The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-08-01
LIFE IN SING SING.
Thrilling Moment In the History Of the
Great Pfisou.


Great Prison.
Sing Sing prison came as near
ing a sudden revolt among its 1,6O0
prisoners, the other day, as is possible
for great prison to come and avoid
the danger. A correspondent of New
York paper gives the following account
OF the affair: John Barrett, desper-
ate and powerful young burglar, from
New York, created the trouble, and was
killed in consequence. The cause of
Barrett's desperate conduct was severe
logging he had received Wednesday.
He had been unruly, Sinking work,
burning his feet several times in the
foundry to escare duty, and being pun
ished on several previous occasions.
The burning of feet became so common
evidently done purposely. Sometimes
forty cases were reported in a day.
Barrett pretended inability, and made
two applications to the prison physician
to be excused. The physician refused
him, and, Tuesday morning, he threw
down his tools and said he would not
work. For this he was locked up in
dark cell. The following morning
when the slop-buckets were collected,
Barrett refused to put his outside his
cell, and when, few hours later, DIR.
Smith visited his cell, Barrett threw
the contents of his bucket over the
physicians face and breast. DR.. Smith
was stunned by the act, and
the acids contained in the bucket
blinded him completely for several
hours. For this, Thursday morning, he
was brought out, and in presence of DR..
Smith and others subjected to pad
ding This is a very severe punishment,
much dreaded. The prisoner is hand
cuffed, and without any clothing in the
way, logged with strap of sole-leather
two inches wide and about two feet
long. The authorities were very reti-
cent as to how severe Barrett's punish
ment was. However, it made him des-
perate, and he swore he would have |
somebody's life. This morning, while |
being taken to DR.. Smiths Office by |
Keepers Mackin and Mccormick, he |
suddenly struck twice at Mackin with
knife, cutting him severely in the thigh.
Mccormick knocked him down, but he |
sprung up again and ran into the yard.
Getting on the foundry roof he threw
chunks of iron at his pursuers, and sue
ceeded in getting into the foundry.
where he called on the 200 workmen to
join him and get freedom. The officers
had kept him at bay in cor
ner half an hour, wishing to get
the other men out to dinner before
they tried to disarm him. When the
men were drawn in line to march out
Barrett tried to join them, but the
officers prevented him. The other men
broke the line, rushed to their comrade,
and surrounded the five keepers with
many menaces. For few minutes
there was every prospect of an out
break, and the keepers feel sure that,
had the riot gained any Roadway, they
would never have got out of the build
ing alive. Three of them drove the
convicts back, the other two covered
Barrett with their pistols. Barrett, af-
ter threatening the principal keeper,
Biglin, turned upon Keeper Good, with
his hammer raised above his head. He
was about to strike, and the blow must
have been murderous. - Good had his
revolver in his hand, and, when Barrett
came too near, with the hammer still
over his head, fired. The bullet entered
Barretts left breast, and penetrated the
top of his heart, killing him almost in
stantly. The other convicts scattered
at the sound of the shot, but rallied
again and made rush for the keepers.
Three of the latter, however, kept them
at bay, while the two others carried out
the body. Barrett was one of the most
pOwerful men phvsicallv in the prison
He was sentenced October, 1877, to
three years and six months imprison-
ment for burglary. The Coroner's jury
gave verdict justifying the shooting
in self-defense."