The Sun. — 1861-02-11 (London, England)

TILE CONVICT. AT CFJATHAM.  A fresh outbreak has taken place among the convicts at Chatham, far more alarming than any which has occurred here. The number of convicts employed on St. Mary's Island on Friday was 350, and these were marched over to their work at the usual hour that morning, the whole being in charge of Mr. Burton, principal warder, and 30 other warders, all armed in the usual manner. The convicts proceeded with their work as usual during the whole of the morning until the time for dinner, an hour being allowed for that meal. It is usual for 250 men to remain on the island to dine in two largo buildings erected for that purpose, the remaining number being marched over to the prison. The dinner was served out to the men on the island in the usual manner, when several, who were ringleaders in the outbreak, began complaining that the food was not "good enough" for them, and that the soup was " poor." On the complaint being made by the convicts that their food was not to their liking, Mr. Burton, the principal warder, promised that their complaint should be inquired into, when he was answered with an oath, and the contents of one of the soup tins dashed in his face. This was the signal agreed upon for the commencement of the outbreak, and immediately afterwards the contents of innumerable tins of soup were thrown over Mr. Burton, who was quickly drenched to the skin. The greatest uproar now ensued, the convicts yelling, hooting, and swearing, hurling their dinner utensils about, smashing the windows, throwing the remainder of their dinner at the warders, and commencing to tear up the tables and other articles of furniture. During the uproar Bassett, a convict, mounted a table at one end of the room and addressed the convicts in the most violent language, urging them to " stick by" each other and to make their escape, at the same time exhorting them not to resume their work, and to murder any of the warders interfering. This was answered by loud cheers from the men. Several of the more desperate characters likewise commenced pulling down the spouting round the building, with which they armed themselves, while others endeavoured fbr this purpose to force away the iron bars of the windows. The free workmen employed on the island, fearing that murder would inevitably ensue, rushed into their. boats and rowed away into the middle of the river. After resorting to other acts of violence most of the convicts consented to resume their work with the exception of about nine of the worst characters, including Bassett, all of whom had been foremost in the mutiny. A strong body of warders subse quently proceeded to the island, where the whole number were secured, and, having been ironed, were all chained together and marched off to the prison, where they were all heavily ironed and placed in the punishment cells. On Saturday a number of the other convicts, whose names were taken by the warders, were also removed to the punishment cells for being concerned in the mutinous outrage. During the whole of Saturday and yesterday the con victs in these cells created the greatest disturbances by kicking the doors, hooting, And Yelling.