The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-04-12
MASSACRE IN TnE DARTMUoH
PRISONS.


PRISONS.
We recently copied from Wilmer & Smiths
European Times, an article giving deserip-
ton of Dartmoor Prisons ~ they now are, sc,
The samo account was published IN the Nrw
Orleans Crescent correspondent of which
paper corrects sctoua mistake Ia one Of
the statements which il contained Tho writer
says
"I'his account states that on ono occasion
there was revolt among the prisoners aud
consequently massacre Ihcrc never was
revolt among the prisoners, but there was
u massacre, aud that without cause or provo
cation, ] wns nearly two years one of those
unfortunate prisoners, AMI will state To- vou
thc> particulars of that brutal transactions
which are now fresh IN my memory as tho
they occurred yesterday, II WAS very soon
AFTER W. had got news of the lhll ratification
Of the treaty ofpcnrc. II will bc r,collectcd
TINT the treaty was signed nj Ghcnt, ou the
22d or 28d ot December, 1874 aud sanction
cd by the lintishGoycrnmcnt Immediately on
its arrival in London, say about the 2jth or
2Gth, and Immediately despatched To- Amori-
ca, IN the sloop of war FaVorilc, and ratified
aud returned back 90 England ia the -amc
vessel late Ia February isl5. Now from
this time TN the 9th OF April, Che day or the
mnssocrc) we we're expecting daily tobc sent
10 the States, Gov we had heard OF peace, md
npposing the United States agent in London
(l}easy) would usc all due diligence in svul-
ing W home, we were contcutcd with our cir
ecumsianccs and not one would have lult the
prisons had they been open. We had no
money, and had A. our allowance of pru,is-
ions was IL was better for us to stay aud re-
ccivc thatthan starvc on those harrcn hoaihs.
About q o'clock on the 9Th oC April, 1919,
the turnkcys Of the several prisons were pro
pairing TO lock mp ior the night, aud had sue
cccdcd in getting most part inside the prisons.
~ llis tlAn a HuullaE-e "a ltiil.-las
been playing ball against the wall separating
the gunrl.room houses from the yards Of Nos,
D. ,.6,and 2, fingered behind To get hall they
had kicked over the wall and which the SEN
try there refused 90 send back Tho little
i.llnEa pnL their Tin. hands thrnugA tho al.ll=
ing Of q water drain under the wall, and told
him, II he would not send il back they would
dig n hole under the wall and get il. This
cnrRgcd the brute he Instantly fired his gun
-aIl-ealIEd- -tla-4444aEl--l
beat to arms, and the guard fred into and
formed across the market square. The pris-
anerar aa hearing ~ unusual - tAiag -tl.is
rushcd out Of the prisons again, and run uti-
to the gates 10 ASCERTAIN what was the matter.
Now the gates leading into the three different
wards of the prisons were close together
There was n covered space between them
and the ipu paling and gate which led into
the matket square capable of holding two
hundred men. This space was soon fllodwith
mon, who were loud in asking the soldiers
and others in the yard what was the matter
They got no answer In the mean time sol
ders were collecting on the ramparis Of the
inner circular wall--moTc men marching into
the square. The crowd of prisoners for there
was at this time $500 in all the seven prisons,
who were in rear of those n front were press
ing forward 60 ascertain what was the natter
and SO great was the JAM that the weak fas-
Jennings of the little gate leading into the
--y1uarr ,t~r- 1v1,J amt trur1brr uf truuriruus
were forced into the square.
About this time, Captain George Shorthand,
ROYAL Navy, Commandant of tho Prisons
came down from his dinner, full of wine, as
usual, and ordered his troops to fire on the
ID Yankees; l'0t this, the officer command
ing them, seeing no necessity ior--hc having
witnessed the accident of the prisoners being
forced into the yard--refuscd 10 do. Can't
Shorthand gave the order himself again. but
seeing the order disobcyed, seized one OF the
soldiers muskots, and fired, CRYING out at
tho same time, Fire p This brought on
''iesul;ory fire from tho soldiers, but even
they were human enough not TO level their
pieces, & no one was hurt Seeing this some
thouGhtlcss young scamps among the prison
'ors cricd out in derision, Blank cartridges /
blank cartridges 7 This incensed the troops,
and Mt the noNt fire some of them lcvclIcd
their pieces, and many fell general pan
rr seized the prisoners, antt-ttry- ran for their
prisons. In coming full into their wards a
gain, they were met by a cross fire from the
troops on the wall, and there being but one
door open IN each prison, as was usual in
locking UP, IL occupied some time before tbey
could get in. Many were cut of from the
door, and were shot or bayonctcd Ono poor
fellow tnok shelter in one of the coolx-ho,ie
and was there ruthlessly killed In all ther.l
wore iorty-sevcn killed md wounded. EaIiv
the next morning, the Port Admiral of ptym-
outh came up and caused Capt Shorthand 10
Inc arrpstcd for his barbarity What was done
with him have never learned lie had n
narrow escape Of his life that evening. In the
rush tn eet into tlse f.sis.444-
'herH with thcir guns were forced in with thei
crowd. No harm was done them, hnt ono of
the I'rfsonorJ got ono of their muskets. and
was taking good aim at Capt Shtrrtiani hut
was prevented from firing by one of his com
rades F iu.'.-
he>c art tho main facts As thcv occurred
and which. a few wears back, could have hGcn
Recsted to by thousands of witnesses I should ;
l'ot have 'troablcd vou with this statement
! lDne,ast ut hsrs always paincd me to sec llc /
history OF 30 important a transaction faisiiiod ,
The origin OF this proceeded from ihc FALSE I
f ttI la. D. Il