The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-03-09
YELLS OF CONVICTS
Made Massachusetts State Prison
Hideous Last Night.
A GREAT TUMULT PREVAILED.
Insulting Epithets Hurled Mt the ofhoers
General Bridges OF the state
Militia Appointed Warden by the
Governor.

Governor.
BosToN, March 9.-It is evident that the
recent interviews with Night Officer Ed
win .. Hyde published In the daily press
are displeasing to the convicts Of the state
prison. They undoubtedly have heard OF
them either by reading papers which some
people claim have been smuggled into
them.or else some person officially con-
nected with the institution has communi-
Gated the facts TO them.
From the moment the night turnkey
entered the octagon for his nights tour OF
duty until nearly midnight yells were
heard In all three wings, mingled with
calls for Hyde, Hyde"
These vocal outbreaks were weak and
spasmodic, seeming to come from single
person at a time, although the officers
were unable to locate the men who were
doing it.
The Greatest Tumult
occurred at the time when preparations
were begun for turning out the lights foi
the night.
Three minutes before Q o'clock Officer
Hyde gives the signal to get ready to turn
In by ringing gong three times, and
promptly at o'clock he raps on an iron
grating to warn the wing officers that he
is about to put out the lights in the cells,
Immediately following up the warning by
"dousing the glim" from his position in
the octagon.
At the first stroke of the gong last night
a faint distant murmur was heard com.
ing from the furthermost corner of the
north wing, increasing In volume and
momentum, as IL were, as IL sped along
through space until it reached the end
nearest the guardroom.
The name of Hyde reached the ears of
the listening reporters, who were standing
outside the octagon door In the visitors
waiting room. Certainly several hundred
voices
Fairly Yelled II.
Then was heard several distinct voices
calling the night officers all sorts of inde-
cent and insulting names while one hoarse
throat cried for blood" especially that
which courses through the veins OF Mr..
Hyde.
The outcries of the north wing men was
hardly a comparison to that which came
from the west section of the prison. Catcalls,
yells and howls filled the air, which, with
the uproar going on in the north wing,
would lead one to suppose that pandemo
mum had indeed broken loose.
Accompanying the cries were loud bang.
ing noises of tin dippers and pans upon the
iron gratings of the cell doors, while some
of the men varied the sound by dropping
their iron chests upon the floor
The excitement lasted for about 10 min
utes. the noise gradually subsiding as
though n majority of the inmates had con-
cluded that it was better to get in nights
sleep than to waste their time In
Making . Bluff
as an officer characterized the affair. This
was the only big disturbance of the night,
but at intervals for some time after, the
echoes were awakened by catcall, pro
longed whistle or yell at Hyde, coming
from cells located well down the wings.
Frequently the officers would rush down
the corridors in front Of the cells in hopes
to catch man in the act Of creating a dis
turbance, but every prisoner apparently
was on the alert ard was quiet as kitten
when the officer peered through the bars.
At midnight affairs were as quiet as
could be expected under the circumstances.
{ The Searching Party
which started yesterday morning on tour
of investigation of the prison by order of
Governor Russell, who paid an unan-
nounced visit to the institution, beginning
at the repair shop, completed its days
work about 5 o'clock last evening. Every
nook and Granny was thoroughly searched
and overha,iled but no traces of revolvers
or dynamite cartridges were discovered.
Early in the day a small pinch iron
jack Of an improved character and about
six inches in length was found and turned
over at once to the deputy warden.
The instrument was evidently intended
TO be used in forcing apart the bars on the
cells or windows.
Other articles found were a half dozen
hack saws of the Star pattern, several
prison "billies" and numerous pieces of
rope with hooks attached, which were In
process Of formation into rope ladders.
A report was in circulation yesterday
that several officers were to be reported for
Supplying Articles to the Prisoners.
Among the latter was Officer Howard, who,
IL is alleged, has been purchasing pipes,
matches and articles of similar nature
denied to the inmates.
There is much talk over the affair, and
il Is quite certain that many of the officers
are shivering in their boots.
A New Warden Nominated.
Boston, March 9.-Before Governor Rus
sell went to Charlestown he had sum-
moned the members of the council to meet
him at a special meeting of that body.
When he returned from the state prison to
the state house he at once set to work to
carry out the plans which he had formed.
The council met at $50 o'clock and Gov
ernor Russell at once laid before 1t the
name Of General Bridges for warden. He
also informed the council of the state Of
affairs at the prison. A talk over the situ-
alton then followed, during which the gov
erpor's action was approved and all the