The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-01-11
A STAMPEDE OF coNyIcTs.
CRIMINALS WHO DIDN'T WANT TO SHOVEL
ASHES AGAINST THE wND-oNR oP THEM

CRIMINALS WHO DIDN'T WANT TO SHOVEL
ASHES AGAINST THE wND-oNH OF THEM
SHOT.
Al O'Clock yesterday afternoon ITO convctsNwere
employed near Lighthouse Point at the north end Of
Blackwelrs Island in filling in the waste spots
with ashes. Some OF the convicts seemed very
much dissatisfied with the work they engaged in.
Discomfort became ri, and the murmurs OF the men
soon became quite audible to the Deputy Warden and
the keepers in charge of the gang Al last Of the
mon cried out rhis is hell OF a biz such day as
tnis-shovelling ashes a gale Of wind" I'm
mediateiy after another man cried out, "Let US
kick agnst it," Fifty Of the gang Of men refused TO
work, and were picked out by the keepers and sent
toward the prison-whch IS three-quarters Of a mile
distant-in charge of two keepers. Among the con-
vlcts desperate character named Henry Smith.
He sentenced December IA TO one years
imprisonment for assault and battery. This Smith
seemed 10 be the rngleader in the fmeute
but evident that plans had not been clearly made
or the might have been successful in the
tempt to escape. When the nfty had marched to-
ward the Penitentary for distance OF half mile
from Lighthouse Point six OF them broke away
from the Keepers and made a desperate at
tempt to escape, although there were no
boats or other means Of conveyance from the
island 10 the mainland at the time. Warden Fox and
Commissioner Brennan were engaged outside of the
the break among the convcts From where
they were engaged In conversation they could
yie,s The Warden pp' and the conmissoD Do
up TO head the six escaping convicts of, while
who, followed by the other i've, was making for the
almshouse IN the direction of the river, TO
get away. Poy shouted to Smith TO stop
but the latter would not heed him. Very
Foy caught and engaged in a deadly cnch
with Smith, the latter making desperate attempt to
take revolver from him In the struggle they rolled
foreground.
sioner Brennan and Warden Fox had arrived at the
scene, the former crying out to Keeper Foy,
Don't shoot don't shoot have them.n
In the excitement OF the struggle, however,
Keeper Foy shot Smith in the right side, the ball pass
touched his lungs as there was no internal hemorrage
up to ten o'clock last night 1t is also reported that
more than one shot was fred from Foys revolver and
that the keeper shot himself In the fingers
Of his left hand Strange TO say, tho other
five convcts did not attempt to assist Smith
in his struggle with the keeper and rather
peaed with the result of the conflict The prisoners
having been brought altogether were taken TO the
prison, and two were placed in balh and chain last
night The other three will have these ornaments af-
fixed to their limbs this morning. They Will then
be sent back with these troublesome appendages
TO do the work which they refused TO do yesterday
Smith was assisted TO prison after he rose from the
ground, and the Warden said TO him, ~ guess you
are not hurt very bad" He answered, "We,
| think am hurt pretty bad" He was
taken to his CELL where the visiting surgeon and his
assistants stated that they could do more for him
than in the hospital Dr. Kitchen afterward con-
versed with Smith, and said to him, "Don't you want
TO get wellf' TO which Smith made reply al don't
care whether | get well or not il doesn't
make much difference TO myself any one else If
should die now" 1t is believed that Smith will
cover. The ball was extracted. The names Of
and their offences and sentences are as follows
John Smith. sentenced December Il for assault and
Edwards, August IL, one year for assault and battery
Joseph Mccormick, August 10, for larceny; George
Buttman, October It, six months for larceny Alex
Kennedy, November H. SIX months for assault and bat
terry