The Sun. — 1861-02-13 (London, England)

THE OUZJJREAK AMONG THE CONVICTS AT CHATHAM.  CHATHAM, FEB. 12.  For several weeks past the most mutinous spirit has prevailed among several hundreds of the inmates of the prison, and although very severe measures have been resorted to by the authorities removing a number of the worst characters to Millbank and Pentonville, yet all attempts have proved comparatively ineffectual to restore order. On Friday afternoon an alarming outbreak of the employed on St. Mary's Island occurred, subordination which then prevailed conca convicts theict s in continued until yesterday, when the culminating point in :these disturbances appeared to be attained a scene of riot occurring within the prison which is described by the prison officials as being of the most appalling character. Immediately after the outbreak on Friday, about 20 of the principal actors in that mutiny were chained together and Placed in one cell, to await an order from Captain Gambier as to the punishment to be inflicted on them. Throughout the whole of Saturday and following days these men kept up a continal disturbance in the prison, which was taken up by the other convicts in the cells, and at times the noises made by their hootiegs and yells were completely overpowering. Captain Gambier, the Inspector- General of Convict Prisons, arrived at the establishment yesterday for the .purpose of inquiring into the recent mutinous outbreak, and his presence at the prison soon became known among the inmates. During the morning the men were marched to their labour as usual in the dockyard, on St. Mary's Island, and at the other public works, although from the manner of most of them it was apparent to the officials that there wis an under-eurrent of mischief at work. The convicts returned to the prison at the customary hour for their dinner, which was served to them as usual, when several again complained of the badness of the food, although it should be remarked that the prison diet is greatly superior to that given in any , union workhouse. The convicts, however, finished their dinner without mfiking any disturbance, but on being ordered to resume their work numbers of them declared that they would not, and dared the keepers to interfere to make them. At this time it became known that several of the convicts concerned in the recent outrage had been ordered by Captain Gambier to be flogged, and afterwards sent back to Millbank and Pentonville, and this circumstance is believed to have greatly exasperated the convicts. On the usual gangs being formed in the prison yard, several of the convicts again refused to go to their work, and some of them commenced assaulting the keepers and warders who had them in charge. At a preconcerted signal about 50 convicts made a sudden rush on the keepers whom they quickly succeeded in overpowering, and almost at the same instant the other convicts, who were out of their cells waiting to commence works, turned upon their keepers, assailing them with fearful oaths, and threatening to massacre the whole of them. At this time several hundred convicts were free from all control, and the keys of the cells having been forced from the warders, those who were in the cells were quickly released,  The wildest uproar now ensued, the whole of the prisoners being loose within the prison, and ready for any excesses. Capt. Gambier, who happened to be within the building, together with Captain Powell, the'governor, Mr. Measor, deputy governor, and the other principal officers of the establishment, were soon among the convict, whom they endeavoured to induce to proceed to their cells. Having, however, to contend with epwards of 1,000 of the most depraved ruffians, and the guard only numbering 150 men, their efforts were entirely useless, and from the fierce threats used:towards the officers there is little doubt that murder would have been committed had any attempt to interfere with the convicts been resorted to. After overpowering the keepers a large body of convicts rushed to the office of Captain Powell, where they commenced destroying all the books, papers, accounts, and other official documents connected with the prison, smashing the whole of the windows, and destroying every article of furniture on which they could wreak their vengeance. An attempt was then made to set fire to the prison, and the building was actually fired in several places. The warders, however, at great risk to themselves,