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BY P. C. PENDLETON. VOL. I. miscellaneous. The following graphic inscription of a re bellion in the State Prison of Massachusetts, in 18*23, was originally published in the New England Galaxy of August, 1828. BK3CLMON IN THIS STATK PRISON. A more impressive exhibition of moral cou rage opposed to the wildest ferocity under the most appalling circumstances, was never seen, than that which was witnessed by the officers of our State Prison in the great rebellion which j occurred about five years since, [in 1823.] Three convicts had been sentenced under the rules of the prison to be whipjied in the yard, ,'Mid hv some effort of one of the other prison ers, a door had lieen opened at mid day com municating with tlie great dining hall, and through the warden’s lodge with the street. The dining hall was long, dark, and damp, from its situation near the surface of the ground, and in this all the prisoners assembled, with clubs and such tools as they could seize in passing through the work shops. Knives, hammers and chisscls, with every variety of such weapons, were in the hands of the feroci ous spirits, who are drawn away from their encroachments o:i society, forming a congre gation of strength, vilenesi, and talent, that can hardly be equalled on earth, even among the famed brigands of Italy. Men ot all ages and characters, guilty ot every variety ot in famous crimes, dressed in the motley and [>e culiar garb of the institution, and displaying the vyild and demoniac appearance that al ways jiertains to imprisoned wretches, were gathered together for the single purpose of preventing the punishment which was to be inflicted on the morrow, upon their comrades. The warden, the surgeon, and some other of ficers of the prison were there at the time, and were alarmed at the consequences, likely to ensue from the conflict necessary to restore order. They huddled together and could scarcely be said to consult, as the stoutest among them lost all presence of mind in over whelming fear. The news spread rapidly through the town, and a subordinate officer of most mild and kind disposition hurried to the scene, and came calm and collected into the midst of the officers. -he most equable tem pered and mildest man in the government was in this hour of peril the firmest. He instantly despatched a request to Major Wainright,com mander of the marines stationed at the navy yard, for assistance, and declared his purpose toento inter the hall and try the force ot firm demeanor and persuasion upon the enraged multitude. All his brethren exclaimed against an attempt so full of hazard, but in vain. I hey offered him arms, a sword and pistols, but lie refused them and said, that he had no tear, and iu case of danger arms would do him no ser vice; and alone, with only a little rattan, which was his usual walking stick, he advanc ed into the hall, to hold parley with the select ed, congregated, and enraged villians of the whole commonwealth, tie demanded their purpose, in thus coming together with arms, in violation of the Prison l«ws. They replied, that they determined to obtain the remission of the punishment of their throe comrades. lie said, that it was impos sible, the rules of the prison must be effected and they must submit. At the hint of sub mission, they drew a little nearer together, pre pared tlieir weapons for sendee, and, as they were dimly seen in the farther end of the hall, by those who observed, from the gratings that opened up to the day, a more appalling sight cannot be conceived, nor one of more moral grandeur, than that of the single man, standing within their grasp and exposed to be torn limb from iimb instantly, if a word or look should add to the already intense excitement. That excitement, too, was of the most dangerous kind. It broke not forth in noise and impre cations, but was seen only in the dark looks Had strained nerves, that showed a deep deter mination. The officer expostulated. He re minded them of the hopelessness of escape ; that the town was alarmed and that the gov ernment of the prison would submit to nothing but unconditional surrender. He said that all those who would go quietly away, should lie forgiven for this offence; but that if every MACON, (Ga.) SATURDAY MORNING, JUNE 9, 1838. prisoner souhl he killed in the contest, power enough would lx; obtained to enforce the reg ulations of she prison. They replied, that they expected some would be killed, that death would he better than such imprisonment, and with that look and tone which bespeaks an in domitable purpose, they declared, that not a man should leave the hall a'ive till the flogging was remitted. At this period of the discus sion their evil passions seemed to be more in flamed, and one or two offered to destroy the officer who still stood firmer and with a more temperate pulse, than his friends, w ho saw him fVom above, hut could not avert the danger, which threatened him. Just at this moment, and about fifteen min utes from the commencement of the tumult, the officer saw the feet of the marines, whose presence alone he relied on lor succor, filing by the small up, er lights. Without tiny ap parent anxiety he had repeatedly turned his attention to their approach, and now he knew that it wans his only time of escape, before a conflict for life became, as was expected, one of the most dark and dreadful in the world, lie stepped slowly backward, still urging them to depart, before the officers were driven to use the last resort of fire-arms. When within three or four feet of the door, it was opened, and dosed instantly again, as lie sprang through, and was unexpectedly restored to his friends. j Major Wainwright was requested to order his men to fire