Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-09-19
TRAPPED BY MANIACS.
Two Keepers In the Matteawar Insane Asylum Overpowered.
UPRoAR LASTED FOR THREE HOURS

The Inmates Had Grievances, and the Lives
 of the Two Keepers Were Saved Only
 When the Requests of Their CAptors
 Were Granted by the Superintendent.
 NEW YORK, Sept. l9.-A determined at tempt to escape was made by inmates of the state asylum for insane criminals in Matteawan. As Gatekeeper Pat Welch was passing along in the rear of the asy. lum, he heard calls issuing from what is known as the isolation house This is low one story addition to the main build ing and connected with it by door. It contains P cells Sixteen of these open into a long corridor which runs through the building. and six open into short cor ridor intersecting the other at its end. The cries came from one of the windows at the end of the shorter hallway
 Welch ran rapidly to the spot. When he reached the house. he found the window had been shattered, but the iron bars were still intact.
 At the opening stood one of the inmates named Moran. He was calling out and waving his arms and hands eNcitedly. When he caught sight of Gatekeeper Welch he yelled: They are escaping! They are killing the guards, Hurry, Hurry upr'
 Two Keepers OverpOwered.
 An alarm was sounded Keepers and other attaches and employees hurried to the scene The superintendent, Dr H. F.. Ali son. was among the first to arrive. X diffl- cult situation confronted him. He discov, cred that two of the keepers of the day watch in the isolation house, where only the most violent and desperate are con fined, had been overpowered by their former charges.
 The door leading into the place was locked from the inside and the maniacs. with the method and cunning peculiar to lunacy. had piled iron beds and bedding and everything else they could find suited to their purpose against it. Superintendent Allison and his assistant, Dr Courtney, held a consultation. In the meantime Keeper Pat Wards whis. tie summoned 10 or JO men, who surrounded the isolation house. Finally Superintendent Allison walked up to the door. and opening the wicket window commenced quietly talking to those within. He demanded that they open the door. They refused. He threatened to break through. The reply was, We will kill Tobn and Moran
 What do you want" said the superin, tendent
 Better food. no more black medicine, no more beating and kicking and clubbing and choking and to stop locking us up in the cells, was the rather sane answer he received from the insane criminals.
 At first the superintendent ordered the doors to be smashed. but at this point Moran and Tobin managed to be heard through the din and called out that they were locked in one of the cells As they did so there was the sound of keys clank- ing in the iron door. and the two impris- Oned keepers were jerked into sight in the narrow main corridor. One of them. To bin. was pale and evidently badly scared
 Delay Meant Death.
 They both appreciated the fact that every minute of delay might mean a reversal of the ordinary condition of things in state in. stitutions of this kind They pleaded with the superintendent to come to terms with the maniacS, as there was no telling what turn things would take if the inmates were kept in their present excited state.
 Superintendent Allison, Dr. Courtney Cussed the situation. It was resolved to yield.
 The superintendent with assumed rc- luctance granted each demand as it was made. except that he would not promise better food He was dersively cheered as each point was yielded. and then the keep CTS were released. The affair had lasted three hours.
 There are now between 5j0 and 60O insane criminals confined in the big horseshoe building at Matteawan. Had those in the isolation house succeeded in escaping and uVerpuwercd some ut the guards. thus securing weapons the results might have been of n very serious nature.