Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-08-14
REVOLT OF CONvlcTs.

Serious Outbreak Among the Convicts /,
massachusetts State Prison Caused b,
the Inauguration and Enforcement o
the BertiIlon System of Measurement
ETC, for Future OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Officers Assaulted-The Streets of Char
Iestown Guarded by Cordons of Polio.
Sent From Boston.
BOSTON, Aug. S.-A general riot is
impending at the State prison, and
one hundred and fifty Boston policemen
are on the scene, armed with revolvers
The trouble is a elimination of the
| dlfncultles attendant upon the enforce
ment OF the Bertillon system of meas.
uring and photographing the prisoners
aggravated by the attempted escape of
Chicken" Walsh. his recapture and
subsequent punishment.
At 2:45 p. m. yesterday there was a
general outbreak in the workshops.
The men doggedly refused to obey
the orders Of their keepers, or to return
to their cells. A large force of police
was summoned to assist in removing
the prisoners to their cells. Those al
ready in their cells added to the dis
turbance by smashing the windows.
The prisoners are especially violent in
the north and south wings, which over
look the streets. Several prison officials
were assaulted by the convictS and Sc
verely injured
The ''strike" was preconcerted and
was to have taken place at one o'clock,
but was postponed. "Chicken' Walsh
is the ringleader.
After dinner the prisoners marched
back to the shops very quietly, but
hardly had they entered when a terrific
and general yell broke out. Windows
and furniture were broken and the men
rushed into the yard, and the entire
crowd dashed tor 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 killed. 1t is, however,
thought that nobody was seriously
wounded. The officers, with clubs and
pointed revolvers, held the prisoners at
bay until reinforcements arrived. Ev-
cry available man on the Boston
police force is now at the prison, and
fully three hundred officers are massed
in the yard and corridors. The guard
on the wall has been trebled. and all
have instructions to kill any man who
attempts to scale the wall. No count
has yet been taken of the prisoners, but
it is known that many have not been
returned to their cells. Some of these
are known to be hiding in the yards
and work shops, 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, includ-
ing reporters, are excluded.
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 had ex-
pected trouble, and had the police in
readiness should an outbreak occur.
Yesterday afternoon he felt morally
certain that the crisis was ended for
the time, but the police were in readi-
ness for a summons.
The trouble originated in a harness
shop where over one hundred men were
employed. Mr.. Russell at once hurried
to the shop, which was in great confu-
sion, and called upon those peaceably
disposed to retire to their cells About
seventy-five men complied, the others,
however, endeavored to reach the walls
in an attempt to escape.
Captain Gaskins and forty-five OF his
men appeared and the prisoners were
gotten under lock and key.
The Warden has seventy men locked
in strong cells. They will be kept I'M
der 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.
1t is thought that the plan of the pris-
oners was to start fire, and N the ex-
element, when the outer gates were
opened to admit the fire department.,
make break for liberty.