New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-22
THE REVOLT OF CONVICTS.
DISORDER INCREASING AT SING SING.

INJURED-F1GHTS BETWEEN IONNiNiO
SERIOUS TROUBLE EXPECTED.
iFRoM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRIpuSE'i
SING SING. Feb 21-The revolt of prisoners at
the State Prison at this place is spreading ana con-
siderable apprehension is felt by the authoIlties
that they may not be able to cope with the re1rac
tory convicts.
This morning at half-past z those employed
in the moulding shop were marched to ther
places The men sullenly began ther
various tasks At o'clock. when the keepers were
changed, James Murphy raised his hand LOT per
mission TO go to the stove to warm himself. ne was
followed by Peter Smith, Patrick Conroy' henry
Durlxn James Ryan and Thomas Doyle. All IT,
fused to return TO work when ordereo "
do SO, and Murphy and Smith maroneu
up and down the alsles, the iofniei
threatening TO whip any man who wouid not JOIN ia
the strike. Twenty-eight men fell into line, saying
their tasks we're too heavy. They were taken !"
their cells and put on diet of bread and water.
Twelve other disseminated convicts from various
shops also dropped their tools and were taken 10
their cells
Those employed in the moulding-room are locked
in cells adjoining the striking shoemakers and 1t is
believed that the plot was arranged during the pre-
yious night When the indictments were taken 10
their cells the confined shoemskers greeted tnen
with cheers In ALL 244 men are locked up ior reius
ing 10 work. and Of these 232 are employed under
the contract system"
1.-THE trouble is not by any means ended" said
Warden Brush to TRIBUNE reporter. expect
before the end of the week that the whole prison
will be In revolt The causes, think. are the Gov-
ernors letter and the action of certain outsider VINO
with the legislative committee visited the prison
last week. The difficulty started IN the laundry
where this outsider had spoken to number OF the
men. who also gave him letters and notes. lhe
conyicts seem to think that the members
of the committee are sympathizing with
them. and that by striking they can
abolish the contract system. 1t took five years 10
build up the prison discipline and now it Is utterly
destroyed The cOnvcts are about equally divided
IN regard to striking and Tuesday night, those In
elined TO work Kissed the others down. | cannot
tell where this will end. Owing to the strike
of the lasters in the shoe department
the trlmmers fnishers, and sOle-leather men VIII
soon have no work"
Mr. Baker Superintendent OF Prisons. visited the
prison this morning and told Warden Brush that
Governor Cleveland had said that discipline must
be preserved at any cost"
During the day the prison authori-
ties were anxiously expecting an out
break. 1t rumored that all the
foundry men intended 10 defy the warden. During
morning
will and if they could bave secured leader they
would have JOINED the others Patrick Winnie who
nearly killed Keeper Bugcr year ago, refused TO
lead in the revolt. When pouring OF" time came,
all the relief was on hand to quell
any disturbance IL seemed as though n
commence when the men returned from the mcss-
room after dinner. No offered TO work for fully
ten minutes and if one had been bold enough to
declare his refusal. the Others would have Joined
with him. The rumor. spread yesterday, that the
Governor would revoke the combinations OF the
strikers probably had its effect The trouble. how
ever. is not yet over. and tomorrow morning War
den Brush thinks they will ali strike.
II was stated that fourteen fights had taken place
to-day, and that Keeper Thies had been severely
injured though in what manner could not be ascer-
famed. lie was taken the hospital, covered with
blood and very weak.
James Schneider convict In the shOe-shop, for
refusing to lead revolt set upon by four
Others and badly beaten before he could be rescued.
He said lac did not mind riskng his life to escape.
but the revolt would not paw. feilow-convict
named Adolph BalSchmidter, alias " Texas
Jack" rescued him from his assAiauts, who
were led on by Alfred Miller. schneider.
and convict iIallock once worked eight months In
digging their way up through the stone pillar IN
the centre OF the prison towards the roof and had
only one week : moro WoTh 10 shlu INC iVoi "hth
thew were caught Schneider subsequently,
attempted TO escape with ." Paddy Walsh
by running for tho river. but Walsh
was shot and killed and he returned
to his company. Richard Elliott and John
Callahan quarrelled the strike question In the
moulding shop and Elliotts injuries caused him to
be removed TO the hospital. Two other con-
vcts, g. Phelps and c. Leach. fought in the foun-
dry but their injuries could not be ascertainec, and
the other quarrels were reported az mot serious"
Superintendent Deckc, in charge of the foundry
for Perry & Co.. SAID TO n TRIBUNE reporter: "
will be astonished if this disturbance does not end
in bloodshed. The men are terribly worked up aud
are very insulting aud abusive to their keepers,
who have thus far acted very Judiclousy.
We have 100 men acting as instructors
and they are afraid to continue their work. | can
not leave the prison. for II requires all my moral
the support TO keep thom at their places IeIpect oil
foundrymen will strike tomorrow. In Albany the
civilians individually cast 200 pounds Of iron
each per day, while in Sing Sing Prison con-
victs average is only III; therefore
their plea of overwork will not hold"
Warden Brush, in company with representatives
of the press visited this afternoon the hospital ana
mess-room In the latter place number of convIcts
were eating. When the party passed a low and
hardly audible hiss came from several of the men.
Tue visit was not unnecessarily prolonged.
All the guards. some eighty in number, are kept
constantly on duty. Forty-three Winchester rifles,
fully loaded, ale kept in the armory for emergency
dniv. OF these ten have been re-barrced and ten
arenew seven OF the latter being distributed in the
guard-houses
The convicts were locked mp at haf-past
A. and an hour later, Warden Brush
sent superintendent Baker, at the Brevoort
House, New-York City, the following dispatch
All locked up quietly No change since you left In
dications that many will stop work In the morning
During the day the Warden also received letter
from Chairman Reyes at Albany. asking him
in company with DR.. Barber. to appear
before the committee tomorrow. Tho Warden re-