Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1815-07-31

respective prisons, or quietly retiring as u
sual towards them, immediately upon the
sound oil the bell rushed back from curiosi-
lty (as il a1pears) towards the ga'cs. where,
~ that time, the crowd had assembled, and
many who were at the tine absent from
their yards, were also, from the plan OF the
prison, compelled in order o reach their
own homes, to pass by The same spot, and
Gus thal which was merely measure OF
pfecaution, IN its opsfaticn increased the
evil it was intended 10 prevent.
Almost az he same instant that the alarm
bell rang, lbut whether before or subsequens
Is apon The evidence doubtful. though Capt.
hortL nd states 4 positively as one Of lis
urher reasons for causing ii to sing) some
one o. more ol The prisoners broke the iron
chain, which VAS the OILY fastening OF No.
gate, leading into the market square, ~
means Of an iron bar and a very consider
able number of the prisoners Immediately
rushed towards that gate and many Of
hem began to press forwards as fast as the
opening would permi, in,o.t square
there was 20 direct proofbelore US of
previous concert or preparation or the part
IF The prisoners, and no evidence OF their in
ten,ion or disposition 10 efec, their es-
cape on this occasion, excepting that which
arose by inference ON TIE whole of the "a
Dove detailed circumstances connected to.
gether
rhe natural and almost irresistible infer.
ence TO be drawn, however, from The con-
duct OF tie PRISONERS by Capt. Shorthand md
he military was, t.-t an intention OH the
part OF the prisoners 10 escape Vas on the
point OF being Carried into execution, and it
WAS al ltast certain that they were BY force
passing beyond the limits 2rescrlbedto them
It time when they ought 10 have been
qAietly going ia Tor the night Ii was also
IN evidence that the outer gates of the mar
kel square were usually opened about this
time % tt the bread Wagon pass and re-
pass to The store, although at the period in
question they were IN tact closed
Under these circumstances, and with
these impressions necessarily operating up
on his mind, * a knowledge that ifihe ps is
ones once penetrated through The square,
The power ol escape was almosttU a certain-
posed. Capt. Sho tand in the fiislihstance
proceeded down the squire towards the
prisoners, having osdsred part Of the diff
tefent guards 10 the mum Der of about ff,y
only al tigsI, though they were increased
sIterw4rds) 10 follow him For some time
bo,h he and D.. Magrath endea,oured by
quiet means and persuasion, to induce
a t.taYo Nc % N pr IN
explaining 10 them the fatal const queuces
which must ensLe II they eIused, as lie
military would in that case be necessarily
10 employ force the guard
was by this lane Iosmed in the rear of Capt..
Shorthand, about two thirds Of theway down
The square-lhe latter is about one hundred
feet broad, and the guard extended nearly
all across Capt Shorthand, finding that
persuasion was alfin vain, and lhat although
some were induced by ii to make an effort
70 retire, others pressed on in considerable
numbers, al last ordered about 5 file Of the
guard, nearly in front OF the gate which had
been forced, 10 charge the prisoners back 10
their own yards.
The prisoners were in some places so
near the military, that one of the soldiers
states that he could not come fairly downto
the charge and The military were unwiI-
ling TO act as against an enemy. Some of
the prisoners also were unwilling and reluc-
tant to retire, and some pushing and strug-
Cling ensued between the parties, arising
partly from intention, but mainly from the
pressure OF those behind preventing those
in front from getting back. After some
little time, however, this charge appears 10
have been SO far effective, and that with lit
tie or no injury to the prisoners. as to have
driven them Tor the most part quite down
cot OF the square, with the exception of
small number who continued their resist.
ance about No. gale.
A great crowd still remained collected
alter this in tho passage between The square
and tie prisoners yards, and in the part of
these yards in The viciaily ofthe gates.
THIS assemblage sill! refused 10 withdraw,
and according TO most of the English wit
nesses, and some OF The American, was ma.
king noise, hsllowing, Insulting, and pro-
voklng, and daring the military to fire, and
according 10 the evidence of several of the
soldiers, and some others, was pelting the
military with large stones, " which SINE
oiihem wereactually struck This circums
stance IS however d nledb many OF the A.
m .rican witnesses; and some oil the Eng sh
upon having the question POT 10 hem, sta-
ted they saw no s.unes thrown previously
10 The firing, although their situation al lie
time was such as TO enable them to set most
ofthe other proceedings in the square.