The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-11 00:00:00

TILE CONVICT. AT CFJATHAM.

A fresh outbreak has taken place among the con-
victs at Chatham, far more alarming than any which
has occurred here. The number of convicts em-
ployed on St. Mary's Island on Friday was 350, and
these were marched over to their work at the usual
hour that morning, the whole being in charge of
Mr. Burton, principal warder, and 30 other warders,
all armed in the usual manner. The convicts pro-
ceeded with their work as usual during the whole
of the morning until the time for dinner, an hour
being allowed for that meal. It is usual for 250
men to remain on the island to dine in two largo
buildings erected for that purpose, the remaining
number being marched over to the prison. The
dinner was served out to the men on the island in
the usual manner, when several, who were ring-
leaders in the outbreak, began complaining that the
food was not "good enough" for them, and that the
soup was " poor." On the complaint being made
by the convicts that their food was not to their
liking, Mr. Burton, the principal warder, promised
that their complaint should be inquired into, when
he was answered with an oath, and the contents of
one of the soup tins dashed in his face. This was
the signal agreed upon for the commencement of
the outbreak, and immediately afterwards the con-
tents of innumerable tins of soup were thrown over
Mr. Burton, who was quickly drenched to the skin.
The greatest uproar now ensued, the convicts yell-
ing, hooting, and swearing, hurling their dinner
utensils about, smashing the windows, throwing the
remainder of their dinner at the warders, and com-
mencing to tear up the tables and other articles of
furniture. During the uproar Bassett, a convict,
mounted a table at one end of the room and addressed
the convicts in the most violent language, urging
them to " stick by" each other and to make their
escape, at the same time exhorting them not to re-
sume their work, and to murder any of the warders
interfering. This was answered by loud cheers from
the men. Several of the more desperate charac-
ters likewise commenced pulling down the spouting
round the building, with which they armed them-
selves, while others endeavoured fbr this purpose
to force away the iron bars of the windows. The
free workmen employed on the island, fearing that
murder would inevitably ensue, rushed into their.
boats and rowed away into the middle of the river.
After resorting to other acts of violence most of the
convicts consented to resume their work with the
exception of about nine of the worst characters, in-
cluding Bassett, all of whom had been foremost in
the mutiny. A strong body of warders subse
quently proceeded to the island, where the whole
number were secured, and, having been ironed, were
all chained together and marched off to the prison,
where they were all heavily ironed and placed in
the punishment cells. On Saturday a number of the
other convicts, whose names were taken by the
warders, were also removed to the punishment cells
for being concerned in the mutinous outrage. Dur-
ing the whole of Saturday and yesterday the con
victs in these cells created the greatest disturbances
by kicking the doors, hooting, And Yelling.