The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-29
THE CONVICTS EMEUTE.
Details Of the InsurrectiOn in Au-
burn State Prison.
How New York Burglar Opened the Ball While
the Chaplain Was Saying Grace at the Mess
Table-The Progress Of the Rebellion
The Alleged Cause.-The Con-
victs Want Better Fare.

l.
arrived here late this evening, to find that the
kilograms concerning the revolt In the State Prison
have been somewhat exaggerated That there was
q determined plot conceived to rebel against the
prison discipline or effect the escape Of some
of the convicts Is true But there Is no
evidence showing that any serious violence was re-
sorted to by the ringeaders In the eneute or those
who followed their lead. The t0wnsfolk, however,
as wen as the officers OF the prison. were greatly
excited, and 1t has not yet died out. The warden
Mr.. Ross permitted me to converse with the men
who were participants in the revolt, and from their
reports CLEAN
THE FOLLOWING FACTS.
They report that the plot was conceived by a
number OF New York rOughs headed by Thomas De
Kay, sentenced by Recorder Hackett on the 18th of
last July for burglary to Sing Sing, and transferred
here. 1t appears that the convicts first made
q demonstration on Tuesday at dinner. The
keeper, Mr.. Bacon, reports that before the
chaplain had concluded grace some men In the
mess room groaned, when De Kay burst out into
loud laugh. Bacon asked what he meant, when De
Kay said he was laughing at the sinking meat
placed before him. which was not fit for hog to
eat. Bacon took the meat from him and repaired
to the kitchen, where he and other keepers exam
ined 1t and found it to be sweet Texas beef cured
with saltpetre that gave 1t q peculiar smell.
THE RINGLEADERs ORDERED OUT
Bacon then returned to the mess room and
ordered De Kay out to the aisle, when he replied
that he would be damned before he would go out.
Bacon reported to Captain Parsons, deputy
OF the principal keeper, and he ordered
De Kay out. The ringleader still refused
when Warden Ross appeared on the scene
and renewed the order. De Kay then squared on
to strike the warden, gave him much mpudence
and retreated to the other end Of the table, which
he mounted and called upon the men Of his shop,
shoe shop No. to stand q h tS one o. the
and struck waiter In the face with one. He was
finally
should 20 with the warden and receiving On answer
and the day passed without incident except that at
night, after the cOnvicts were locked up they made
ing meat given them to eat on Wednesday morn
Ing, when ordered to work. many refused unless
they were given better fare.
THE MUTINEERS.
The shops In which the men refused to work are
as follows:-Tool shop No. l. about ffty shoe shop
No. l. about one hundred; shoe shop No. 2, about
nifty; tool shop No. 2, twenty; shoe shop. No. 8,
aso to
work, while many OF the above, the keepers
say, were forced to quit work by the
II they did not loin them. The mutineers were
taken out to the bucket yard, and then marched to
ted representatives OF each gang to make their
complaint, which was that
THEY WANTED BETTER FARE.
He assured them that he had no intention to give
them any but the best, and advised them to return
to work All, 1t is sad complied except about six,
who locked up their cells During the day they
worked quietly, and 1t was believed that the re-
belion was at an end, but yesterday morning
ns ~ r. 81 soe shops a or
work. but were intimldated by their leaders. The
warden, with squad, went down, and after giving
Inv tnt m fnnVp fn rAwly
On proceeding to the shop Keeper Featheriy
to work Four New Workers were at once seized
and locked up. They are Thomas Wilson. Thomas
Steward, John Jones and James smith, alias Rod
who threw cup Of coffee at Captain Parsons; viii
John r. Goss, a sta6ber; John banvcr, a burglar;
Alexander English, thief; George Byron, burglar;
1SG smith caaTa
burglar; Michael Boyle, burglar, and Joe Early,
ANOTHER BATCH LOCKED UP.
An hour or so after these had been secured
about twenty mine In the sash and blind shop
were locked up In tselr cells. This morning the
keepers report that ninety OF them were released
from the cells and returned to work, leaving only
sources learn there are $50 still confined bread
and water once per day, and rumor says
RECEIVING APPLICATION OF THE PADDLE"
fiat board on the bare skin to teach them submits
sion. During the excitement the Willard Guard, a
military organization, was called out but their
vices were not required. There are various rumors
aioat as to the cause OF the outbreak among 9th
that the food Is really unfit for them, and that
the demonstration was to frghten the Warden into
providing better fare. Another Is that 1t was in
cited by the labor agtators OF New York,
but this Is too absurd for serious notice.
1t is very certain that escape was not
the incentive to the revolt, as none made attempts
to gain their liberty, and II IS more likely that the
cOnvIcts made the demonstration for no other pur-
pose than to improve the fare. The keepers regret
that there is no law justiylng the whipping OF pris
oners, but they make mysterious references to the
beneficial effects Of the "padden upon the bare
hips OF refractory convicts. At this writing they
are all quiet and well conducted but the emeute
may break out anew In the morning.
HADMIRAL O,KEEPEU