The weekly Anglo-African. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1859-1861, 1859-08-27
A PRISON REBELLION IN 1928.

S ~ y
contains the following interesting account
of an instruction in the Massachusetts
State Prison:
A more impressing exhibition of moral
courage, opposed to the widest ferocity I'M
der the most appalling circumstances, was
never seen, than that which was witnessed
| by the officers of the Massachusetts State
Prison, in the great rebellion which occur.
red about FIVE years since Three convicts
had been sentenced, under the rules of the
prison, to be whipped in the yard, and by
some effort of one of the other prisoners,
door had been opened at midday commu-
nicating with the great dining hall, and
through the warden's lodge with thestreet.
The dinner hall is long, dark and damp,
from its situation near the surface of the
ground, and in this all the prisoners assem-
bled, with clubs and such tools as they
could seize in passing through the work
shops. Knives, hammers, chisels, with
every variety of such weapons, were in the
hands of the ferocious spirits, who were
drawn away from their encroachments on
society, forming congregation of strength,
vileness and talent that can hardly be equal
led on earth, even among the famed brig
ands of Italy. Men of all ages and char
acters, guilty of every variety of infamous
crimes, dressed in the molly and peculiar
garb of the institution, and displaying the
wild and demoniac appearance that always
pertains to imprisoned wretches, were
gathered otgether for the single purpose Of
preventing the punishment which was to
be inflicted on the morrow upon their CONS
rades
! The warden, the surgeon, and some 9TH
or officers of the prison were there at the
time, and were alarmed at the consequences
likely to ensue from the conflict necessary
to restore order. They huddled together,
but could scarcely be said to consult, as the
stoutest of them lost all presence of mind
in overwhelming fear The news rapidly
spread through the town, and subordi-
nate officer, of most mild and kind dispo-
sition, hurried to the scene, and, calm and
collected, into the midst of the officers. The
most equable tempered and mildest man in
the government, was, in this hour of peril,
the frmest He instantly dispatched re-
quest to Major Wainwright, commander of
the marines stationed at the navy yard, for
assistance, and declared his purpose to en-
ter into the hall and try the force of fra
demeanor and persuasion upon the enraged
multitude All his brethren exclaimed
against an attempt so full of hazard; butin
vain. They offered him arms, a sword and
pistol but he refused them, and said 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 parley with the selected, congregated,
and enraged villains Of the whole common
wealth. He demanded their purpose in
thus coming together with arms, in viola
ton of the prison laws. They replied that
they were determined to obtain the remis-
sion of the punishment of their three CON-
rades. He said that it was impossible; the
rules of the prison must be enforced, and
they must submit.
AT the hint of submission, they drew
little nearer together, prepared their weap-
ons for service, and, as they were dimly
seen in the farther end of the hall by those
who observed them from the gratings that
opened up to the day, a more appalling
sight cannot be conceived, nor one of more
moral grandeur than that of single man
standing within their grasp, and exposed
to be torn limb from limb instantly, if a
word or look should add to the already in
tense excitement. The excitement, too,
was of the most dangerous kind. 1t broke
not forth in noise and imprecation, but was
seen only in the dark looks and the strain
ed nerves, that showed deep determina-
ton. The officer expostulated; he re-
minded them of the hopelessness of escape
that the town was alarmed, and that the
government of the prison would submit to
nothing but unconditional surrender. He
said that all those who would go quietly
away should be forgiven 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.
They replied that they expected some
would be killed, but that death would be
better than such Imprisonment; and, with
look and tone which bespoke an indomita-
BILE purpose, they declared that not man
should leave the hall alive till the hogging
was RENTED. At this period OF the discus
sion, their evil passions seemed to be more
and one or two offered to destroy
the officer, who still stood frmer and with
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 tu-
multi, the officer saw the feet of the ma
rines, whose presence he alone relied on
for succor, filing past the small lights.
Without any apparent anxiety, he had re-
peatedly turned his attention to their ap-
proach, and now he knew that it was his
only time Of escape before a conflict for
life became, as was expected, one of the
most dark and dreadful in the world. He
stepped slowly back, still urging them to
depart before the officers were driven to
use the last resort of firearms When
within +hrna or fnur foot of +ha door ~ yyoo |