The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-03-14
QUIET REIGNS AT LAST.
UNRULY CONTICTS At CHARLES
.M .sf TOWN IN SOLIT1RY.
A Search OF the Cells Actively Pushed
A Meat Saw and Number of Small
FILES Found.

| : BOSTON, March 14.-Securely locked up
In the dark cells at Fort Russell, inside
the walls of the Massachusetts, state
prison, are 40 men. These men are sup
posed TO be the ringleaders of all the dis
turbances that have taken place during
the past week. The greater number OF
those In Fort Russell are the more desper-
ate prisoners, and nearly all of them are
young men.
Warden Lowering, the deputy, and q
force of watchmen made a tour of each
wing, and gathered the disturbers to-
gether and marched them 10 the stone
building which is so much dreaded by the
convicts
During the proceedings those left in the
cells kept very quiet, and although several
of those removed demonstrated and main
tained their innocence, while being
marched TO Fort Russell, they made no
sound.
Warden Lowering was well nigh tuck.
cred out but met the reporters and told
this story:
II thought the boys would keep quiet
Sunday night, and was congratulating my.
self that would have a good nights rest.
Shortly after the lights were put out they
seemed to cut loose and started in as if
they
Meant to Tear OF the Roof
Ihesitated about calling for guards, know
ing the convicts were securely locked in,
and notified the watchmen to spot the
'ringleaders.
1T was nearly o'clock when they com.
menced to quiet down and then went TO
bed was up at breakfast time and with
the guards removed the leaders OF course
they were not guilty, according to their
stories, but we held no argument with
them and they were soon ensconced
In the building known as Fort Russell.
J Il refuse to make public who they are
and cannot say how long they will be kept
there; but certainly they should be
severely punished, for they have caused
considerable trouble The better element
seemed pleased to see the turn affairs had
taken, and it is safe TO say that it will be
quieter here, for while at least"
Where do you suppose the report
started. warden, that three men had es
capped" queried the reporter.
II do not know, but / wish they had
made it 80"
A letter from mother to the warden,
inquiring about her boy and asking il
there was much trouble in the prison, was
answered in a letter the warden wrote her
In this style; There is no trouble here
only what officers and newspapers make"
The searchers
devoted their efforts yesterday toward ran.
sacking the cells, examining the chests
and making "A thorough search of the |
mems clothing.
There were ten officers detailed for this |
work, and il was a very weary time they |
had Of 1t. The man was called out of his |
cell and hts clothing was removed Next |
he was told TO open his chest and empty il. |
Other officers then searched the bed
clothes and tried the stones and mortar in
the walls.
No revolvers were found, but in one of
the cells prisoner had a meat saw, and
several small saws and files were un-
earthed.
A paragraph in an evening paper said
that the locking up Of the 40 men was only
the first step toward stricter discipline.
What will be the next stepS" asked the
reporter
When | step out and the warden steps
IN" curtly answered Mr.. Lowering.
The Governor on Prison Affairs.
Governor Russell sent a special message
10 the legislature recommending such
changes I'm the laws relative TO the man.
lgement OF the state prison as will give
he warden more power. The message
,lso approves the recommendations con
aimed in the annual report of the prison
Governor Russell further recommends
hat smaller prison be built, in which
he more dangerous criminals shall be
confined. That the prison commission
lave control over the warden, and the
warden have absolute control over his
'fiicers, and that the governor have con-
rol over the commissioners and the war
len as well