"Old Grumble" as a Gaol Warder

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 103, 31 March 1888, Page 2

"Old Grumble" as a Gaol Warder

HIS ITBST EXPERIENCE.

Although a quarter of a century has elapsed since I received the appointment of Assistant Warder in one of Her Majesty's convict prisons, yet •very incident which occurred during tho'two years that I filled that position, comes as fresh to my memory as though it was but yesterday. I was attached to Gh— prision to the Governor of which prision I was ordered to report myself, upon i receiving my appointment. In obedience to the order I did so, but when I stood within the precincts of that joyless abode of detected crime for the first time in my life, and heard the heavy gate swing back upon its well oiled hinges, and the bolt shot into its strong fastening with|a hard unrelenting snap, and I knew that the greater part of my time would henceforth, have be spent in the society of felons, even though to be their master, a dismal feeling stole over me, and my sensations were anything but exhilarating ; but for the cowardly look of it I would have retraced my steps and thrown up my commission there and then. The unpleasant impression, however, soon wore off, and 1 was not long in making, the acquaintance of the other warders, who numbered about eighty, After a few days I was detailed to assist the officer in charge of the knitting shed, Warder Wakeman, and who was to be my instructor. He was of a stern unbending disposition, and as he stood there amidst that crowd of men of fierce passions, with whom he had no sympathy whatever, and only me, a novice, and a sentry outside to support him. He gave his orders to those desparate character* in tones admitting if nothing but obedience, unquestioning and inßtant to his command. I thought how absolute his power, and how strong the bonds of discipline that could subdue and keep in subjection the most lawless and vicious of mankind. That afternoon, as I became accustomed to the novelty of my position, and stood surrounded by the close cropped heads and grotesque garb of the prisoners and read their different sentences, which were tabulated upon their arms, I fell to conjecturing what their offences were, and endeavored to read by their cast of features what class of crime I could attribute; to them. There was a slight murmur as of some one talking in an under tone. When the word " Silence" ranfi^ out, like a trumpet in that echpm£ti|ll, from the warder, and quiet was in a moment restored, only to be broken, however. Whether it was the circumstance of a seeing a " New Sbrew,'^ a&in prison parlance I was termed, paving come was the reason of the suppressed conversation, I do not kffow, but the quick ear and eye of warder detected the offender, a'young man having but one leg^jWhose oruteh lay beside him upon the f100r. , : " Thompson, I shall report you," he said, and he spoke the words in a hard tone which told me that he' meant what He said. The man's fate reddened, and as the color faded away, a dark scowl of fiendish malignity took its place; his fingers twitched, and then, impelled by the vengeful passion that was seething within him, they plied the needles with 'increased rapidity. Faster and faster the needles flew until they were indistinguishable in the speed with which they crossed eaoh other, glistening and clicking like miniature swords in deadly conflict. The ball of worsted dancing and bounding like a thing of life, while inch after inch the stocking he pas working drew nearer its completion. At length it was finished, and I wondered if the fiery passion of the man had at last died out, with the completion of the work. I had not long to see, for taki ing up his crutch he went to where the warder stood, and handed him the stocking with the needles nad the remainder of the ball of worsted. The warder took them and examined the work, saying, " You have been quick," he then turned to weigh them and as he did so I saw Thompson poise himself upon his one leg and raise his crutch. I knew his deadly purpose, and rushed forward to arrest the blow, but too late. The weapon made a circle in the air and came crashing down upon Wakeman's head, who fell a senseless bleeding heap upon the floor. Already the crutch was raised again by the wretch to complete his foul and cowardly work, and beat die little life out of his victim, that might be left, when another prisoner sprang forward, caught the distending arms, and threw the assailant to the ground. He was borne away to the strong room by the other warders who had assembled, called there by the alarm the sentry had Bounded. But the prisoner who had so opportunely saved lhe warders life, how was he repaid? The releasefrom prison which his act had merited was not granted, and as his life was.nolonger considered safe among the convicts he had to be kept entirely separated from them, and so was doomed te years of solitary imprisonment,' seeing no one but the warders who, though treating him in a kinder manner than the others, had no feelings in common with him. The assailant I saw no more. He was removed to another prison, re-tried and reaconvioted, his sentence being increased from that of seveu years to to one of life. Warder Wakeman eventually recovered but never did duty again, retiring upon a pension.