Evening journal., 1892-02-04
CONvICTS IN REBELLION
A Desperate Outbreak at the
Deer Island Reformatory.
THE PRISON IN A STATE OF WRECK

The Guards Were Helpless, and the
Prisoners, who Tad Armed Them
selves. Fought the Police for Hours,
TIL Clubbed Into Submission.
Boston, Feb. 4.-There are scores Of pris-
pners on Deer island with bruised heads to-
day. and strong guard Of Boston police
surrounds the reforInatory. The prisoners
received their wounds from clubs welded by
the policemen in quelling the worst out
break ever seen at the place. The police had
clubs and the prisoners had knives, ice picks,
chisels and hammers. The reformatory
guard was helpless, and while the Boston po-
lice were on the way to the place the rioters
had complete charge Of the institution The
place looks as though a tornado had struck
IT, Windows are broken in almost every
wing Of the building, and much other prop
erty was destroyed,
Affairs at the island have been in bad
shape for some time, owing to dissension
among the commissioners Of public institu-
tions The prisoners took advantage Of the
strained relations, and have had pretty
much their own way. The confinement Of
prisoner IN the guardhouse last night
called forth from the others a peremptory
demand for his release This was refused
and directly after breakfast today the
trouble began.
Conyicts Run Wild.
A concerted attack was made on the
guardhouse, the two guards retreating be-
fore the mob, which numbered more than
IL
and battering in the door the mob started
for the sheds Pickaxes, clubs, ice picks and
pitchforks were seized and the prisoners
came back 10 begin an attack on the house
Of industry itself.
They went through the rooms, and We're
making things lively there about the time
the police arrived. Several Of them had
gone also to the storeyard near the water
/ front They threw hammers and other
tools into the water One party headed for
/ the boiler rooms, but Chief Engineer Page
| kept them at bay with his revolver.
/ When the Boston policemen reached the
scene the prisoners were in possession Of the
/ loafing room Most of them were armed
| Their yells were accompanied by vigorous
brandishing Of implements. They threat
ened to kill the policemen if they entered
the room. Before the attack Supsrintend
ent Gerrish gave them an opportunity to g
quietly to their cells. The sight Of the blue
coats had had its effect, and more than hal
of the rioters submitted to arrest.
Fought Even ii Their Cells.
The others were still defiant and the orde
was given to charge. Clubs were used in
discriminatory. The prisoners made a rus
upon the officers. There were a few step
Of retreat on the part Of the police and the
a sharp advance. In their retreat the pris
oneTs separated This made easy worli
Each officer seized a man and forced him :
submission.
In the cell room the men renewed tn
fight Those possessing weapons struck tn
officers. The prisoners on the upper division
of cells hurled buckets and chairs over th
railing upon the heads of the police. Ther
was a rain Of chairs, stools and buckets fc
several seconds. Scissors and knives whic
the men who were employed in the tailorin
department possessed, came down frol
above during the melee.
c The riot lasted nearly three hours. II
mayor and the commissioners Of public il
stitutions visited the island after it was a
over, and win remain there for the presen
It is intimated that the mayor viii make
clean sweep of the commissioners and Il
Deer island officials and appoint an entire
! new set.