New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-07
THE DEER ISLAND OUTBREAK
LACK OF DISCIPLINE THE CAUSE.
GAMBLING AND DRINKING PERMITTED AMONG
THE PRIsONERS-STORY OF AN TX
nrTCrp or THE INSTvTI-TIO\
ICY TELEGRAPH 10 TIE rkIBUNE1

OFFICER OF THE INSTITUTION.
fsY TELEGRAPH TIE TkIBUNEl
Boston, Feb. Gas result OF the trouble at Deer
island, MAYOR Matthews has sustained DR.. jerks
and dismissed Dr. Newell OF the Commission. Ex
Receiving Officer Redfearn, who for two years an
officer at the island under superintendent Gerrsh
and retired fortnight aco, talks freely in regnd
10 the case Of the outbreaks among the prisoners
lie says the disturbances began long before the pub
lie was made aware Of the trouble. Redfcarn attributes
it n the lack OF discipline on the part of Supcrntend
snt Gerrish The serious trouble, he says began
on January II. On that day, Sunday, the men
were locked up for INSTRUMENTATION. bat. n
they promised TO do better. nothing was done
With them The next morning the prisoners
began their pandemonium, hO0tng. yelling and
screaming out threats that could be heard
al over the place. one or two men got axe from
the woodshed and began 10 chop up the benches In
"Loafers' Hail." intending to them clubs
apninst the officers After the disturbance had
become quleted OWN penalty was provided by
Gerrish.
"He should have gone to Loaers Hall
and broken a few heads said Rcdfcarn, and then
shut the men ND in solitary confinement. Instead of
that he to OF the cells and asked the
men who had hooted and yelled II they wouldn't be
good. They said they would. and they were let OH.
At noon the Commission came down, but did not
sec Dr. jerks among them. ] think If he had been
than they did. and they didn't have great
deal as it was The prisoners appointed two com
mittees. from the young men and one from
the old. Commissioners Devin and Newell heafu
their stories and pretty Banks. of the stone sheu
gang, who of the committee. came ont OF the
session and told the engineer TO blow the whistle the
gang had made their point and wonld 90 to WORK.
Then the men who were locked up were lei out ana
went TO work.
The prisoners running the island. that is all
there is to 1t: and Gerrsh having let those two men
90 unpunished In october contrary to Deputy Upton
Ideas there nothing 10 expect afterward but isuD
ordination on the cath there another disturbance OF
mllder kind The men simply the place. They made
no outbreak but about fifty Of them were smoking IN
the hail. drinking rum which they got from the Long
Island men, and gambling. The superintendent
knew. Of course that they doing all these things
but nothing was done. And they drifted on unti
they made the last big outbreak.
al overheard two prisoners outlining the Plan when
was carried out 10 The letter in the last out
break only The prisoners had planned TO
mako a rush upon the women's quarters ana as
sault them. ! told the officers Of this story. but
nothing done except TO try TO best the PRISONERS
when the outbreak came and the break 10 The women
quarters prevene ed by the information gave
The whole thing could have been prevented If harsh
steps had when the plan first came to tie
officers ON the night of the oath, too There
another row. his time in the supper ROOM
and forty made rush at
Young fellow who lad been gambling and had
stolen 20 cents. This gambling had he n done before
the eyes Of the officers but Gerrsh did not appear TO
want to take TO suppress it, and so II went on The
gambling is something extraordinary there Is sweat
board aud other games going about ali the time, and
the finn,s thing know Of down there Is that the
icn pay their gambling debts through the Institution as
banker The Institution lonors the drafts Of these
elegant gentlemen OF leisure, and debts OF honor are
squared through its help. know that cerrish's
officers sit the benches and watch the men play
The most remarkable story Of all Is told by AS
kstnnf Clerk Bicl WHO asserts that for two years
no pafd triDIe 10 the 10 nnVnth =" "a i1ehn
~ The superintendent who wanted his place. 'l2rk
Eyerson bears witness 10 the truth OF this statement