National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1866-09-07


oN.-There at present nearly 100
in the State Prison of New
York at Sing Sing, including many
of the most desperate characters,
sentenced for long terms of imprls-
onment-as the Judiciary has recent
ly been unusually severe in its dcci-
sions, in consequence of the preva-
lence of burgalaries and thetts.
These dangerous men are under
charge of s me eighty keepers,
whose duties, as the prison is ar
ranged, are said to be too Onerous
TO be properly efficient; and the
fears prevalent in the neighbOrhOOd
of the prison that the risk of the
escape of SO many desperadoes are
very great. The outbreak on Tues
day it seems had been in prepare
ton for some time, but only enough
was known of it to induce a little
more care on the part ofthe keepers.
Twentyseven men, it appears. were
i'll the conspiracy, the elimination Of
which is described as follows:
"The very first move that was
seen which alarmed the keepers was
in the south foundry. Mr.. Orland
Humphrey, who has charge of it,
was standing in his room. about )
o'clock yesterday afternoon, when a
convict named James Mclaughlin
started out of the front door. and,
as he proceeded, called loudly for
the crowd in the augur shop to pass
that way. Mr.. Humphrey looked
on with establishment as twenty Sc
ven convictS, armed with long knives
iron bars and clubs, ran by him at
the top of their speed, yelling and
shouting, and brandishing Their
weapons in the air. One man raised
his bar as if to strike Mr.. liuinph-
rey. but assed along without mo
/ testing him.
The dcsperadocs passed on TO the
lime kiln shed. and soon after emerg
ed therpfrOm and came in full view
of William G.. Gale, one of the
/ guards, who stood at his post at the
south end of the prison. Gale ran
on his post, and Selling his carhinc
Immediately returned and command
ed the conSpirators to halt. Edward
Stafford, the leader OF the conspira
tors, brandiShed a huge knife and
urged his comrades on. at the same
time yelling with all his might, " XII
/ the. Cut his heart ont :" The
guard instantly brought his musket
to his shoulder and fired. One %
the convictS fell, apparently dead
His comrades how nerycd to dcSpcr
alton, pressed on to the guard. hurl
ing stones and other missiles at hin,
when, in order to save his own life
Gale was obliged to retreat. whicl
he did down to the railroad track
turning at intervals and firing on hi
purSucrS.
While this was going on other
of the guards were iiringon the con
spirators with deadly effect y
soon as Gale reached the railroa,
track he retroatcd rapidly To a qual
~ about half Il mile below the pris
on. and called ont to the men there
in for help, saying the prisoner
We're escaping. The quarrymen
who, by the way, are citizens u
Sing Sing, came forth armed witt
drills to the assistance of Guards
man Gale. As soon as they mad
their appearance on the scene, th
convictS for an instant seemed to b
overawed. Just at this momen
Stafford, their leader. was Instant,
killed by one of the guard. whci
the convictS became dcmoralize,
and were rc-captured. During tn
: assault olc (Stafiord) was instautl
killed. two or three MORALLY wound
!. ed and one or two slightly
ANOTHER ATLANTIC CABLE
81. JohaS. n. f.. Sept. =. The "Tel
riblc' arrived here at noon to-day
She left the cable fleet Wcdncsda
. evening, being short of coal an
provisions. At that time the "Grca
Eastern was starting for the spo
100 miles east of the point wher
the cable broke last year, all a
tempts to successfully raise the cabl
in 300 fathoms depth having faileC
The following is Il minute abstrae
from Mr.. Deans diary: