Secure Ore Not Secure

Secure Ore Not Secure. . , Miners determined their path based on the vein of copper they followed. Eventually the vein brought them to this point, 75 feet below ground. The need for a second ore shaft arose to haul the valuable ore to the surface. , New-Gate's first prison inmate, John Hinson, used the shaft to escape only 18 days after his incarceration. According to the prison warden, Captain Viets, Hinson was, "helped out by some evil minded persons from without." , "Last Night escaped from New Gate Prison at Simsbury, one John Hinson. Lately committed for Burglary, who is about 5 feet 6 inches high, has black eyes, dark Hair, of a fair complexion, and about twenty Years of Age." , Reward Notice. (Hartford Courant, January 10, 1774) , "We have also secured the east shaft where the first prisoner escaped with iron and stone and every other place where we thought it possible for any other escape.' , New-Gate Prison Overseers Report, 1774 , Prison officials eventually blocked the shaft to prevent further escapes. In 1972, the state added a spiral staircase in this shaft to act as an emergency exit. The sentry house is a replica built by the state to secure the shaft egress. Guards would have used a sentry house like this one to keep watch over the prisoners. In addition to keeping watch, officials expected New-Gate guards to cook for the prisoners, clean up after prisoners, garden, supply coal for the workshops, and more, all for little pay. These guards included a corporal, sergeant, privates, and mechanics to oversee the prison work. In 1811 there were ten guards, but the number increased to twenty by the early 1820s. , , ( photo captions ) , , Box covering east ore shaft. , , Replica windlass over east ore shaft.