The Litchfield County post., 1828-10-16


of all ages and characters, guilty of every
variety of infamous crimes, dressed in the
motley and peculiar garb OF the institution,
and displaying the wild and damoniac APP
pearance that always pertains to impriSOn-
cd wretches, were gathered together for
the single purpose of preventing the pun
ishment which was to be inflicted on the
morrow upon their comrades. The War
den, the surgeon, and some other officers
of the prison, were there at the time, and
we're alarmed at the consequences likely
to ensue from the conflict necessary to re-
store order. They huddled together, but
could scarcely be said to consult, as the
stOutost Of them lost all presence of mind
in overwhelming fear. The news rapidly
spread through the town, and subordn-
ate officer, of most mild and kind DISPOSE
ton, hurried 10 the scene, and came calm
and collected MO the midst of the officers.
The most equable tempered land the mild
est man in the goI srnment, was in this
hour of peril the frmest. He instantly
dispatched request to Major Wainwright,
commander of the marines stationed at the
Navy Yard, for assistance, and declared
his purpose to enter into the Hall and try
the force of firm demeanor and persuasion
upon the enraged multitude. All of his
brethren exclaimed against an attempt SO
full of hazard; but in vain. They Offer
ed him arms, sword and pistols, but he
refused them and said that he had no fear,
and in case of danger, arms would do him
no service; and alone, with only little
rattan, which was his usual walking stick,
he advanced into the hall, to hold parey
with all the selected, congregated, and
enraged desperadoes ofthe whole common
wealth.
He demanded their purpose in thus CO.
ming together with arms, in violation of
the prison laws. They replied they were
determined to obtain the remission of the
punishment of their three comrades. He
said that it was impossible, the rules of
the prison must be effected, and they must
submit. At the hint of submission they
drew a little nearer together, prepared
their weapons for service. and as they
were dimly seen in the farther end of the
hall, by those who observed from the gra-
tings that opened up to the day, a more
appalling sight cannot be conceived, nor
one gilmore moral grandeur, than that OF
single man standing within their grasp,
and exposed to be torn limb from limb in
stantly, ifa word or look should add to the
already intense excitement. That excite
ment, too, was of the most dangerous
kind. 1t broke not forth in noise and i'm
precautions, but was seen only in the dark
looks, and the strained nerves, that show
ed deep determination. The officer ex-
postulated. He reminded them of the hope
lessness ofescape, that the town was alarm
ed, and that the government of the states
prison would submit to nothing but uncon-
ditional surrender. He said that all those
who would 60 quietly away would be for
given for this offence but that if every
prisoner was killed in the contest, power
enough would be obtained to enforce the
regulations of the prison. The answered,
that some would be killed in the conflict,
but that death would be better than such
Imprisonment, and with that look and tone
which bespeaks an indomitable purpose,
they declared that not a man should leave
the hall alive until the f1ogging was remit
ted. At this period of the discussion their
evil passions seemed to lie more inhamed,
and one or two offered to destroy the off,
Ger, who still stood frmer, and with a
more temperate impulse, than did his friends
who saw from above, but could not avert
the danger that threatened him.
Just at this moment and in about fifteen
minutes from the commencement of the
tumult, the officer saw he feet Of the ma
rines, whose presence alone he relied upon
for succor. filing by the upper lights
Without any apparent anxiety, he repeat
eddy turned his attention to their approach
and now he knew that it was his only time
Of escape, before conflict for life became
as was expected, one of the most dark and
dreadful in he world. He stepped slowly
backward, still urging them to depart, be-
fore the officers were driven to use the last
resort offire arms. When within three or
four feet of the door, it was opened and
quickly closed again, rs he sprang through,
and was SO unexpectedly restored to his
friends.
Major Wainwright was requested to or
der his men to fire down upon the convicts
through the little windows, first with pow
der and then with half t;ll thov ,uara xv;I