The Press.
London, England, 1858-09-25 00:00:00

ccibtnts nnD Offtntes.

AN OUTBREAK has taken place amongst the
prisoners at the Government establishment at Port-
land, which is thus described by an eyewitness :
" I found myself on Saturday, the 11th instant, at
Weymouth, and, having taken a conveyance to visit
Portland, I learnt from the driver that the prisoners
in the convict establishment there were reported in a
very dissatisfied state, and were 'expected to strike
for wages,' his belief appearing to be that, besides
being well housed, and fed, they recaived the usual
rate of 12s. or 15s. per week. However, having taken
up my quarters at Portland, I soon discovered that
a dangerous conspiracy was reported to be organized,
and expected to break out on Monday, when the
prisoners went to their usual work in the stone quar-
ries, out of which the breakwater is formed. I as•
certained that the numerical forces on the part of
the authorities were about 200 civil guards and
warders and 150 Wexford Militia in barracks, on
the Verne•hill fortification, in course of construc-
tion, about half a mile from the prison. On
the other side, this enemy mustered 1,50(1 strong.
On Monday morning, having pocketed a friendly
revolver, I took up a commanding view of the
operations. At about a quarter past seven o'clock
a.m. the convicts might be seen advancing two abreast,
in parties of various numbers, according to the
working arrangements, and each party guided by
two or more warders in proportion to its respective
strength. The stream poured from the prison gate
in regular order for perhaps ten minutes, by which
time about 1,000 of the most formidable ruffians I
over saw had emerged (the remainder having turned
into the various workshops adjoining the prison),
unshackled in any way, and selected for their strength
on account of the nature of the work to be performed.
The morning was lovely, sunny, and warm, and the
work had proceeded tor some time as usual, when
suddenly a loud yell was raised, and thirty or forty
convicts rushed from their work, and, as was precon-
certed, jumped on a raised tramway-, shouting to their
comrades to join them, and pressing forward to the
point of concentration. Not an extra guard appeared
upon the ground, and to all it seemed as if the
authorities were taken completely by surprise ; but
at the first rush the prearranged signal passed from
sentry to sentry, a picket of twelve Wexford% sprang
down the side of the quarry, charged in close order
with fixed bayonets along the tramway in shorter
time than I describe it, and met the band of eon-
spirators, to their utter astonishment and dismay.
They halted, hesitated, and then tied, evidently not
relishing the cold gleaming bayonet and the loaded
Enfield, and were then driven into a corrugated iron
shed erected for shelter in case of rain, where the
warders chained them under protection of the guard.
But in the meantime the bugle was sounded, and
armed men sprang from behind the rocks and out of
places of concealment, and before the main body of
convicts had reclvered from their first surprise every
salient point was occupied, the communication
between the quarries cut off, a cross-fire established
from every side, and reset yea held in readiness to
assist in case of violence on any part of the works.
The effect was instantaneous; the thrown-down pick