The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1869-11-02 00:00:00

FEAR OF OUTBREAK AMONG THE
CONVICTS.

The first report as to the attempted escape of a conviet
is inaccurate in mie or two particular.. It was stated
that he disguised bimsa If in • soldier's summersuit, the
feet being that when found, lie had on • kind of
" jumper or smock-frc.ok, manufactured out of one of
the convict's sheets. He was discovered, not by Mr.
Clifton, the governor, but by • party of the Slat with
some warders, who marched • trench in which was •
quantity of stone all reedy-worked for use. In 'recess
among these stories, the convict was found. The
rumour of a mutiny among the the convicts arm° from
the tearing of the doe, which made it appear like
two. Now two black flats, one half-mast high, are as
signal of high mutiny, and rusistence required, and the
ezeitement at the barracks may be imagined. It was
remembered that the number of convicts would be
about four or five times that of the toddlers, in fact it is
said that out of the 500 soldiers stationed at Weymouth
and Portland little more than 300 would be available in
case of an emergency, while the number of convicts is
stated to be 1,600 or 1.700. On Tuesday morning
shortly before the dinner hour, • convict throw a stone
at his usistant-warder. Missing him, he immediately
threw again, and struck the warder on the face, indict-
ing a cut. The warder rushed alter him with his
drawn sword, and the fellow, finding that he was being
gained on, threw himself flit on tie ground. This is
allowed by the rules as a token of submiuion, and when
• convict has thrown lainiseU down, the warders ate not
allowed either to fire on the prisoner, or tn use their
swords. The man was itutoodiately secured; but in
the meantime another convict showed symptoms of
great elf:dement, but this proceeded no further than
his cutting his own thumb instead of the stone he
was working. A :limier is also afloat that • con-
spiracy was got up among • gang of convicts to
murder the governor, as he went his rounds as usual
on foot ; bet that Providence interfered in POMO way,
perbaes by an intimation being conveyed to M r„Cliften
in time, and he was on horseback when next he came
round. so that the attempt was debated. Another dis-
quieting fact is that, in consequence of (the numerous
fatalities among soldiers of late, such as suicides and
murders, those who are not on duty ate deprivet of
their ammunition,and the expense magazine in which it
is lodged is very ninth exposed, in case of a sudden
rush of convict.. Some of these rumours we give under
reserve, having been unable to obtain ditinct authmity
for a. m ; but tin re is DO Ilk übt that a very oneuy
fin-ling exists, at least among the seltittie forming the
guard. It would no doubt be unwise to publish thew
factor if there were the slightest chines of their reaching,
the convicts ; bat thet could only happen by the coil-
nivanee of thou by whom such an act would be
madness and in effect enicide. We have little fear
for the result, if the convicts (after being ilea
-
mated by the gallant resistance their ward, es
sad the 51st would no doubt suffer) 'tumid
be met by the Portland quarrymen, with atone
picks like their own ; but a speedy reinforcement
of the garrison would no doubt remove much
discomfort, even if there is no cheeps of bloodahril.
So Pays the alarmist; but on the other hand, there aro
weighty reasons for believing that such • rising will not
again be attempted. In the find place there ore elways
among the convicts coos who hope, after serving their
sentenee. to live • new life ; and others who know the
folly of mull an attempt These and others iri" tufo"
mation, and the secret of a conspiracy is sure to leak
out be further means, so well informed see the offirials
as to all that is contemplated. It will be remembered
that at the last attempt everything was known lord/
before hand, large re-infereement of soldiers were poison
In all directions in the way of the convicts. and the
attempt was defeated in details so easily .6 tobe quit°
ridiculous, if it were not for the severe punishment the
rascals got. Then there is the uteleunees, even if there
were.. momentary, though moss uulikely, eurrisu. The
prisoners could
gnardships would rake the isthmus with their grins, and
blow into the air every one that attempted to cross. A
third and almost neWless barrier would be provided in
300 or 400 soldiers, composed of other men of the
51st who would be gathered up by that time,
and the .company of Royal Engineers, to say nothing