The San Francisco call., 1897-06-01

to call "Quits" whenever they are willing
In their arrogance they are letting drop
threats that any punishment inflicted on
them or any of their mum Der on account
of the present strike will be visited by
dire vengeancs. When Guard Jones en-
tered the dungeons during the riot two
days ago and drove a b ood- thirsty high
wayman from Shasta County back into
his cell he was met with an oath and the
threat:
"l'll get You, you -. when get out"
Yes you will, replied Jones, making
pass at the shorn poll of the other with
club, "but I'll get you first if you try H."
This is but one of many incidents of
this kind. Many of the prison guards
have grown to fear future revenge if they
persist In anv severity on the inmates of
the prison. The prisoners have long ago
learned the magic there is in threats Of
this sort, and have swaggerel about the
yard at times boasting that they had the
guards dead to right"
I'VE have got Hale in hole" said
one of the leaders in the rebellion this
morning." and l guess he'll be glau to
come TO our terms. He can't run the jute-
mill without us and he can't afford to
keep it closed"
There is a spirit of over-confidence In
this remark. The prison officials can af-
ford to keep the mill closed for months,
If necessary, because there is a big reserve
stock of jute sacks already at hard. There
are now stored in the warehouses over
1900 bales, or over 100000 of these
sacks, and every farmer in the State has
already been supplied for the present
year. In fact, letters are being received
every day canceling orders. Thus 1t
would seem that on this point the Warden
has all the best OF 1t. And if he keeps the
VOW he made this morning when this re-
mark of the convict reached him the mill
will be closed long time
But it Is this spirit of swaRger that char
acter:zss every act of the convicts in San
Quentin. They work not to obey the
authorities but 10 oblige them. With
these privileges they are much better
situated than great m any people outside
the walls who labor from necessity.
The present strike promises TO change
all this. San Quentin, long famous as a
sort Of pleasure resort for criminals, may
give Folsom a race for reputation of the
opposite class. 1t was proposed al first to
| transfer twenty of the most prominent
belligerents to Warden AulPs house by
way of Kidding San Quentin of the chief
mischief hatchers, but this programm me
has now been abandoned. Warden Hale
declares there will be no quarter or half
way measures meted out to the rebels
San Quentin is going to put on spurs and
boots and ride over these men who have
set at defiance its whole code of ciscip-
line, he says, if it takes year to DO il.
1.-THE men will find that my kindness to
them has behind it the ability to be firm, -
he says. They will be glad enough to
go back to work long before l am willing
to allow them to. The Prison Directors
have assured me of their support, and
the convicts will find that tney will have
a rough road before the thing is over.
Ny guards ana assistants are with me to
a man.
81 have consulted with Captains Birlem
and Edgar, and We are prepared for any
siege. What if the remainder of the
prisoners might strike? What good would
it do them? What harm could possibly
come to the prison tomorrow if every
convict in it took it into his head to be
locked up rather than 60 to work? We
can stand it if they can. There is no
likelihood of the supply of bread and
water giving out, and the doors and locke
are secure against any attack, however
concerted
All in all, it looks as if the big strike
was broken. Not word has been heard
from the convicts this evening, and the
people of San Quentin hope to get good
nights rest.
The water cure for quelling the insu-
bordinates, as suggested by Director
Wilkins, has been tested and found an un-
qualified success. AS night settled down
there were indications that the usual pam
demonium was about to be renewed, and
Warden Hale at once ordered the firehose
coupled and held in readiness. Guards
were sent out scouting to locate the cells
from which the distur bance emanated.
Shortly afterward the nozzle of the big
hose was inserted through the grating and
full head of water turned on. Some
sixty of the tank cells were treated in this
manner.
The effect was magical. The occupants,
after being drenched from head to foot,
became dumb. The force of example was
contagious, and at o'clock the dropping
of a pin could be heard in the courtyard
of the prison. Guards are patrolling the
cell galleries constantly looking for candi-
dates for flushing, but the supply has dis
appeared.
The prison officials are greatly pleased
with the success of the experiment, and.
if the supply of water holds out, they are
confident OF drowning the rebellion in
short order.