Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-08-08
NEWS BY TELEGRAPH.
From All Quarters.
UPRISING OF PRISONERS.
COnyicts at CharlestOWn
Attempt to Escape.
cONsTApiES HELD up BY 4 RODBER.
Revolution Increasing In
Guatemala.
CELMAN'S RESIGNATION ACCEPTED.
Sailors Desert the Chicago
and Atlanta.
cELMAN's RESIGNATION ACCEPTED.
TIRED OF PRISON LIFE

(UllN AUl(UlA U0Ge
TIRED OF PRISON LIFE.
aConvtcts of the Massachusetts State
Prison Make a Desperate Attempt
HtO Gain Their Misunderstanding
to Submit to the Bertillon System
of Measurement Shots Fired by
the Sentries-NIany Heads Bruised
With Clubs = The Boston Police
Called Upon.
Boston, Aug. For some time past
trouble has been brewing at the Charles
town state prison, having it's origin in the
objection of the inmates to submit to the
enforcement of the Bertil1on system of
measurements The recent escape of
Prisoner Moore and the unsuccessful at
tempt of "Chicken" Walsh, notorious
convict, has served to keep matters unset
tied, but for several days there has been
no decided outbreak.
This afternoon about o'clock, however,
the convicts in the shoe shop refused to
obey the orders of their keepers and, as if
by some pre-arranged signal, all at'once
set up terrific yell and missiles of every
description were sent flying in all direc-
tions, the windows on the north and west
sides being entirely demolished. Then
they made dash for the yard. A large
express wagon standing in the enclosure
was pushed toward the wall by mob of
over fifty Infatuated convicts, but in the
excitement it was capsized. This means
of assistance being gone the crowd rushed
for the various walls.
Instantly the sentries began firing, at
first to brighten the convicts, but later to
kill Other officers of the institution were
quickly on hand with drawn revolvers,
and soon massed the gang in groups after
a hard fight, in which clubs were freely
used and many of the convicts' heads
badly crushed. Word was quickly sent to
police headquarters, and in a short time
about 200 officers detailed from the various
stations reached the prison in patrol wag-
ons. Upon their entering the yard they
were met with a cry of derision by the
convicts, who were finally locked up in
their cells.
1t is not thought that any of the prison
ers were seriously wounded by the guards,
but, as the excitement has not yet fully
subsidized, and the counting has not yet
been publicly announced, it is impossible
to say what the result of the shooting was.
Several of the convicts were found hidden
about the shops, and it was feared
that one or two had escaped. The guards
on the walls had been more than trebled,
= To-, 49,, ~,
the yard and corridors, while fifty or more
officers guard the streets leading to the
prison.
After the prisoners had been locked up
they continued their yelling for some time,
and pandemonium reigned despite all pos
sible efforts on the part of the officers.
They were then taken from their cells
singly and searched. The uprising to-day
is said to have been instigated by
"Chicken" Walsh, one of the most des-
perate members of the old Albany street
gang, it being the scheme of the gang to
scale the walls and escape during the ex-
element which was sure to follow.
Walter Evans, another of the Albany
street crowd, is said to have fired two
shots from revolver through the shop
window at Sentry Moore, but without hit
ting. Where he could have obtained his
weapon is mystery. The officials of the
prison at a late hour this afternoon de.
clined to give details of the affair to the
press, but promised a statement some time
later
The trouble this afternoon furnished
about the first practical test that the police
signal system has received, and proved its
efficiency in enabling the authorities to
mass large force in any section of the
city in very short time.
In an interview with Warden Russell to
night it was aseertained that while thu
casualties resulting from this afternoon,
| riot are not as serious as at first supposed
| the fight was u sharp one while it lasted ant
| the trouble was the most serious that ha.
| taken place at the prison for many years
The warden's story is to the followin.
| effect:
| He expected trouble yesterday and tn
| police attached to the Charlestown station
were held in readiness, but it failed to ma
| terialize. This afternoon at 2 thu
warden felt morally certain that the crisi
was near at hand, although no overt &C
had been committed. He at once sum
moned sergeant from station Is, VIII
was stationed at the police signal DO,
near the prison entrance and who awaited
the call for help. About 3 o'clock it CAM
from the harness shop, where over 10
|
sergeant, Warden Russell at once rushs,
to the shop, where he found everything il
the widest confusion.
/ Upon entering he at once called to thos
of the prisoners who were peaceably dis
posed to go to their cells, assuring them O
protection. About seventy-five formed il
line and marched to their cells, wher
they were locked up without the slightes
trouble. The others, however, at ono
rushed into the yard and shops, endeavol
ing to reach the walls By this time CAP
tain Gaskiu and forty-five officers ha
reached the prison yard, having made tn
minutes after they received word tha
their services were required. A short, shar
struggle ensued, during which one convic
was considerably bruised about the hea
with an officers club and several of tn
officers received scratches. This was tn
extent of the injuries.
ALL the men were safely under lock an
key within fifteen minutes from the begiI
ming of the uprising. The revolver wit
which Evans fired at the sentry cannot
found, but box of cartridges was foun
in the formers cells. The warden has fe
certain for six months past that there wa
a revolver in some of the convicts' posses
sion and that it had been brought IN by a
oA-COAVlCt NlslGOT, Uuo IL oouAss NV w ~
Gated.
The warden las seventy eight men in tn
strong cells tonight, although he is OF tn
opinion that fully one hundred were col
nected directly or indirectly. with tt
movement There are but thirty-two {
these cells in the prison, SO that in SON
cases he has been compelled % put five {
six men together. They will be kept 9
bread and water until they express vii
ingness to obey the rules of the Brisol
During the confusion in the harness sho
a firowas started by some of the prisoner
{ but it was quickly extinguished.
It is thought to have been their plan
start a confagration and in the exciteme1
attending the entry of the fire departmel
into the yard, when the outer gates won
have to be opened, make a break for
!. rerty. The warden estimates damage
: about $4,000. Everything was reports
quiet tonight at 10 o'clock. The ward'
loudly praises the promptness with whi'
the police, not only from Precinct 10, D
from all parts responded, and each g
: pressed his opinion that it will have
great effect in preventing further uprl
. | inps So