The New York herald., 1872-08-29
REVOLT At BLAcKwElLs ISLAND.
Sixteen Attempts to Escape in
Three Days. 50
General Demoralisation Among the Prisonsrs-
Character Of the Kespers-Fou Of Them State
Prison Birds-Are the Commissioners Of
Charities and Correction Capablsr
Working the Penitsntiary for Po-
htical Purposes = Warden
Fitch All Right.


htical Purposes : Warden
Fitch All Right.
The public has been used to look upon the peni-
tentiary at Backwel's Island one Of the best Of
our public institutions. 1t seemed that there were
complaints against all OF them but this one. War
den Fitch obtained q good name for justice and
severity, and no name did our criminals dread more
than his. This good reputation appears to be pass
ing away. Nor Is the fault with Mr.. Fitch. but, a.
we shall show hereafter with those who are higher
in authority than he. Not q week ago the HERALD
chrenicled the escape Of prisoner nom the island
in the face of all the keepers, and sp-
plauded by the passengers Of Q river
steamer, and the almost successful escape
Of another This could only have happened through
bad management. Had the proper men been in
the proper place this could not have been. These
escapes are not unfrequent. On the contrary,
hardly q day passes without something of the kind
being attempted. On Monday morning last 1t
became apparent to the keepers and particularly to
Mr.. Fitch tnat
SOMETHING UNUSUAL
was going on. At i've O'Clock, as usual, the men
were brought out Of their cells down stairs to
breakfast, They were all very composed, and, as
one OF the keepers expressed 1t, appeared
for never q morning passes without some delin-
quency happening which causes some one to be
put In the dark cell, or amused q little with the
ball and chain. In this instance not Q single
punishment had to be meted out, and the men were
showed" out Of the granite building into the yard,
where they were told or as usual in gangs at
"dress.n Everything went on quietly, though the
keepers say that still they noticed an occasional
look from one Of the men which denoted
something grave was going on. An occasional
word was passed from one to another, which 1t
seemed impossible to intercept. Finally they were
sent 10 their work, after the usual inspection. ALL
or nearly all, the c0nvicts on the Island do
OUT DOOR WORK,
In contradistinction to every other pententlary IN
stitution in the country, where the prisoners are
obliged to work all day In shops. Here there
shops, and consequently the men are engaged in
the quarries or In grading and paving or In some
other work of the kind. . +>
On Monday morning the quarry gang numbered
about thirtynve men. They were In charge Of two
Keepers and the guard boat lay at little distance
on the shore in the east channel; that Is the por-
tion Of the East River running between the Island
and the Long Island shore. The main part Of the
men were in the stone shed working away with q
vim when suddenly five Of them, as the keepers
backs were turned, dropped their tools, uttered Q
loud shout and set out on fast run. At the shout
number OF the other men
DROPPED THEIR IMPLEMENTS
and we're evidently going to follow the example
when three more keepers appeared on the
scene with drawn weapons This seemed to have
the immediate effect Of deterrng the majority, who
Immediately resumed work as II nothing had hap
pened evidently under the impression that the
thorities Of the Penitentlary were prepared for
them. Some did not 60 on with their work, but
watched the progress Of the escape which by that
caught almost before he got out OF the quarry
| and was collared. The four others, who were
were after them, however, and the guard boat see-
| ing what was taking place, r0wed rapidly to the
point where the prisoners % wculd 9 6c Likely to en-
point, all running back for the West Channel Tho
race In this direction was accomplished with
MARVELLOUS SPEED,
but In spite Of 1t came to grief for at the bank and
just as they were about to throw themselves in two
guard boat roWed ont nom s The A1e
This seemed to settle the matter In the
and surrendered. they were taken to the dark
TnOmPsCn, May is.s ave years; Patrick DOYLE; Ss;
months. Thomas Mclaughlin, atlas John III Ryan, an
ess Msrs uer d ays
about the same time that this was taking place on
Sps spS an equally %a2s
ieilsd, SSss for s the Present engaged in grazing
on the Island for them and for some fffty men who
Rsnsals RAJ Ia Is1and FSese last a are also In charge
two keepers and guard boat
THE WORK OF THE MEN
on Wards Island lie, of course all out Of DOORS The
! all OF sudden the whole gang gave an uncarthly
ver yS Like es's at Backwels Island, the others
seemed to hesitate till they saw the success OF their
speedily towards the bank, and one Of the Keepers
started after them. The guard boat was on the
spot in moment, however, and when the conycts
dered without even throwing themselves in
hardy, and promised no success though, had
the entire force OF hlty men started at the same
have cot away The reyoiutionists were put in
dark cells like their co,eres down below, and put
on q dietary process, which Mr.. Fitch finds to be
last case the fugitives were also boys.
OTHER ATTEMPTS.
On the same Monday morning there was gang
working around the gas house, on the lower end
OF Blackwelrs Island Two started up, ran or and
sns IN s Win %
experience OF accomplished swimmers AS luck
would have 1t, however the Doctors boat was
fugitives. Another prisoner, named Davis, who
belonged to gang working around the lighthouse
on the point OF the lSanu, also at.
tempted to escape. The gang was at work
and the keepers attention was taken or by some.
thing Suddenly he missed Davis and Immediately
went in search Of him. No trace could be found OF
the prisoner. He had undoubtedly succeeded In
getting behind some dirt which was piled up along
the water side, and, IL being low tide, had crawled
along the sea wall until he reached some point
where he thought he might dive In. No trace Of
him coua be found. The keeper was dismissed.
Another gang was working on Tuesday morning on
upper 'oHap sna ss q the opposite
Island. One man. named Matthew'S, started Off
and succeeded In getting In the water without
being seen. He struck out for the Long Island
shore, and after
SWIMMING FOR HALF MILE
against tide almost as strong rs that at He'll
Gate was finally captured by the guard boat
uaiu Il fiari iuafa liol.