The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-18
THE MUTINY AT SING SING PRISON.

Upwards Of Six Hundred COnvicfs in Revolt
Within the past few days matters at Sing Sing
Prison have assumed serious, If not alarming.
aspect. as 10 such degree have disorder and REBEL
lion obtained among the convicts that at present
fully half OF the entire number confined are actually
in revolt. 1t is true and equally fortunate that the
turbulent and dangerous men are securely locked
In their cells; but this confinement does not
in the most remote sense, bend their mutinous
spirits to the obeyance OF prison rules or TO
the orders OF those who are placed over
them. The yels and other noises which pro.
ceeded from the main prison yesterday where
all Is usually quiet, resembed sounds emitted from
the dreary corridors OF a madhouse or other recep
tacle of uncomfortable horrors, and az each i'm.
INJURED convict seemed TO be beating discordant
tattoo on his cell door the effect produced can be
partially imagined.
IL Is known by the prison officials that for many
months past the convicts have been planning GEN
eral revolt but was not until last Sunday that anv
important symptoms OF the plot were deveoped
AT the dinner hour on that day number OF the
men were heard grumbling on account of some beef
when had been Issued, their murmurings OF discon-
tent becoming almost universal. This meat was sub
sequenty examined by dislnterested parties called in
for that purpose, and was by them pronounced
good On last Thursday beef was again served.
with potatoes, but this did not suit the
convicts as the potatoes were served whole instead
or being mashed. as was latterly the custom. TAX.
ing umbrage at this change IN the culinary depart.
ment, the fastdious convicts expressed their dis
gust In unmeasured terms, some OF them boldly
proclaiming that II they did not get extra rations
they would cease WORKING.
Another source OF discomfort among the men at
this time was prohibition by the doctor against
their drinking limestone water found in the quar-
res which oil late has seriously affected the health
OF many of them. This order the quarry hands mer
by refusal to work unless they were supplied with
ice water which resulted in about fifty of Them being
marched IN and locked up.
After breakfast on Friday morning the main BODY
OF the convicts were conducted TO their respective
tasks when some OF the most notorious characters
IN the shoe shop openly commenced to urge the
others not to commence WORK at all. A majority OF
them demurred to this, and expressed their lnten-
ton OF doing their allotted task. whereupon the
ed to work. The keeper OF the shoe shop At tins
iuncture ordered those who would not work
to fail into line. which they did and
without loss OF time they were locked mn
Similar scenes to the one lust described werr
enacted In all the shops, proving without doubt
that the mutiny had been prcconcerted In the
south foundry convict named Palmer on refusing
to Join the revoters was savagely attacked by them
and before he could be rescued was 80 badly beaten
that he had to be carried to the hospital The prison
onicers assert that the only modes OF punishment |
which could briny refractory convicts to subsection
having been abolished by legislative enactment, |
they are len almost poweress in their efforts 10 pre-
serve discipline. II il certain that at present they
are defed and derlded by the mutinous convicts |
who seem to be worked up to high state OF rebel.
uou0 incidence.