Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1815-07-17
pgunos,;h, s6th 1prii. 1915.

ITO. the unueFslSssecu 1880 :. : =
We, ..J nm behalf of our respective go
srpel., .ots 70 inquire into and report ap-
yernue ,ar,rtunate occarreneeof the 9th
o, ' .as inst. at Daeemoor Prison; having
hgt, s., ,ss nersed the proceedings Of the
ss's'u 'l carts etinquiry Instituted imme-
sss VT. sfter tII,asegeBt, hy The orders OF
aa a',;;;s + Sir John T. Dackworsh and
al, a.ss.es Brown, respectively, aswell
sg H. Seacs;tious taken at the corencss
q 'as ep,n tie bodies al the prisoners,
lals; IA their lives upon Chat melancholy
shs, ,:o., ron which inquest the jury
e e.al ~euiict Of justi6able homicide /;
pp iced immediately to the examination
~ ~ oatl, IN the presence Of one or more
s.. magistrates OF the vicinity, ofalI
=. ,~;torsses. both American and En-
~ s,, who oasfetltbemselves for that rar-a.
go. nr who ctald be discoeeted aslike-
{ = aisora aas material information Oh
g, .,l,;eet. as veil tnosa who had been
s,sr;5asIy examined before tae coroner,
.otderw;se, to the number IN the whole
asshoat eighty. We further proceeded
.s,niDute examination of the prisons,
e. he purpose Of clearing up some points
a5;ch 1000 the evidence alone we're
scarcely Ineligible; obtaining from tie
,r;;soacrs, aud from tie officers O! the de.
not all the necessary assistance and ex-
slsnation aud promising, that We have
Ssen from necessity compelled to draw
n,ary Of our conclusions from statements
and evidence highly contradictory, we
Do new make upon the whole proceedings
Tie fullowing report -
During the period which has elapsed
ssce the arrivalin this country of the ac-
CONT Of the ratification OF the treaty Of
Gseut, an increased degree Of restless
-ess aud Dapatience Of confinement ap-
rcars to hare prevailed amongst the A.
nericaa prisoners at Dartmoor, which,
tloasa not exhibited in the shape Of any
.io!eat excuses, has been principally ~
iica.ei By threats Of breaking out if not
saon reisszed.
Oh The 4ssh Of this ;aonth in particular,
c,iy tive days previous to the events the
subject Of this inquiry. large body of
Tie prisoners rushed into the market
square, fsen Whence, By the regulations
oftte prison, they are excluded, demand
iGs bread, instead Of biscuit, which had
o. that day been issued by the officers
oltke depot; their demands however hav-
ias been then almost immediately epm-
Piled With, they returned TO their own
yards, and the employment Of force on
tEatoccaSion became unnecessary.
On the evening Of the 9th. about six
o'clock, twas clearly proved to Us, that
abreach or hole had been made in one OF
the prison walls, sufficient for full sized
man To pass, and that others had been
cpnmenced In the course Of tke day
near the same spot, thoagh never CON-
petca.
That number Of the prisoners were
over the railing erected TO prevent them.
from communicating With the centipels
onthe walls, which was of, course for
hidden BY the regulations Of the 9iisoa.
ana that in the space between the rail
ms and those walls they were tearing up
pieces Of turf. and vantonly pelting each
other in a noisy and disauaerly manner.
That much more considerable num-
eceof the prisoners was collected tege-
tier at that time in one Of their yards
near the place where the breach was eff
iscted. and that although such collection
o. PRISONERS was not Halseal at OTTER
tunes the Gambling fables being com
monty kept in that part of the yard) yet,
Gncn connected with the circumstances
u the breach, and the times Of the day.
WAich was after the hour the signal for
{ ue prisoners to retire to their respective
pflsoas had ceased to sound. it became a
nanral and inst ground of alarm to those
wac had Charge Of the depot,
twas also in evidence that in the
oelldlng formerly the petty officers pri-
soe, oot now IT, guard barrack, which
@ = IN the yard TO which the hole in
ae wall would serve as communication.
: = part Of the arms of the guard who were
~ pety. were usually kePtin the racks,
s o.. ueUsh there WAS no evidence that
sls Wasln any respect the motive which
naoeea the prisoners to make the open
=. 10 The wall, or even that they were
W. s,sr acquainted with the fact, it natu-
' !. became at least further cause of
s = aud alarm, aud all additional
sea ss for precaution.
,,. Upon these grounds capt. Shorthand
IS; ;pp.ats 10 US to have heea justified in CIV
w. tlc NrGer ,,.h..l ah...4 A., 4.,,,o. L.,