down upon the convicts, [through the little windows, first with jxmder and then with ball, till they were willing to re [ treat; but he took a wiser as well as bolder [course, relying upon the effect which firm de termination would have upon men so critically situated. lie ordered the door to be again opened, and marched in at the head ot twenty or thirty men, who filed through the passage and formed at the end of the hall opposite to the crowd of criminals huddled together at the other end. He stated, that he was empower ed to quell the rebellion, that he wished to avoid shedding blood, hut that he should not quit that hall alive, till every convict had returned to his duty. They seemed balancing the strength of the two parties; and replied that some of them were ready to die, and only wait ed for an attack to see who was the most pow erful, swearing that they would fight to the last, unless the flogging was remitted, for they would not submit to any such punishment in the prison. Major Wainwright ordered his marines to load their pieces that they might not be suspected ot trifling, each man was made to hold up to view the bullet which lie afterwards put into his gun. This only caus ed a growl of determination, and no one blench ed or seemed disposed to shrink from the fore most exposure. They knew that their num hers would enable them to bear down and de stroy the handful of marines, after the first discharge, and before their pieces could be re loaded." Again they were ordered tq retire; but they answered with more ferocity than ev er. The marines were ordered to take their aim so as to be sure to kill as many as possible t! ie ir guns were presented—but not a pris oner stirred, except to grasp more firmly his weapon. Still desirous to avoid such tremen duQus slaughter as must have followed the dis charge of a single gun, Major Y\ ainwi lght ad vanced a stop or two, and spoke even more firmly than before, urging them to depart. Again, and while looking directly in the mug zlcs of the guns they had seen loaded with balls, the declared their intention ‘to fight it out.’ This intrepid then took out his watch, and told his men to hold their pieces aimed at the convicts, but not to fire till they had or ders ; then turning to the prisoners he said. ‘ you must leave this hall—l give you three minutes to decide —if at the end of that »ime a man remains, he shall be shot dead.’ No sit uation of greater interest can Ixj conceived. At one end of the hall a fearful multitude of the most desperate and powerful men in creation waiting for the assault—at the other, a little band of disciplined men, waiting with arms 'presented, and ready upon the least motion or I sign, to begin the carnage—and tlieir tall and imposing commander, holding up his watch to count the lapse of three minutes, given as the reprieve to the lives of numbers. No poet or i painter can conceive of a spectacle of more dark and terrible sublimity—no human heart ear conceive a situation of more appalling susner.se. For two minutes not a person or a ijnujcle was moved, not a sound was heard in thg tin wonted stillness of the prison, except the labored breathings of the infuriated wretch es as they began to pant, between fear and re jvcnge-*at the expiration of two minutes, du ring which they had faced the ministers of death, vith unblenching eyes, tv<o or three of 1 those in t,he rear and nearest to, the further en- i trance, went slowly out—a few more followed I the example, dropping out quietly and deliber- [ lately, add before the half of the last minute jhad gone, every man was struck by the panic and crowded for an exit; and the hall was cleared as if by magic. Thus the steady sum -1 ness of moral force, and the strong effect of; I determination, acting deliberately, awed the hnost savagomen, and suppressed a scene of I .carnage, which would have instantly followed) the least precipitancy or exertion of physical : force. We heard this related, sometime since, by an eye witness, and though some little partic ulars may not be in exact accordance with the fact, owing :o the treachery of memory, yet we know that all the important points of the ; affair are correctly stated. It affords a useful [example toothers similarly situated in the gov ernment of prisons. From the Focus. MANAGEMENT —A YANKEE STORY. I’ve hearr. folks say that the wimin was con trary, well they is a leetle so, but if you man age ’em rite, bawl in here, and let ’em out there, you can drive ’em along without whip q,r spur, jest which way you want ’em to go. When I lived dqwn at Elton, there was a good many first rate gals down there, but I din’t take a liken to any on em till squire ; Cummins cum down there to live. The squire had an almity puty darter. I sed sum of the gals was first rate and a leetle more. There was many dressed finer and looked grander, but there was somethin jam about Nance, that j they couldn’t hold a candle' to. If a feller; seen her wuncc, he couldn’t look at another, gal for a week. I tuk a likin to her rite off, and we got as thick as thceves. We used to go to the same mcctin and sot in the same pew. It took me to find the sarms and himsfor her, and we’d swell cm out in a manner shockin to hardened sinners; then we’d mosey hum to gether, while the gals and fellers kept a lookin on as tha’ they’d like to mix in. I’d always stay to supper, and the way she cood make injun caks, and the way I wood slick em all over with molasses and put em away, was nuthin to nobody. Sue was dreadful civil tew, always gittin sumthin nice for me, I was up to the hub in Iqve, and was goin in for her like a locomotive. Well, things went on this way a spell, till she thot she had me tite onuff. Then she begin to show off kinder independent j