New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-04
MORE TROUBLE AT DEER ISLAND.
OFFICERS SENT FROM BOSTON TO oUELL THE
DISTURBANCE-wHAT CAUSED IT

OFFICERS SENT FROM BOSTON TO oUELL THE
DISTURBANCE-wHAT CAUSED IT.
Boston. Feb 3.-An outbreak occurred this morning
among the prisoners at Deer Island. This Is the sec
ond rlotOus demonstration In that institution within
few weeks. 4 force Of policemen was sent from
this city. Captain Bragdon. who had charge Of them,
states that when The police arrived at Deer Island a
large number OF the convicts We're gathered in the
Loaiers' Hall" A request for them to keep quiet
and 90 about their work not sufficient, and then
they began making q horrible tumult and threatened
the police. who numbered about sixty. The police
drew their clubs and I'm short time. according 10 Cap
tain Brsgdons statement, put the mob under sublec-
ton. The policemen had to use great deal OF force
and many Of the prisoners have sore and badly cut
heads Twenty five OF the officers were sent back TO
Boston and the others remained during the day. The
refractory prisoners locked up In their cells
Commissioner Devlin attributes the trouble to a
lack of room the institution. There are between
500 and 800 adult prisoners on the island anh Only
400 cells II is therefore necessary t. put the IN
mates into the dormores in pairs. No amount OF
vigilance the part of the officers can prevent thcn
concoctng schemes for in ,ubordnation under these
conditions There is no way TO prevent it unless we
ret more ROOM Since the new drunk law went into
effect We have been overcrowded. Men who used TO
pay fine Of $5 or 80 for getting drunk are now sent
TO the island
prisoner whose term expired and who was re-
leased from Deer Island this morning says that the
cause Of the outbreak arose from a quarrel on Tho
downward trip of the boat yesterday between a pns-
oner and an officer The officer called the prisoner n
bum" and Is alleged 10 have assaulted HIM In "a
quarrel that cnsued. On the arriNa OF the boat at
the island the officer had the prisoner placed in sol
itary confinement. The incident quickly became
known to the unry prisoners, and a demand was
made that the confined prisoner be released. This the
officers took no notice of. and perfect pandemonum
followed which kept up all night, the prisoners
Yelling c,rsing rafting their tin cups. pounding on
the doors floors etc. and employing every means at
their command to make as much noise a. possible.
Three four Of the nolsiest were placed in close CON
Gnement, but this action only made matters worse
This morning the were let out into the yard, ana
Immediately began to gather up such weapon, as they
could find and made attack on the workshops 10
procure knives. axes etc. The shops were locked
up and the rioters unable 10 force the DOORS smashed
all the windows, but prevented from gaining en-
trance by the iron DarS Such Well behaN ed prisoners
who attempted 60 u work were pounced upon by
the mob and pounded with stones, pals or slchs' anu
were Obliged 30 seek shelter.
Mayor Matthews went To the island and made a
personal Investigation Of the trOnblc. II Is Thought
thai he will ask the resignation Of ono or more OF the
directors Of the public institutions.