Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-28
BLOODY REVOLT.
ma thousand ConvIcts Capture Cana
dian Penitentiary.
From the NeaO York Herald.

From the Ne30 York Herdtd.
,oNrREAL, QUE, April PA most
..,rfling revolt took place at st. Vincent
40 paul Provincial penitentary, about 10
r,;los from Montreal, this afternoon. The
aortost lasted for two hours, and resulted
=, The killing of one convict, the wOundIng
~ n other persons, some of whom are dy-
20 among them the warden of the insti-
tuition.
THE SIGNAL OF REVOLT.
IN this penitentiary were confined about
900 prisoners, comprising the most ues-
nerate characters in Canada. The work
nj the different gangs was IN progress as
renal Yesterday afternoon, when SUD
denly convict stood up in the open yard
and held up one hand. 1t was precon-
nerted signal for in an instant each gang
which had been expecting the movement
leaned upon their uususpecCIng guard ana
nuickly Overpowered him. They took his
arms from him and tied him up. Fllteen
or sixteen men were thus disposed or ana
then the conVicts were in possession OF
the interior OF the jail. They were also
armed with the guards reviewers &n9 i
ammunition, and almost Immediately nau
chief Warden LaYIolette prisoner, ne,
too. being overpOwered and tled.
THE CoNVICTs ATTACK THE WALLS.
The eOnyicts then armed themselves
with crow-bars and other implements
and moved toward the walls 10 break
down the gates. There were eight or nine
men on the walls armed with rlles, ana
these few ordered the criminals back 10
their cells. The desperate cOnvIcts con-
timed to advance, holding up Chief
Warden LaviOlette in front of them as
target. The other wardens, bound hand
and foot. were also used in the same
Wav.
VNever mind me. men; fire away and
do YOUR duty" shouted Chief Warden
Layioette.
A WELL CONTESTED FIGHT.
Seeing that tee men hesitated he re-
ltefated his command, fearless of the
armed ruffans about him. Then COM
menced a tuslade, and the bullets
wbistled back and forth between the re-
voting cOnvicts and the guards for some
time. At last the convicts determined to
carry the walls by storm, and procured
ladders. Convict Niau, French-Cana-
dian, led the st0rming party, covered by
his fellow convicts, who peppered away
with the captured revOlNers. He had al
most gained the parapet when guard
fred point blank at him and he fell to the
ground, where he lay as If shot, but was
really only badly scared and shocked by
ais fall.
ONE CONVICT KILLED.
Convict Corriveau then sprang up the
ladder, to fall dead the next instant with
bullet through his heart. RevOlvers
were OF no use against rifles, and the
death of CoTriveau dampened the ard0r OF
The cohvicts, yet still they fought on.
Meantime assistance had been tele-
phOned for to the Montreal police head
quarters. and a number of men, under
Chief Cullen, were at once dispatched to
the prison.
The firing had startled the villagers,
but they could render no assistance.
The guards on the wall stood to their
posts, and only one OF them-Private
Chartrand-was hit. He received a bull
let In his leg.
THE DYING WARDEN.
The plucky Chief Warden lay where his
men could see him bleeding to death, his
Jaw shattered, a ball through his groin,
another through che body and fourth
through his arm. The guards picked of
their men with such celebrity that Convict
Holton was weltering in his blood, Con-
Vict Monday shot through both arms and
Convict Norman wounded badly in two
places, and eight or ten others were
wounded. Then the convicts threw away
their arms and rushed for cover to their
cells. They were promptly locked in, and
the guards were once more in possession.
SCENE AFTER THE FIGHT
The scene after the fight was sickening.
ClOts Of blood were spattered over the
walls, on the ladders, and lay in pools on
The ground around the dead and dying
eonVicts writhing in their agony.
The Montreal police officers arrived on
The scene only in time to give assistance
TO the wounded.
The cause of the revolt is not known,
but the regulations of st. Vincent de Paul
penitentiary are believed to have been al
ways lax, and there have been govern
ment inquiries into the place more than
tnce.
The death of Warden LaviOlette is mo-
nentarily expected, and that Of Norman
and Monday is looked for before morning.
is considered remarkable that although
the cOnyicts were in possession OF the in
terror OF the penitentiarY for nearly two
aours not one OF them escaped.