The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1893-09-23
SURPRISING MUTINY.
An Illustration of the Supremacy of VIII
Power Over Brute Courage.

An Illustration of the Supremacy of VIII
Power Over Brute Courage.
The story of the mutiny at the Mas.
sachusetts state prison in 1924 will ever
remain an illustration of the fact that
an u~nbending will is supreme over
mere brute courage. Three convicts
had been sentenced to be publicly
whipped in the yard, and were waiting
for their sentence to be enforced. An
officer entered the cell of one of them.
and the man sprang past him, locked
him in. and at onc released the other
two. Meantime the alarm had been
given, and the other prisoners rushed
from the workshops, armed with clubs,
knives, hammers, chisels and every sort
of weapon within their reach.
1t wa a reckless and hardened band,
made up of criminals of every type, and
all determined to resist law to the ut
termoSt.
A request was at nee despatched to
Major Wainwright, commander of the
marines stationed at the navy yard, for
assistance, and that done a subordinate
officer entered the alone, and re-
monstrated with the insurgents. He
asked their purpose in coming together
in violation of the prison rules, and
they replied that the punishment of
their three comrades must be RENTED.
1t that were done they would dispense.
He continued to reason with them.
but they would not yield a jot, and
just as their evil passions seemed to be
still more infamed, and they were de-
batting the ACCESSIBILITY of killing him,
he saw the feet of the marines filing
past the small windows, and knew that
he would hardly have time to escape
before the struggle began. Stepping
back, still talking as he went, he
neared the door, and when his friends
opened it suddenly, sprang through,
and found himself again in safety.
Major Wainwright was requested to
order his men to fire upon the convicts
through the windows, first with pow
der and then with ball, until they were
willing to submit. He chose a holder
course, however, and ordered the door
to be thrown open, marched in, and
formed his thirty men in line at the end
of the hall opposite the convict.
He then told the convicts that he
had orders to quell the rebellion, and
that he should not leave the hall
alive until every one of them had re-
turned to his duty. They answered
that they were ready to fight to the
last, unless the sentence Of fogging
should be RENTED.
Major Wainwright ordered the ma
rines to load, and that they might not
be suspected of trit1ing to hold up, in
plain view, the bullets which were to
be put into the guns. This caused a
growl of determination, but no one
quailed. The ~convicts knew that their
numbers would enable them to over
power the soldiers after the first fire.
The marines were ordered to take
aim. Their guns We're presented. but
not a prisoner stirred. DESTROYS of Civ.
ing them one more chance for life, the
major advanced and again urged them
to depart. Even then, though they
We're looking into the very muzzles OF
the guns, they declared their intention
of fighting it out. Major Wainwright
took out his watch.
You must leave this hail." he said,
firmly. Il give you three minutes to
decide. If at the end of that time a man
remains, he shall be shot dead. l speak
no more
For two minutes not a soul moved;
not a sound was heard, saw the labored
breathing of the Infatuated and still
determined convicts. Then two or
three of those in the rear, and nearest
the back door, went slowly out. Sew
eral others followed them, and before
three minutes had passed the hall was
cleared.-Youth's Companion.