Litchfield enquirer., 1857-02-05

only time of escape, before conflict for life became, as was expected; one of the most dark and dreadful in tie word. He stepped slowly backward, still urging them to depart before theofiicers were driven to the last resort of fre-arns When within three or fouc feet oi tic door, it was opened and closed instantly agals as he sprung through, and was so uuex- pectealy restored to his frieuds
 Major " ainwriYht Was requested to order his ilen to fire down upon the cou7icts through the little windows, first with towaer aAd then With hafi, til they w,re willing to retreat: but he took a w!ser as well us d Loder course. Re
 ying upoa the effect winch firm determination would navc upon inen so crit caIiy situated, he ordered the door again to be thrown open and
 marched i'll at the head ot thirty men who filed through the passage and formed at the elId of the i,ill opposite to the crowd of criminals huddied together at the other. He stated that he Was empowered 10 quell the rebellion, thIt he should not quit the hall alive until ev- cry p!isener returned to his duty. They seem- ed balancing the strength of the two parties, and rellied that some of them We're ready to de, aaid only waited fer attack, to sec who Was the most powerful, swearing they would
 fight to the last unless the logging was remit ted, fsr they would not submit to any such punishment in tie prison. Major Wainwright ordered his marines to load their pieces, and that they might not be suspected of trifing each lnau Was made to hold up to view the bullet which he afterwards put ill his gun.- Tnis ey caused , growl of determination, and 10 one bei.cled or see,ntd d to shril.k from the foremost exposure. TLey knew that. their number would enable them to bear down and destroy the handful Of marines, after the fist discharge, and before they were ordered to re- tire 7; but they were answered tke pieces could be reloaded. The marines were ordered to take taeir aim so as to be sure and kill as ma ny as posSible-their guns We're presented but not prisoner stirred, except to grasp more firmly his weapon.
 Still desrous to avoid the tremendous slaugh- ter that must have followed the discharge of single gun, Ma;or W. advanced step or two, and spoke even more firmly than before, nrgiug them to depart Again, aud while looking di- rectly lhto the muZzles of the guns, they de- cared theig intention 10 "fght it out" The intrepid officer then took out his watch, and told his men to hold the.r pieces aimed at the prisoners, but not to fire until they had orders thea turning to the convicts, he said, "yoa must leave this hall give you three nlinuto to deciie--ii, at the end of that time, d rnaa remains, he shall be shot deat" No situation of greater interest can be conceived At one end of the hall fearless multitude of the most desperate and fearless mcu ill creation, waiting for the assault, at tic other little band of well disciplined men, waiting with arms presented, and ready, on the least mo- ton or sign to begin the earnage-and their tall, imposing commander, holding up his watch to count the lapse of three minutes, given to the repreveof numbers. No poet or painter can conceive a spectacle of more dark and ter rible seblimity. No human heart can ,coll- ce:ve situation of more appalling suspense.- For two minutes rot u person or d muscle was moved, not sound was heard in the unwonted stiffness Of the prison, except the laGorcd breathngs of the in!uriated wretches, as they began to pant between fear and revenge. At the exp!ration of two minutes, during whici, they had faced the ministers of death with ull- bleinhed eyes, two or !hrcc of those in the rear, and nearest the farther entrance well slowly out-a few more followed the example, dropping out quietly and deliberately, and be- fore kaf tine last mrste was goue, every man was struck by the panic, and crowded for an ext :; and the haliwas cleared as if ny magic Thus the steady firlnness of moral force, and the strong effect of determination acting de- lberatdy, awcd the most savage men, and suppressed scene of carnage which would have instantly followed the least precptancy of physical force.
 We heard Ihis related some time since, by an eyewitness, and though some little particu- lars may not be in exact accordance with the facts, owing to the trtachery Of memory, Yet We Know taat all the iml ortant points of the afflr are corrcctI:: stated. 1t affords d useful example to others similarly situated, in the go- yernaens of prisons.