The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-03-11
The United States Marines.
A Thrilling Incident in which they Sup
pressed Mutiny In Prison.

The United States Marine Corps has a
weIl-merited history of its own, and has re-
ceived since its organization the warm COM
mendation of Admiral Faragut, Admiral
Porter. Admiral Rodgers and Commodore
Roe. and many other distinguished officers
References have been made to their service
in connection with the quelling of the mu-
tiny in 1924 in the Massachusetts, State
Prison.
An eyewitness has given the following
thrilling description of that event:-"Three
conyicts had been sentenced, under the
rules of the prison, to be publicly whipped
in the yard, and were confined in solitary
cells awaiting punishment. An officer,
whose duty it was to attend to such cases,
entered one of the cells to see that every
thing was right, when the inmate sprang
past him. closed the door and locked him
in. He then opened the doors of the cells
in which were the other two, and the three,
after ,leliberation released the officer and
ordered him to approach the door leading
into the guard-room and give the necessary
signal that all was right. while they stood
ready ON its being opened to rush through
and secure the guard and the arms in the
room. The officer resolutely refused.
They threatened to kill him, and one of
them raised file, sharpened to point, with
the intent of carrying the threat into ex-
ecution. but the officer remained firm, tell
ing them that they might take his life, but
he would not betray his trust. The other
two finally interfered and saved his life.
forcing him back into the cell and locking
him in. The rcst of the eonvicts hearing
the alarm. armed themselves with clubs,
knives. hammers and other weapons, and
assembled in the dining-hall For time
the prison officials lost all presence of mind,
and the news spreading rapidly through
the town. subordinate officer of mild and
kind disposition, hurried TO the scene, and
calm and collected went into the midst of
the officers The most equable tempered,
the mildest man in the government. as Is
usually the ease, was in the hour of peril
the frmest He dispatched at once re
quest to Major wainwright, at the Boston
Navy Yard. for assistance and despite the
entreaties Of his associates entered the hall
with only a little rattan walking stick, for
the purpose &C calling the rioters To order
and peace. He expostulated with them
and asked their reason for violating the
prison laws. They replied that the pun
iShmeut II their associates must be remit
ted. He said that this was impossible.
The convies<. ON hearing this announce
ment. bsg=n to prepare their weapons for
use. and amid excitement OF the most in
tense nature threatened to XIII the officer
who indeed stood on the very threshold Of
death. just II this moment he saw the
feet of the marines fling hy the small lights,
He knew that il was his only time to e.
eape. before 3 conflict for life should begin.
He stepped haeksar,i, still urging the pris-
oners to depart before the officers were
driven to the Use Of firearms as q last re-
Sort. Within three or four feet Of the
door, il was opened and closed instantly
again as be spTang through, and 30 was un-
expecsedly rrztorsd to his friends. Ii was
thought ss first that Major Wainwright
would hre down upon the rioters from the
hstlc prison windows, but he took q bolder
course and marched his little body Of thirty
naen into the dining hall, and furmed his
line directly opposite where the criminals
were gathered He ordered them TO dis
pcrse. which they refused 10 do, unless
their request fer remission Of the fog
ging was asscnted Turning to the ma
rinss. Major Wainwright directed them
to Ioad their guns and Ia expose the bul-
lets before putting them into their weap-
onS. The marines were ordered 10 take
aim; their guns were presented but not a
prisoner stirred, except 20 grasp more firm
IN his weapon. Still deSirous, II possible,
to avoid such slaughter as must follow
the discharge Of the guns, the Major adj
vaneed step or two and spoke even more
firmly than before, urging them to depart.
Again. and while hooking directly into the
{ nsaEzlss of the guns. which they had seen
loaded with ball, they declared their inten-
tion of fighting il out. The intrepid officer
then took out his watch and told his men
TO hold their pieces aimed ut the prisoners,
but not TO fire until they had orders. Then,
turning TO the eonviets, he said You
must leave this hall. | give You three
minutes to decide. II at the end Of that
time man remains he shall be shot dead.
| speak no more No more tragic sItaa-
ton than this can be conceived; at the end
of the hall a fearless multitude of desperate
and powerful men waiting for the assault,
at the other little band of well.disciplined
marines. waiting with leveled muskess, and
ready on the least motion or sign TO begin
the carnage, and their tall commander hold
ing up his watch TO count the lapse OF
three allotted minutes. For two minutes
not person or muscle was moved, not a
sound was heard in the unwonted stiffness
of the prison except the labored breathings
of the infuriated as they began to pant be
tween fear and revenge At the expiration
of two minutes during which they had faced
the ministers Of death with unfaltering
eyes, two or three of those in the rear and
nearer TO the further entrance, went slowly
out; few more followed the example
dropping out quietly and deliberately, and
before half Of the last minute was gone
every man was struck by the panic and
crowded for exit, and the hall was cleared
out a. II nv maaic