like. When I’d go to mcctin, there was no ; room fqr me in the pew ; when she’d cum out ! she’d streak off with anothqrchap, and leeve 1 me suckin my fingers at the door. Instead ot, stickin to me as she used to do* she got euttin around with all the fellers, jest as if she cared ■ nuthin about me no more, none whatsumever. I got considerably riled and thot I moot as well cum to the end of it at wunce: so down I went to have it out with her ; there was a hull grist of fellers there. They seemed mity qui et till I went in, then she got talkin in all man ner of nonsense, and said nothin tome and darnel little of that. 1 tried to keep my dan dcr down, but twarn’t no use. I kept moovm about as if I had a pin in my trowsers. Ij swet as if I had been thrashin. My collar hung down as if it had been hung over my stock to dry. I cood n’t stand it, so cleared out as quick as I cood, for I seed twas no use. tryintosay nuthin to her. I went strate to bed and thot the matter over a spell; thinks I that gal is jest tryin of me, tant no use of her playin possum ; I’ll take the kink out of her; [if I don’t fotcli her out that high grass use me for sassage meat. I hum tell of a boy, wuncc, that got to skew! late one Sunday morning, master ses, you tarnal sleepin critter, what kept you so C. R. IIANLEITER, PUBLISHER. late ? W by, ses the boy, it’s so everlastin slip, ■j Pyout, I couldn’t get along any how; every •step I took forward, 1 went tew steps back ward, and I couldn’t have got here at all, if t hadn’t turned back to go tuther way. Now, that’s jest my case ; I have been pultin after ! that gal considerable time. Now, thinks I, I’ll go tuther way—she’s been slitin of me, ruxur 1 !l slite her—what’s sass for the goose is sass for the gander. Well, I went no more to Sabbaday, I slicked myself up, i and I do, say, when I got my fixins on, I took the shirt clean off of any specimin of human j nature about our parts. About mcetin time off I put to Eltham Dodge’s—Patience Dodge wajs as nice a gal as you’d see twixt here and i yonder, any more than she wasn’t jest lik# Nancey Cummins. Ephriam Massy had used to go and see her-; he was a clever feller, but lie was dreadful jely;, Well \ went to meet in with Patience, and sot rite afore Nance; l I didn't cny eyes on her till arter mcetin; she had a feller with her who had a blazen red | head, and legs like a pair of compasses; she had a face as long as a grace afore thanksgiv cn dinner. I knew who she was thinkin aliout, an twarnt the chap w ith the red head nuther. Well, I kept boein Patience about a spell.— Kept my eye on Nance, seed how the cat was jumpin, she didn’t cut about Lke she did, and looked rather solmnly; she’d gin her tew eyes* to kiss and make up. I kept it up untill 1 like, to have got into a mess about Patience. The critter thot I was goin alter her for good anii got as proud as a lame turkey. One day Eplie eum down to our place lookin as rat by as a malishy ossifer on a trainin day ; look here, ses he, Seth Stokes, as loud as a smalt; thunder clap, I’ll be darnd . Hallo! ses I, what’s broke 1 Why, ses he, I come down to, have satisfaction about Patience Dodge, hero. I've been courtein her ever since last grass a year, an she w’as jest as good as mine, till you. cum a goin arter, and now 1 can’t touch her with a forty foot pole. She aint like the same gal, and I’m darned if I’m goin to stand it. Why, ses I, what on airth are you talkin about, I aint got nothin to do with your gal, but spoie I had, there’s nothin fqr you to get w olfy about, if the gal has taken a liken to me, taint my fault; if I’ve taken to her taint her fault, an if we’ve taken a liken to one another taint your fault, but I aint so almity taken with her, an you may save her for me, so you hadn’t ought to get savage about nothin. Well, ses he, (rather cooled down) I am the unluckiest thing in creation. I went tuther day to a place where there was an old woman died of the bo1» or sum sich disease, an they were sellin out her things. Well ses he, thcr was a thundqt en bigcliist of drawers full of all sorts of truck, so I hot it, thot I made a spec, but when I cum to look at ’em ther warnt nothin in it worth a cent except an old silver thimble and that was all busted lip, so I sold it for less than l gin for it, well when the chap that hot it tuck it hum he heerd somethin rattle, broke the old chist up and found lots.of gold and silver in a false bot tom I hadn’t seen. Now if I’d tuck that chist hum I’d never found that munny or if I did they’d bin all counterfeit, and I’d been tuck up for passin on em. Well, I jest told Patience about it when she right up and called me a darned fool. Well, ses I, Eplie, that is hard, but never you mind that, go on you can get her an when you dew get her, you can fight the ruff edges off jest as you please. That teekled him it did, an away he went a leetle bet ter plear ed. Now thinks I, its time to look ar ter Nance. Next day dotin I went. Nance, was all alone. I axed her if the squire was in, she said he warnt. Cause ses, I, (makin beleeve I wanted him) our colt sprained his foot and I’m cum to see if the squire wont lend me his mare to go to town. She sed she gessed he would, better sit down till the squ'rs corn’d in, doun I sot: she looked sorter strange an my heart felt queer all around the edges. Arter a while ses I, air you goin doun to Bet sy Martin’s quiltin ? Sed she didn’t know for sartin, air you a goin ? sed I recond I wood, ses she, I spose youd take Patience Dodge, sed; I mout and agin I inout net, ses she I heam vour a goin to git married, ses I shoodnt won der a bit, Patience is a nice gal ses I, I looked jat her, I seed the tears a cumin, ses I may be 1 she’ll ax you to bridesmaid, she ris rite up she NO. 33.