Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1890-08-15
A MAD REVOLT.
Riot of ConYictS at MasSachu-
setIs State Prison.
An Attempt to Shoot Two OF
the Guards.
Several of the Rioters Hurt
in the Melee.
Over $4,000 Damage to Machin-
cry, Stock, &c.
The Ringleaders Locked Up in Dark
"Fort Russell"
The Ringleaders Locked Up in Dark
Sort Russell"

Several weeks ago the prison commissions
| ers Of Massachusetts, directed that the new
| law, known as the Bertilion system OF
measurement and description Of criminals,
as adopted by the Legislature Of this year,
should he carried out Warden Russell
OF the Massachusetts state prison, at
Charlestown, could do nothing else but en-
force 1t, and the moment the convicts got
wind of it n decided objection arose, and
several gave notice that they would never
submit TO 1t. An instructor was. however,
introduced, and the regular officers were
taught how TO take the measurements and
descriptions, which also included photo
graphing the criminal, and, in spite of the
protests of the prisoners, the law was carried
out In all its particulars, and every one OF
the nearly 600 conyicts have come under the
requirements.
What Is known as the tough element, re-
cruited from the slums of great cities, has
been trying to stir up dscord ever since, and
for the last few days there have been rumb-
lings that something terrible would happen,
threats being freely made against the lives Of
the warden and his officers. Thomas Moore,
very clever convict, although a man who
would be taken for an idiot by any body who
did not know him, succeeded in making his
escape from the prison a night or two ago.
The following day Chicken Welsh, Il South
Cove man of hard character, and a leader In
disturbances In the prison, got up ruse to
escape, but was captured and put in punish
ment This seemed to madden his friends,
ard they smashed the windows in the work.
shops and cut up shoes aud harnesses upon
which they were at work, to show their spite.
About 90 of them were spotted and shut up
In the fort on bread aud water, which Is
great punishment in hot weather.
Every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon
1t is the custom TO give AN hours recreation
In the yard, from 4.3J to $50, and Warden
Russell was given to understand that trouble
was coming. He took the precaution to no
tify Capt. Gaskin of station Is to lie ready
with his officers at moments call, and at 8
O'Clock on the day in question oil the
day and night men were notified to APP
pear at the station, and Officers Shaw and
Began were at the prison to give the
alarm.
A double guard was placed on the wall
with Winchester rifles, and ut 4.30 the men
were let into the yard, Warden RusselI's
plan being to have everything go along just
as If nothing was going to happen. The men
did not create particle of disturbance, but
quietly gathered in knots and discussed the
situation. During this hour the details Of
the riot were doubtless discussed, though
Warden Russell had no intimation that the
fracas was coming
The men had been quietly at work in the
different shops, when al Of sudden a
yell was sent up in the shoe shop. This
was signal to the prisoners at work In the
other shops, and Immediately work was
stopped and the now infatuated convicts
commenced pitching their wooden boxes
and tools through the windows.
The moment Warden r lssell heard the
yell, he rushed for the shoe shop. Windows
were being smashed right and left, sash and
ALL and everything convict could lay his
hand upon was pitched out. Some were
smashing The wax thre ut and mailing ma
chimes used in the manufacture of shoes with
heavy iron hammers. A fire was started In
the shoe shop, aud got to be quite n lively
blaze before it was extinguished by Inspec-
tor Hopkins and the police.
In three minutes after the riot broke out
Capt. Gaskin's men at station Is were upon
the scene, coming down In the patrol wagon,
and they did great service In helping TO quel
the riot. Harnesses and shoes were cut up
brushes and bristles scattered about pair
of Fairbanks scales pitched out of the win.
dow and barrel of backing dumped on the
floor. Probably 40 windows were smashed
all to pieces.
In the harness shop 100 men are employed
and the same number in the brush shop
Over $4,000 damage was done in a very
short space of time. and the ringleaders arc
now confined for punishment. The bed shop
was not damaged, and the printing office
lflered only by broken windows. There
are 594 convicts in the prison, and really
but small percentage OF them were actually
engaged In the riot.
William Evans, Alias Edwards, by some
means became possessed of a revolver, and
fred two shots at Officer Witham, who was
on the back side Of the shop where the work
was being thrown out. The shots, however,
did not take effect. He then turned his at.
tention to Officer Howard, at whom he fired
once and made an attempt to fire again. but
the revolver mis- 'ed fire. A box of cartridges
WAS found in his cell and false key, but the
revolver has not yet been found.
As soon as Evans tried to dispose of OFF,
GERS Witham and Howard, the convicts
yelled, Now let's make a rush for the gate
The precaution had been taken TO guard that
point strongly froE. attack and toey were
met by the officers with rifles. The mad.
dened convicts turned away from their OBJ.
ject and were rushed into the wings by the
detail of officers from the stations In Boston.
Some of them refused to enter their cells
and sho sed resistance, but it was of no avail
and all were soon safely taken care of,
A strong guard was on duty all night about
Fort Russell. The men inside could be
heard cursIng and yelling In their agony,
several OF them having had th ir skulls
cracked, and others were injured in
various ways. 1t is thought their late expe.
rience will be lesson which they will not