The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-10-03
REVOLT AT sing sing PRISON.
attempted Escape Of Forty
COnvicts.
alarming Condition Of Affairs at the Prison
Defiant Attitude Of the Jail Birds-A verita-
bio Pandemonium- Something Rotten in
tho Present Management-A Diaboli-
cal Conspiracy Discovered-Gen-
eral Alarm Of the Citizens

bing Sing Prison was made yesterday
when, by an evidently preconcerted pian
korU convlcts sailed out boldly rom
heir various avocations and, rushing to the
6ock seized the freight propeller Hugh Balton and
attempted to cut her loose. intending to head her
Rcr the opposite bank OF the river. Through the
Hoolness ana bravery OF Captain Ward and Others,
however, the desperadoes were foiled. and all,
without q single exception recaptured, and at
bnce placed In close confinement A spirit or dis
kontent and defiance seems to pervade the entire
brlson and 1t would appear that general tnsurrec
hon is imminent
In short the actual state OF affairs existing there
ht present reveals rank and almost universal symp-
IONS OF INSTRUMENTATION, which may at any mo-
ment eliminate In scenes the thought Of which
hight well cause the stoutest heart to snudder.
The turbulent and invariably omtnous spirit which
De evnced by majority Of the convicts. finds vent
bach recurring evening and night after the men have
been locked up Then 1t Is that they openly
hely ali attempts ar restraint, and. as though by
perfect understanding which pervades every corrl-
hor OF the vast building, express their discomfort
Rith the prevailing order OF things by
HowLINds, CURSES AND CAT CALES,
Ehieny directed against the agent Order and dis
kipne have given place to INSTRUMENTATION and re-
kolt while the usually hushed nocturnal atmos-
fhere OF the prison has been changed into pande-
honium. Upon inquiry 1t has been ascertained Dy
} HERALD representative that this s4.ss -.
+ u ALARMING CONDITION OF AFFAIRS
has been mainly superinduced by persistent IN
Inference evinced on the part Of RUSSELL the agent,
p to the quality OF the food furnished to the
Rics or the manner In which 1t Ia prepared. After
Ehe worst side OF their status has been cal
IND, despite their shackles and d0ubly secured cells
kre not deferred by threats or torture from ASSERT
Hh01 Inn OF fnu
lights remaining to them while serving out their
allotted terms OF punishment Is that the coarse and
UNPALATABLE PRISON FARH
pc set before them IN as acceptable condition as
nstance the coaycts assert that w6lIo thew do not
pretend to be censoriOus regarding the execrable
DUALITY OF their conee they can see no reason why
That On their case) severely travestied beverage
xhould be served to them In a cold state. But the
bore Immediate cause which has added intensity to
SMouIpKRNa FIRE OF REVOLT
tm0ng the prison inmates was dinner Of stale
xa wca sy Gegea w das
purchased from member OF the prison .ring, Land
EhO through MS extensive catering to the institu
Hon named has long been known throughout the
surrounding neignborhood as 'the mutton man."
This attempt to force otherwise unstable and de-
tidedly unreasonable food upon them was regarded
DROWNING OUTRAGE
by the convicts, who while in the messroom showed
IrrepressDle symptoms OF dissatisfaction.
Z II Is now q matter OF n0tOrety among the subor-
Plnate OficerS OF the prison that plot Is being
fnatufed among the ringleaders or the turbulent
Element which II permitted to be carried out would
certainly be attended with ~: e's
MOST cALAMITQus RESULTS.
The information has leaked out through sorne OF
the more dOcio OF the jailbrds, that conspiracy
has bcen for some time forming. the object OF
which Is to precipitate general revolt. 1t Is pro-
bosed that the uprising shall take place In the mess
kOOm. when all OF the conv1cts are assembled. AT
precOncerted signal those men who are serving
put life sentences Will make simultaneous rush for
ehe doors, carefully cl0singlhe latter after thefh.
The remaining seven or eight hundred desperad0es
you'd then take care Of the handful Of keepers in:
plde, while their more fortunate companions would
eeze the freight propeller and At once head her Tor
Re allowed e succeed through SgYl ~ tpe
there Is no estimating the disastrous conse-
Opposition could be successfully Onered by the
Keepers When 1t Is remembered that only In the
ne6s room are the convics all brought together at
pne time, the feasibility Of this cunnlngy devised
blot to bring about sweeping exodus nom the
prison and consequent slaughter OF human lie will
kt once present itself to the reader
In the village OF Sing Sing the minds OF the cfti-
tens are filled with painful apprehensions and fore
P0dtngs Of the most gloomy nature. They den0unce
In unmeasured terms the present wretched manage
tnent or the prison, and are looking forward with
Intense anxiety to the 10th instant when UNDER
ttC0d that the Board OF state Prison Inspectors will
meet here and allay the constant Tears Of whole
community BY Erecting such change In the prison
management as Will insure the safety OF themselves,
kheir wives and their children &"