National Republican., 1877-04-22
KICKING FOR MORE GRUB.
THE CHAIN GANG WANT MORE cor
FEE AND L4BRADOR HERRINGs.

A Meeting NJ tho Old Jail Yesterday. wh,sn I
Was Soon Quelicd by tho Guards-TNe
Ringicaders Placed Under Irons and Fssn
on Bread and Water.
The chain gang Is composed OF vagrants
sent to the work. house, who arc sufcicntly sound
in body and limb to work. Thoy arc clad In
striped suits, and are employed in cleaning tho
streets and doing other light work Before Its
Organization the paupcrs were dead expense to
the corporation, and made no return whatever
for their shelter and support. Under the present
system the able-bodied men are compelled to
labor for tho city's good. They nre separated
into several squads, and are distributed about
the District wherever their services may be re-
qured. As q rule, they have been found tract
able and easy Of control. Their uniform good
conduct has been the means Of escape to some dr :
contents, who pro ferred idleness with chances Of
food to work with certainty OF getting enou gh
| to eat and drink md comfortable place to
| sleep.
Tho mai ority Of those who have escaped srser
| few days OF hardshlps and scant food are onsily
| recaptured, and restored to the ranks amer eing
| punished with n lighter diet, bread and water,
| and placed In heavy irons 1t seems, however,
that their high living and slight taste OF work
has made them rebeliious. The first general evil
dence OF
| oPRN MuTIHy
among tho ranks was manifested yesterday by
the squad employed In tho dem clifton or tho old
Jail building in Judiciary Square. At one tlmc
1t looked as though n general outbreak would
follow, but the prompt action OF the authorities
orse Of for.y.sirh, prisoncrs from the work
house employed at tho jail, about twenty OF which
number are kept cleaning bricks on the outside
The work progressed rs usual vest erday until
"a O'Clock. tho hour for lunch: Previous to this
time there had not been the slig htest sign Of dis
sntisfaction. They arc rem anded to cells In the
building at meal times. and arc all served nt
once Yesterday they were marched to their .,I
Etribute tho MONDAY meal. When the rations
Rwcre served considerable surprise was caused BY
esmaIi allowance Of food, and determined threat
On the part Of hve or sx not TO do any work un.
iosd ' IN their pf pfotsststcn. and appesrCd most
determined not to bulge from their stand.
The majority spPesared to wayer' Nth chance, e
critical and vorc 4 bad look for tho continusnce
I Of work in the afternoon. Acting Superintcnd.
atty OF prompt action, and summoning all the
available guards, seiied the rinsicsders and
separated them from their fellows; These were
| lace, John johnson and Charles Johnson, ALA,
thesn on he Consequences Of their persisting IL
the mutiny Gray and wallace feIentcd and
othe rs we're stubborn, and vowed that they wouit
/ not work on such food. As a slight means Of per
! suai Ion, the four mutineers were
HEAVILY IRosEp
and placed 10 separate dungeons, whore they vii
The news Of mutiny at the old jail reached tn
Sevonth precinct station and caused tho detail o
| o pos Sc OF officers there. Thoy came at double
quick step, but upon reaching the scone foun
that all disorder had been queled and that every
; thing was as quiet and serene rs over. They ha
their run for nothing, but made up for that In tn
y way they sauntered slowly back in order to II
3 cover wind and rest.
v In conversation with Mr.. James ]. Dubarr
II appeared that the food was more literally dt,
Y tributed yesterday than usual. Tho bill OF far
l. for each man was as follows: For breakfast,
Iquart OF coffee, ounces Of bread and La brado
Iherring; for dinner, quart OF be an soup,
pound or fresh beef and ounces Of bread; "a
supper, quart OF coffee, ounces Of bread and
q gill OF molasses. Tho articles are served b
weight and measurement, and were slightl
n | above the average. The quantity Of brca
n | allowed is more than soldiers ntion, but wa
a not enough for these rapac'ous wolves Of civilzt
tion, whose main object in life isto get alon
| without work. Their claim for more food wa
s | unfounded, as they were served with what man
y | poor, hard working man would call an abuns
" ahce Thisis another evidence OF the ingTatitud
Of the tramp and the neverdo-well.
d The mutlny yesterday was not quelled q mi
n ment too soon, for the class Of men engaged In
q were bold and desperate, and wero only TOO will
Is ing to assist measure that would add to the
provender. To prevent o second attempt th
a force were cautioned, and stationed about th
~ building and extra irons were procured for oths
~ ~ Insurgents as soon as they showed themselves.