inside the prison to meet their husbands for a few moments yours with kind re regards ardson L |