Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-08-08
REVOLT In PRISON.
An Exciting Time in Massachu-
sets Penitentiary.
eoHv1oTs ORGANIZE A "sTRIKE."

They object to the BertiiIon System and
Be Runaway-A Rush for the Walls
and Fusillade from the Guards =
None of the Mutineers Hurt So Far as
Known.
Boston, Mass, Aug 8.-A general riot
took place yesterday at the state prison
and $50 Boston policemen were sent to the
scene armed with revolvers. The trouble
was a elimination of the difficulties at
tendant upon the enforcement of the Ber-
tillon system of measuring and photo
graphing the prisoners, aggravated by
the attempted escape of Chicken"
Walsh, his recapture and subsequent
punishment. At 2:45 in the afternoon
workshops. The men refused to obey the
orders of their keepers. or to return to
their cells With their tools they badly
damaged the furniture of the workshops.
A large force of police was summoned to
assist in removing the prisoners to their
cells.
The Populace Helps the Row.
Those already in their Cells added to the
The prisoners were especially violent in the
north and south wings, which overlook the
streets. A large crowd gathered around
the prison and added to the disturbance
by their cries. Several prison officers were
assaulted by the convicts and severely in
jured. Three or four convicts are now in
the hospital with crushed skulls, received
while desperately resisting the officers.
The strike" was preconcerted, and was to
have taken place at p. M, but was post
poned. Chicken" Walsh was the ring
leader.
~ Made IA Dash for Liberty.
After dinner the prisoners marched
back TO the shops very quietly, but hardly
had they entered when terrific and gen.
eral yell broke out. Windows and furni-
ture were broken and the men rushed into
the yard and the entire crowd dashed for
the various walls. The guards on the
fences fired, at first to terrify the men, but
as several nearly gained the top of the
wall the bullets were aimed to kill. 1t is,
however, thought that nobody was seri-
ously wounded. The officers, with clubs
and pointed revolvers, held the prisoners
at bay until endorsements arrived. Ev-
cry available man on the Boston police
forcewas sent to the prison, and fully 300
officers were massed in the yard and CORR
doris
Given Instructions to Kill.
The guard on the wall was more than
tire bled, and all armed with Winchester
rifles and given instructions to kill any
man who attempted to scale the walls.
No count has yet been taken of the pris-
oners, but it is known that many have not
yet been returned to their cells. Some of
these are known to be hiding in the yards
and workshops, and it is thought that one
or two may have succeeded in reaching
the outer world. Cordons of police guard
the streets leading to the prison, and the
general public, including reporters, are
excluded.
Warden RusselI's Statement.
In an interview with Warden Russell
last night he said the fight was the most
serious that had taken place at the prison
for many years He expected trouble
Wednesday, and had police in readiness
should any outbreak occur. Yesterday
afternoon he felt morally certain that the
crisis was at hand, and the police were in
readiness for a summons. box of car
tridges was found in the cell of Convict
Adams, who also had a revolver. which
has not been found. The warden had
seventy men locked in strong cells last
night. They will be kept on bread and
water until they express their Willingness
to obey the rules of the prison. During
the confusion in the harness shop fire
was started by some of the prisoners, but
was quickly extinguished