Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-08-26
UNDRESSING MUTlNY.
Thrilling Episode In the History OF tho
Massa chusetts Prison.

Thrilling Episode In the History OF tho
Massachusetts Prison.
The story of the mutiny at the
Massachusetts State Prison in
1924 will ever remain an il
lustration of the fact that an un-
bending will is supreme over mere
brute courage. Three convicts had
been sentenced to be publicly
whipped in the yard, and were watt
ing for their sentence to be enforced.
An officer entered the cell of one Of
them, and the man sprang past him.
locked him in, aud at once released
the other two. Meanwhile the alarm
had been given, and the other pris-
oners rushed from the workshops,
armed with clubs, knives, hammers,
chisels, and every sort OF weapon
within their reach.
1t was reckless and hardened
band, made up Of criminals of every
type, and all determined to resist law
to the uttermost.
A request was at once dispatched
to Major Wainwright, commander of
the marines stationed at the Navy
Yard for assistance, and that done IA
subordinate officer entered the room
alone, and demonstrated with the in
surgents. He asked their purpose in
coming together in violation of the
prison rules, and they replied that
the punishment of their three COM
rades must be remitted. II that
were done they would disperse.
He continued to reason with them,
but they would not yield jot, and
just as their evil passions seemed to
be still more intiamed, and they were
debating the advisability of killing
him, he saw the feet of the marines
filing past the small windows, and
knew that he would have hardly 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 con-
victs through the windows, first with
powder and then with ball, until they
were willing to submit He chose a
holder course, however, and ordering
the door to be thrown open, marched
in, and formed his thirty men in line
at the end of the hall opposite the
convicts.
He then told the convicts that he
had orders to quell the rebellion, and
that he should not leave tho 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 logging
should be rcmitted.
Major Wainwright ordered the
marines to load, and that they might
not be suspected of trifling to hold up,
in plain view, the bullets which were
to be put into the guns This caused
growl of determination, but no one
quailed. The convicts knew that
their numbers would enable them to
overpower the soldiers after the first
fire.
The marines were ordered to take
aim. Their guns were presented, but
not prisoner stirred. DESTROYS of
giving them one more chance for life,
the Major advanced and again urged
them to depart. Even then, though
they were looking into the very muz-
zles 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. II give you three min
utes to decide. II at the end OF that
time man remains. he shall be shot
dead. speak no more"
For two minutes not soul moved;
not sound was heard, save the la
bored breathing of the Infatuated and
still determined convictS Then two
or three Of those in the rear, and near
est the back door, went slowly out
Several others followed them, and be-
fore the three minutes had passed the
hall was cleared.