The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-12-01
A Brave Warden.


A break occurred yesterday at the
state prison at three o'clock p m, which
but for the bravery and GOODNESS of the
Warden, his Deputy and the officers Of
the prison, would have been a serious
affair. Shortly after three o'clock the
prison buggy drove furiously into town
with the intent of procuring medical as
slstance. The reporter of the ADpea
TOOK the return carriage, and ascertained
tne facts OF the case. AT about the houl
above mentioned, Capt Matthewson, the
Deputy Warden, went to the second
story of the shoe.shop to give orders,
when he was seized by more than half a
dozen convicts, who rushed upon him
and bore him to the ground, shouting,
Liberty or death; you shall die, but we
Will be free" Capt. Matthewson, before
nearing this war-cry, had rushed in, sup
posing there was some trouble among
the prisoners. AS soon as he ascertained
the actual condition of affairs he en-
deavored to dissuade the prisoners from
their project. They replied; " We will
take you outside to project u.s." You
had better be quiet" said Matthewson;
you will be shot," Despise his advice
they carried him out, pushing him in
front OF them. The men who had him in
charge were Matheny and Kelley, SEN
fenced for life; Crawford, for seven
years; Ole johnson, for twelve years,
8strander, for twenty-five, and Allen,
for six years. The object of the breakers
was to reach the south door of the prison
garden, nnder cover of the official, and
thus run for life. 1t the meantime the
Captain of the Guard, Gonnard, had
been seized in another portion of the
shoe-shop by Bodarro, sentenced for life;
Belcher, for twenty-one years; and Bur
ton, for three years. They told him if
he would go quietly they would not hurt
hair of his head. He, too, expostu-
lated, telling his captors that it was GER
tain death to proceed. The breakers
were all from the shoe-shop, and were
armed with the knives used in that de-
partment. Upon the Captain of the
Guards expostulating, he was severely
cut in the groin by one of the breakers.
he was not certain who inflicted the
wound. When they were all outside,
Capt. Matthewson, although in a most
dangerous position, ordered the guards
to fire. The order was given three times
before the command was obeyed. By
this time they were nearing the gate,
which, through the efficiency of those in
attendance, was promptly closed. While
coming down the stairs, Capt Mattheson
Kicked window and shouted, thus mott
lying Pine, of the guards, that some.
thing was wrong. He Immediately mott
ned Gen. Batterman, who promptly ap-
peared upon the scene. The firing had
already commenced. Mitchell, who was
stationed on the paIapet, fired his shot
gun, completely Kidding johnson with
slugs and shot and such truck as is or.
dinarily loaded in shotgun. Capt. |
Matthewson, whowas holding prisoner,
was shot through the right arm, the bali |
passing from thence into the shoulder of |
MatheAy, young man sentenced for |
life, and passing out through the upper
portion of his arm. Matheny and John
son fell.
The officers remained firm and the ex-
element by this time became intense.
The prisoners seeing they were utterly
now uUgau W wcanen. GvIUnvI, 49, u
the men in charge of the Captain of the
guard, was the first to propose giving up.
He said to the Captain: eff you will
keep the guards from shooting, we will |
go back quietly" The Captain agreed |
to the proposition, and then returned to
the shoe-shop. No escape was affected,
and the officers of the prison are to be
on the efficiency and |
promptness in the discharge of their
duties. Drs. Fox, Smart, White and |
Luce were Immediately called, the for
mer attending to the case of johnson
and the latter to Matheny, all of them Civ
ing their attention to Capt. Matthewson
and Gonnard. The wounds of the latter
are very slight. Matheny has a flesh
wound in the shoulder, from which he
will soon recover. The wounds of John
son are very serious. We counted
twenty-seven perforations in his shoul-
der and back.
About five p. m. Johnson died of his
wounds. He was sentenced for murder
in the second degree, for twenty-five
years, and had served two years of his
time. He was the ring leader of the
movement, and met with his just deserts.
Under the present management the pub
lie need fear no more breaks.-Carson
(Neu) appeal.