Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-08-18
SING-SlKG.
An Exciting Race for Freedom
Twelve Convicts Board a Tug and
HIM Amuck

Twelve Convicts Board q Tug and
Rum Arnuck.
New YORK, Aug. 17.-This afternoon
a dispatch was received by Superintend-
ent Kelso from the Warden of the prison
at Sing Sing, setting forth that while the
steam tug Dean Richmond was lying at
the prison dock a number of convicts
went on board and seized the boat. Be-
fore the authorities could interfere the
convicts had oveTpowered the hands or
the boat and started down the river.
Kelso ordered the Harbor Police boat
Seneca up the river in search of the
Dean Richmond. The Seneca started at
o'clock, but nothing has been heard of
the conyicts or boats since.
SING Sine, Aug. 17.-An extraordi-
nary affair occurred at Sing Sing prison
to day. At q quarter before IL O'Clock
tug boat having canal boat in tow and
going north was observed approaching
the prison dock with considerable rapid
ity. The guard warned the pilot to keep
off and the warning was needed apparent
ly, notwithstanding the steamer glided to
the pier. immediately twelve convicts,
as if understanding the whole movement,
made rush from their work, leaped on
board the canal boa and ran pell. nell
over it to the tug and into the engine
room. The engineer was dislodged and
one Of the convic,s dashed into the pilot
house and took charge Of the wheel and
Immediately the tug was headed for the
west shore.
The alarm was given as quickly as pos
sible and many regular prison guards
rushed towards the pier. They aimed
their pieces at the convict pilot and
shouted for him to stop, but he crouched
down out of sight and the vessel still
kept moving. Word was sent to Sparta,
a mile south, where sailing vessel was
procured and sent in chase. Childs of
the prison, also started up the track to the
Sing-Sing dock and got sloop under
way filled with armed men. One OF the
vessels sent out TO capture the convicls
oYerhauled the tug near Reckland, when
the cOnvicts took to small boats in the
vicinity which some boys had, and row.
ing quickly to the shore escaped to the
mountains. One convict who got into 3
boat with boy was pressed so close that
he seized the boy and placed him before
him so that the guard would not fire.
The guard did fire, not at the escaping
convict, but with the intention to intimi-
date and cause him to surrender. He
kept on pulling instead, and reached the
shore, where he Joined his associates.
Surrounded.
Latin, the Inspector, states that the
cOnyicts are now in the woods near Rock
land, and will be Tecaptured, as they are
surrounded. 1t is believed this affair was
planned two weeks ago by persons in New
York.
A Change of Clothing for COnVicts.
The tug boat was the Dean Richmond,
and the captain was Mr.. Norton and
the engineer Mr.. Farrell. A boy was
alss on board, named Farrell; both are
under arrest. The tug left New York at
$50 this morning. The Captain says
two men hired him to come to Sing Sing
to convey a load of furniture to New
York; they hired him for the same pur-
pose fortnight ago, and he came up,
but after landing the men said the furn-
ture was not ready, and they would go
back. They paid the captain 800 on
board the tug to-day. After the tug was
captured there wss found on board the
convicts' clothing, number of false
whiskers and moustaches. and 3 number
revOlvers, which were brought from New
York All the convicts had ample time
TO change their clothing for the suits
brought up on the boat, after the tug left
the prison dock. The escaping convicts
cut the canal boats loose, so as to give
more speed to their vessel.
A Possible Fight
As soon as the affair occurred all the
couvicts in the prison wers locked, and
every guard was sent in pursuit. II is
believed two of the men who planned
the escape are il the mountains with the
eOnvicts. Il is possible that desperate
fighting will take place in the mountains
On the west shore before the cOnYiCts are
capture.
LATER-A dispatch has been received
from Superintendent Kelso stating that
two men have been arrested at Engle-
wood, N. j., supposed to belong 10 the
gang which escaped. Before dark to-
night musketry firing was heard in the
of ROckla1d, On the West
shore, and il is thought az encounter has
taken place between the conYicts and the
pursuing guards.