The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1869-11-02 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

FEAR OF OUTBREAK AMONG THE CONVICTS.  The first report as to the attempted escape of a conviet is inaccurate in mie or two particular.. It was stated that he disguised bimsa If in • soldier's summersuit, the feet being that when found, lie had on • kind of " jumper or smock-frc.ok, manufactured out of one of the convict's sheets. He was discovered, not by Mr. Clifton, the governor, but by • party of the Slat with some warders, who marched • trench in which was • quantity of stone all reedy-worked for use. In 'recess among these stories, the convict was found. The rumour of a mutiny among the the convicts arm° from the tearing of the doe, which made it appear like two. Now two black flats, one half-mast high, are as signal of high mutiny, and rusistence required, and the ezeitement at the barracks may be imagined. It was remembered that the number of convicts would be about four or five times that of the toddlers, in fact it is said that out of the 500 soldiers stationed at Weymouth and Portland little more than 300 would be available in case of an emergency, while the number of convicts is stated to be 1,600 or 1.700. On Tuesday morning shortly before the dinner hour, • convict throw a stone at his usistant-warder. Missing him, he immediately threw again, and struck the warder on the face, indicting a cut. The warder rushed alter him with his drawn sword, and the fellow, finding that he was being gained on, threw himself flit on tie ground. This is allowed by the rules as a token of submiuion, and when • convict has thrown lainiseU down, the warders ate not allowed either to fire on the prisoner, or tn use their swords. The man was itutoodiately secured; but in the meantime another convict showed symptoms of great elf:dement, but this proceeded no further than his cutting his own thumb instead of the stone he was working. A :limier is also afloat that • conspiracy was got up among • gang of convicts to murder the governor, as he went his rounds as usual on foot ; bet that Providence interfered in POMO way, perbaes by an intimation being conveyed to M r„Cliften in time, and he was on horseback when next he came round. so that the attempt was debated. Another disquieting fact is that, in consequence of (the numerous fatalities among soldiers of late, such as suicides and murders, those who are not on duty ate deprivet of their ammunition,and the expense magazine in which it is lodged is very ninth exposed, in case of a sudden rush of convict.. Some of these rumours we give under reserve, having been unable to obtain ditinct authmity for a. m ; but tin re is DO Ilk übt that a very oneuy fin-ling exists, at least among the seltittie forming the guard. It would no doubt be unwise to publish thew factor if there were the slightest chines of their reaching, the convicts ; bat thet could only happen by the coilnivanee of thou by whom such an act would be madness and in effect enicide. We have little fear for the result, if the convicts (after being ilea mated by the gallant resistance their ward, es sad the 51st would no doubt suffer) 'tumid be met by the Portland quarrymen, with atone picks like their own ; but a speedy reinforcement of the garrison would no doubt remove much discomfort, even if there is no cheeps of bloodahril. So Pays the alarmist; but on the other hand, there aro weighty reasons for believing that such • rising will not again be attempted. In the find place there ore elways among the convicts coos who hope, after serving their sentenee. to live • new life ; and others who know the folly of mull an attempt These and others iri" tufo" mation, and the secret of a conspiracy is sure to leak out be further means, so well informed see the offirials as to all that is contemplated. It will be remembered that at the last attempt everything was known lord/ before hand, large re-infereement of soldiers were poison In all directions in the way of the convicts. and the attempt was defeated in details so easily .6 tobe quit° ridiculous, if it were not for the severe punishment the rascals got. Then there is the uteleunees, even if there were.. momentary, though moss uulikely, eurrisu. The prisoners could gnardships would rake the isthmus with their grins, and blow into the air every one that attempted to cross. A third and almost neWless barrier would be provided in 300 or 400 soldiers, composed of other men of the 51st who would be gathered up by that time, and the .company of Royal Engineers, to say nothing