The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-01-30

The Marion Star Of yesterday gives full ac-
count Of the attempt to break jail on Friday
last It says:
On last Friday morning, about 8 o'clock, our
citizens we're thrown into state Of excitement
by report that the prisoners-twenty-six in
number-were attempting to effect their escape
from confinement. Many Of our white, and
few colored men armed themselves and hastily
repaired to the jail, where the agent OF the
Freedmen's Bureau also has his headquarters.
After the agent Of the Bureau found that neither
the remonstrances of himself nor the jailor had
any influence upon the manifest intentions OF
the prisoners, he ordered the citizens to drive
them from tho windows with their guns,
which was accomplished by few shots. Three
or four of the prisoners we're wounded, no one
Seriously. But even This did not stop them
from their work of destruction; they continued
to destroy the cells until the Rev. j. B. Middle
ton (colored) went into the jail and communi-
Gated with them.
All Of the prisoners, except three who took
no part in the attempt to escape, are murder
ers, house burners, robbers and thieves from
Darlington District-apt scholars, no doubt, OF
the infamous teachings Of tho renegade B. +.
Whittemore. The leader OF these would-be
refugees from justice was jeff. Gee, who was
convicted at our spring term OF the court last
March, of the murder Of Darius Candy; When
his cell was opened by an attendant. to be
cleaned he Immediately seized the bolt with
which the door was fastened, and forced the
locks Of oil the remaining cells. This put them
in possession of several bolts Of iron, weighing
eight or ten pounds each, which they would
have used successfully had it not been for the
timely arrival Of the citizens with their arms.
IL,
ton drove them to the determination to make
their escape.
To this plea the report Of MIR. E. NJ. Stoeber,
the Bureau agent, is sufficient answer. 1t
reads as follows:
At about A. NJ, Friday, The boy engaged in
cleaning one of the cells in which Jet. Gee and
others were confined, was oyerpowered ana
the KEYS taken from him. All tho cells were
opened by the prisoners, either by force or
with the keys in their possession.
Having my headquarters in the same build
ing. at once welt to the assistance Of the
TAILOR, Mr.. c. Virgins, and ordered them to
desist rom further injuring the promises, re-
minding them OF The consequences, but with
out result. Armed citizens having arrived IN
the meantime, permitted them to fire at any
one trying to escape. Az some prisoners were
in the act of coming down and others break
ing some OF The iron bars in the windows,
about eight rounds were fired at them,
slightly wounding one in the neck and
face, with small shot. This firing had the
wished for effect. as shortly after all dis
turbance among the prisoners ceased. Soon
after I visited the prisoners in company
of Mr.. Robert Collins, the sheriff OF this dis,
trict, and Mr.. Middleton (colored), teacher, oil
unarmed, and in their presence they com
planned Of being in q starving condition, ano
we're often compelled to sell some OF theli
clothing to receive some additional food, re-
ceiving too small allowance Of food to sub
sist upon. 1 visited the jail twice before du
ring the short time I um on duty here, aDc
conversed with somo of the prisoners, but mo-
one ever complained to me of such scarcit!
of provisions. In fact. Imust confess. tina
most of them look well and hardy, and I be
ieved them to be so far satisfied with thei
condition, hearing them very frequently tt
sing and some time to dance.
Tn the evening the prisoners were chained
to which they submitted without displaying i'll
humor, and SO remained very orderly and quie
during the day and night.