Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-12-02
Attempt to Burn the Penitentiary.

A most daring attempt was made On Saturday
night to burn the u. 3. PenitentiaSy. which was
happily frustrated through tho loyalty Of the con-
victs and the vigilance and courage Of tha officers.
The plot. II seems. was laid by George Nelson.
discharged convict, whose term OF sentence OF.
dired on tho I4th inst. His plan Of operations
we're well laid month previous 70 bis discharge.
aud no mentioned the same TO convict Kelly, wish
ing him assist in tho matter, which refused:
and Kelly further used every effort TO persuade
him against the attempt. Nevertheless Nelson
persisted in bis PLANK. and at leaving tho prison
told Kelly that on Saturday night OF O'clock he
might look out for tho Are. On Saturday aher'
noon Kelly divulgcd tho matter to tho Deputy.
warden. who Immediately communicated II to the
W rden, and arrangements were entered into to
arrest the parties in the event Of tho plans being
carried out. Accordingly threo guards were made
acquainted with tho circumstances, also three con-
fdontial convicts as assistants. Nelson's pro.
gramme was ~ follows: At o'olock at night,
he with HE Aooomplees. wero ~ repair tn the
cast corner OF tho prison anj next /" tho Arsenal.
An acoomplce, mulatto man by tho name Of
Penny. was to scale the wall and act ire ~ the
carpenter shop. and IN tho midst Of tho alarm and
excitement, they intended 10 onter tho west trout
building and carry of from tho Warden's ofice
tho iron safe. containing the money Of the instit.
ntion. Thus, plumber seemed TO pe the main 0b.
ject
At tho hour mentioned, they met md male the
nltsmpt ~ got over the wall, when b,th captured.
Nelson making desperate resistance, Deputy
Warden Se"gstack drew his revolver and sh"t him
in the back, iniicting u saycre wound. Much
praise is duo tho indomiabls spirit ui thu guards
in making the arrest. Tho officers were Messrs.
Campbell, Maxwell. und Howe, headed Ly Deputy
Warden Songstack, who oxposed himself as II
insenshe Of fear !; also. John Day. a prisuaer,
who accom- panied the guards, and was the first
to clutch Nelson and hold on to him until he was
oyerpowered. Some other uooomplices were soon
ut distance, hut who made their ercapc. Quo Of
them. In crossing tho swamp East VI tho prison.
was shot ut by tho Deputy Warden aud Maxwell
and, il i. supposed, was wounded. u, hc WINS seen
10 fall, but arose again and made h,s escape. Had
the plan been successfully carried out, no doub,
mt this moment the entire block Of prison bnlld
ngs would now be la,d in ruins. Ths lwu prison
ers arrested were lnkcn before Justice Donn, who
eump,ttel both Tor Court Nelson is powerful
| and muscular nan, measuring six icet AK inches
in heighth lie il nntive of N ,rth Carolina
and was sentenced Tor three years for pnssng
counterfeit coin.
Penn il n muatto the son of q white woman. -
lie has served two terms in tho Pcnitcntary al
ready, although he is only about 81 years OF age.
Ills statement is that Nelson and late convict
named Cunningham arranged the plan to obtain
some boots and shoes. which were ~ bc placed On
tho wall Mt IL designated plnce; TINT they were
niter them " hen arrested; md that Cunningham
made his escnpc and was iroi at by Mr.. Seng-
stack.
Yesterday Cunningham (who was recently puf-
dnned out Of the Peni,entary) was arrested by
oihcers Williamson and Irwin, lie was taken to
the guard house, were partial invest CATION took
place. and lie was committed 10 Jail for further OK.
animation. .f=t.5. .
F. s. Nelson died in the county Jail last night,
about 10 o'clock.-H " Hdshfngfoa Star.