The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-04
PRISONERS KEPTIN CAVES.
A CONNECTICUT COPPER NINE THAT
WAS so USED IN 1778.
some Interesting Annals of Escapes
in the Revolutionary Period
by the Prisoners.
New York Sun.


war Cervera and his men were fortunate
that they did not become prisoners on
this side of the Atlantic during the revo-
utionary war. Instead of being treated
as honored guests and made to feel en-
trely at home, the fine old Spanish adj
mira would have been taken many miles
inland, through a forest dark and wild.
there to be shut in darkness in a cavern
many feet under ground.
There is such a prison on the western
slope of Talcott mountain in the town of
CRANKY. Conn. High, jagged rocks are to
the east, beautiful view of the Far
mington valley to the west. 1t is within
an easy wheel trip of Hartford, twenty
miles to the northwest, and is visited by
many persons from various parts of the
land. affording at least an instructive lesson
81 the advance in civilization In the treat
uient of prisoners of war.
So startling is the first glimpse of the
prison-called Newgate, after the famous
prison in England-that the eye refuses to
recognize it in keeping with the common
place objects of a New England land
scape. At first glance the place appears
TO be a large barn, covered with straw
hills. But the deep woods throw the
tumbled and vine-clad walls into such
bold relief that soon it is perceived that
ruins of a remarkable and picturesque
character are near. They stood close to
the west side of the road and just across
the way from an ordinary farmhouse,
making the ruins more remarkable by
contrast. The entrance is gained by a
circular gateway in the east wall to a
sort of courtyard surrounded by ruined
walls. and in the center is the former keep
er's lodge, now used as an office building.
in revolutionary days the building was
Here was the state prison of Connecti-
cut between L. and 1920. On the sides of
the incloSure were the workshops for the
convicts. The only remaining prison build
ing proper is at the southwest corner. and
was used for cooking sleeping and hospital
apartments. A small sentry box rom which
the guard appeared to shoot escaping pris-
oners. partly remains on the wall to the
left OF the entrance.
NO SHELTER BUT CAVES.
But the revolutionary prisoners had no
shelter except the caverns. formerly cop
per mines, which extend beneath the in
closure and out into the adjoining fields
Just how the entrance was obtained to this
subterranean lookup is told by two escaped
prisoners in an interview in the Gazetteer a
Tory paper published in New York Said
they
In approaching this horrid dungeon we
were first conducted through the apart
9oor downstairs into another upon the same
noor with the kitchen, which was divided
from II by very strong partition door. In
tle corner or THIS outer room and near the
front of the stairs opened another large trap
door, covered With bars and bolts of iron.
which We're hoisted up by two guards by
means of a tackle. while the hinges grated
as they turned upon their hooks and opened
me Jaws and mouth of what they called
nell to which we descended, by means of a
ladder. about six feet more which led to a
large iron gate or hatchway, locked down
over a smart OF about three feet diameter,
sunk through the solid rock, and which we
were told led to the bottomless pit
FINDING It not possible to evade this
world and descended the ladder about thir
weight feet below, when we came to what
Is called the landing: then marching shelf
forty feet below we came to a platform of
boards laid underfoot with something put
keeps continually dripping. Here we found
the inhabitants of this woeful mansion who
We're exceedingly anxious to know what
was going above. We told them that
Lord CORVALLIS had beat the rebel army,
end that their money was gone to the
deuce. with which they seemed satisfied and
reJoiced at the news
THE ENTRANCE NOW EASY.
The present entrance to the caverns, so
called, is accomplished more easily and
Pleasantly. All that is necessary is appli-
cation at the Office and payment of small
fee The guide leads the visitors to a small
shed at the rear of the office building, and
requests each member of the party to put
on thick cloth ulster. which is furnished
to keep out the chill and moisture While
the visitors stand around clothed like gray
friars. the guide steps to well hole,
through which the top of a ladder pro-
trudes. Here was the first trap door men
uoned by the prisoners. He deScendS the
ladder without hesitation and is soon hid
Gen in the deep darkness. The visitors fol-
low. as matter of course, and many wom-
en- make the exploit without fear or ner-
Nousness. AS the visitor descends he is
cheered by the guides voice and reaches
q landing about the size of a large closet.
dip, with which each visitor proceeds.
Then; with a warning, to stoop low, the
slippery and steep rock soon entering
large turtle-backed cavern. 1t was here the
prisoners said they found their unfortunate
comrades
The cavern is about twenty feet in diam
eter and tall man cannot stand erect in
the center The floor is Strewn with pieces
Of wood the remains the guide says, of
the cots filled with straw which the prison
ers occupied. The water is dripping in fire.
quent drops from the roof. and every word
spoken finds reverberating echoes in the
rocky galleries. In this grewsome place the
instances for years without once seeing the
light of day.
The fare of the prison could not have
been sumptuous because a prisoner wr7te
this pathetic letter to the keeper:
Mr.. Vets If you have any meat cooked
you will oblidge me by sending uinner. for
l suffer want
And that George Washington Endorsed
this treatment of his foes is shown by a
letter written by him to the committee of
SAFETY at Simsbury when he sent from Cam
bridge detachment of prisoners to be kept
mere at the continental expense. But the
rather of his country, as well as Con-re $.
come IN for liberal share of criticism when
the Rev. Simeon Baxter, a Tory clergyman
and a prisoner, preached a very vehement
sermon to a PROSTATE but very sympathetic
audience. How the clergyman must have
sound with his bitter words when he called
,thelr first opportunity. and he babe Wash
JUDAS was not a patriot until he hanged
himself for betraying his Savior: Go thou
ana do likewise he exhorted the general.
or America, and like him. hold a place in
the temple OF everlasting fame"
POSSIBLY HE STOPPED.
Unless the Rev. Simeon was man of low
stature it is difficult to conceive how he
could have maintained dignified position
IN such low audience room.
The prisoners kept burning pots OF char
coal to dispel the foul air, which was some
what relieved by shafts or wells in the
mines cut through the solid rock to height
OF eighty feet or more. The guide explains