The New York herald., 1849-05-27
TWO CENTS.
Gold Digging In Massachusetts- ma.
appOln tment.

0OAQ NAasS0chuaetta-Cruel Mae
appO1ntm
We have been really much amused bv per,s;ro
the particulars of well cOncocted and successful
scheme Of a convict, under sentence in the Massa-
chusetts State prison, to effect his escape
The plot was all laid, and proved the au-
thor to be fellow of uncommon sagacity and
knowledge of the human heart.
The name OF the hero of the plot is Phillips
Having been convicted on three indictments for
burglary, he was sentenced to nine years con-
finement, at hard labor, in the State prison. The
prospect was repugnant to his nature, for he was
above manual labor Of all kinds, and aspred to
live life of ease and enjoyment. The certainty
otssuch long confinement excited his ingenuity;
and accordingly he set himself to devislng way
OF escape After cogtatng awhile, it occurred to
him that our Eastern friends had a weak point in
their nature, which might be attacked with some
prospect of success. He accordingly put on a face
adapted to the emergency, and in fatering but
earnest tone, confided to the warden of the pri-
son, that he had, short time previously, buried in
the earth, at a certain place named, the sum of
fifty thousand dollars; that he was about to be
confined for long time, and that the money might
as well be recovered, lest II might be discovered
by other parties, and converted to their own use.
AT this narrative, the warden seemed as
tonished He prlcked up h,s ears, and asked a
regularly answered by the convict to the satisfac-
tion of the warden So well did Phillips for that
was the convlcts name, play his part, and so
culars of the earhing of the money, and the marks
by which he could identify the place in moment,
and so eated was the warden at the prospect Of
recovering such large sum of money, and, of
Pains, that he rushed headlong ints the business,
end was most scientifically and beautifully en-
trapped. Quick as thought, he clenched his hand,
and came to the conclusion that the money must
be recovered, by all means.
AT an early hour, on one Monday morning, cab
was seen at the residence OF the warden, contain
ing that ofiica one ofthe city marshals Of Boston,
the convict Phillips, and many shovels, spades,
and pickaxes as would suffice to equip young
army of California gold hunters. The driver was
told, in whisper, to drive to the Old Colony rail-
rious individuals purchased, tickets and deposited
themselves and their stock OF implements in the
cars. Soon the bell rang-ths engine snorted, and
away they went .'Guf, puff, puff, towards the
beating violently all the while. We are not in
formed of the particulars of the conversation which
took place between the trio on the way, but Phil
lips was observed to whisper frequently to the
warden and the officer, and every now and again
the latter would cnch their hands, wriggle in their
seats, and exchange significant mods, as il ex-
tIemely delighted with the information impaired to
them. Although the train proceeded with the
usual speed, the trip was, In the opinion OF the
warden and officer, very long and tedious. Like
everything else in the world, however, it came to
prisoner reached Fall River, IN the neighborhood
OF which place the treasure was buried, according
to Phillips statement. After cautiously glancing
around, so that they might not be observed, the
crowbars and left the village, Phillips taking the
lead. The gait of the warden and the officer was
rather unsteady, but what caused the unsteadness
is not exactly known-some say it was the effect
of the heavy loads which they were carrying, while
others assert they were so much excited that they
tIembed. Be this as may, the placer at length
reached, "There's the spot" exclaimed Phillips;
''dig under that bank, and you'll get the moneys
At it the marshal went, not with hammer and
tongs, but with pick and shovel and he did not
cease working one moment till the perspiration
| II.xl LII. L
hausted and unable to drive the pick once more
| into the gold bed No time was to be lost, so the
warden took hand, in the work. He went
at It fresh,, and worked as he never. worked
| before, and much harder, we are informed,
than any gold digger does on the banks of the Sa.
cramento. AT length the pick strikes something
hard-,crusl disappointment 1t was but stone.
At IT he goes again, but in time the warden gets
tired too. Now Phillips takes hand, but unac-
customed 10 labor, gives up after telling the wor-
thy marshal, and the equally worthy warden, that
their hopes and antclpations would soon be real
lied, for by digging just one foot deeper, their VIZ
sion would be entranced with sight Of the pre-:
clous deposits. With renewed vgor, the marshal
recommences work, and strikes harder and hea-
had been dug by the gold hunters, capable, as we
are informed, of holding over two opersons-Phlllips
and the warden intensely watching the proceed:
ipgs, and mnutely examining every shovel full Of
someihing-he kneels down to examine 1.-THE
warden on the bank stoops to discover what it is.
| Phillips SAYS, Z" told you o;'' gets behind the
marshal, and applies little force to the warden's
posterior; the warden tumbles into the hole, head
over heels on the top of the marshalthe latter Is
nearly suffocated"-the other is severely BRUISED
In an instant Phillips throws several shovelfuls OF
the loose earth over the worthy pair, and takes to
his heels, making such time Is only seen on the
| Union Course on race day.
The marshal and the warden were exhausted
with fright and excessive !abor-they were com,
pletey @pufied," and could not run hundred
wards. even If the Identical fifty thousand dollars
which thew were va;;"ly deving for was to be the
reward of the feat. After recovering from tnei5
fright, the two gentlemen simuIte ~eously aflveo a
az the conclusion that they had been 'noss esIc,
giously duped regularly taken in and done "rs a. M
ihey retraced their steps to Boston, wiser, il 'e"
happier, men. 1t was observed on the cars. bv the
other passengers, that their countenances appear
ed very long, and that they were extremely taci-
turn, seldom exchanging word. As to Phillips.
we suppose he Is still running, for sight of him
has not been had, since his agile exit from the gold
placer near Fall River.
We do not know in what way this celebrated
gold-hunting expedition is viewed by our friends
IN Boston, but TO US it's extremely ludicrous from
| beginning to end. Phillips got at the blind side of
the marshal and the warden-he tickled their fam
! cy with the prospect Of recovering so much money
! he knew the point 10 assal-ther Judgment be-
came clouded, and they were vic,mzed to their
hearts content. They certainly exhibited a con-
siderable amount of verdincy in putting any faith
Tor them. They yielded to the tempter and thew
TELL We wish the marshal and the warden better
success IN their next god-hunting expedition, but
we think they will meet with more success if thew
! Try their next experiment in California