Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-05-28
Mutiny Extraordinary.
Stirring Scenes at the Tennessee TeDie,.,;a-
y-EPrisiHy IF Three Hundred Con.
Utcts.


There were some STRINGS scenes at the pen.
ltentlnry ou Sunday. nearly resulting in the
overthrow OF the gallant "uards of that in
stlluuon and the escape Of hundreds Of its
striped and close clipped inmates.
Some eleven of the white convicts. with
Martin Coffee, an ex soldier cf the 5th Ken
lucky (Federal Cavalry. whose sentence for
house>burning aud robbIug vii! expire fifteen
years from the last session of the Criminal
Court, had concocted plan for grand strike
ior freedom ana had determined upon carry
ing 1t out even at the hazard of their lives.
Waiting aud watching. an opportunity at
last occurred to them. At five o'clock T. NJ
oil Sunday, the long deal table in the dining
room. which is in The west wing of the b,,If.
ing. was spread with the homely prison fare.
and three hundred convicts half of them he
groeS lied III and seated themselves in their
accustomed places. A single guard len.
oerson-stood III the room, armed only with
the short baton usually carried by those of
his calling, aud the door leading outward to
the wall. which had been pariiulJy torn down
Tor material 20 build new one stood aiar.
welcoming the cool, delicious breeze that
swept into the heated apartment.
Neither whisper nor sign of any kind be
Tayeu 'he intent OF the leaders rs they 81
ientIy partook OF the evening meal but
wien every plate had been o..ptied and
knives and forks had jingled to The ir resting
places Cohee suddenly rose from his seat his
eyes Hustled with excitement and waved his
soldier cap high above his head saopf,u,, in
startling tones: Now is vour tine. hnvs
Strike. strike ID. for y"uv lrJerty!' As the
word struck upon their ears, the situation at
once flashed upon them, and with one accord
up rose every man of the motley three hun
drcd, while an ex>Texas Ranger named Hen.
ry Holt, with ten others seuouding ,he daring
Coffee. s'rove to imclte them to action
So sudden, however, had been the call up>
on them, that though they fully comprehend
ed that but two walls. each one ten feet in
height, stood between them and freedom.
hesitated.
Henderson. the guarl who was near CoC.
fee. ordered him to be seated. but instead of
complying, the convict seized Il knife from
the table and mnde Iumge at him, which
Henderson wurd,d with his club. Using il
dexterouSy, he kept oil the mulinnus con-
wet, and was making good fight, when ten
OF the Feultemtiary guards who had been
lounGInS about tie yard rushed in body
INTO the room, each with a lcveled revolver
covering one Of the rcbCIlious crowd. and the
storm died away as suddenly as it had broken.
The leaders were ut once seized. bound
and whipped. while their constituents. all
save one, suieuIy marched to their cells.
When the roll had been called, the ab.
.scnce OF this one WAS discovered. He was a
negr" named Emglish. and had been sen
fenced for larceny. While the exci,eme
was at ITS height, he had quietly slipped o.
OF the dining + ON, and going TO wood pile
near the ouward wall. quietly secrercd him.
self beneath it. first placing an improvised
ladder III the shape Of slender los. against
the wall. ready Tor use when he should make
up ms mud to start. This log, however,
sealed his late. The guards in their search
at once observed il, aud going to the wood
pile, one of them. Frank Crew. noticed among
the wood what he thought to be some old
clothes lie carclesSly drew his revolver and
fired shot, but only an echo answ. red the
sharp report. second time he fred and
suppressed shrek Of pain issued from beneath
IT, English was then ordered to come ont.
but he neither answered nor moved \ third
bullet was sent AFTER him. winch had the cf.
feet to bring him to. aud lie crawled from his
hiding place grooming with pain Upon ex-
animation. II was found that "a ball had pierced
each of his aims. but the wounds were NOT
dangerous aud he is now doing welt
All were set to work again yesterday. as
usual. the m'schIet-mukers, however. being
closely watched, aud no 1urther trouble is
anticipated.
Coffee. the leader Of the uprising. is hand.
some, Intelligent young man, twenty-five
years of age. and has not the appearance of
being an adept in crime.
Holt is large, rougI-looking customer,
and ls IN for twenty one years. having been
convicted OF stealing horse in Pulaski.
where his wife now resides. lie deserted
regiment of Texas Rangers to which he be-
loneed during rhe war. aud went to Jefferson
Vile from whence lie fed after rubbing the
till of saloon in which he was bar Keeper
One OF his wives. 1t is said, Is now living in
JehersoRv ille.-NuSh. Bunncr -Nuy l4th.