The herald., 1897-05-31
STRIKING CONVICTS
ARE NOT YET STARVED INTO
SUBMISSION
Warden Hale Thinks That He's Boss,
But He Has an Awful Job on
His Hands

SAN FRANCISCO, May S0-The riot
Gus convicts in the San Quentin peniten-
tiary caused no serious trouble today,
but they are still defiant, and vaguely
threaten that they will yet compel the
authorities to yield to their demands.
Warden Hale is confident that the back
bone of the strike has been broken, and
declares that he will soon starve the un-
ruly men into subsection. They are
closely watched every moment, and the
guards are instructed to instantly sup
press any attempts at organized dis
turbance. During the regular exercise
hour today some of the convicts not i'm
plicated in the strike, but t.sympathizing
with its leaders, pelted the doors of the
dungeons where the men on short ra-
tions are confined with potatoes and
pieces Of bread. and in this way man.
aged to give them considerable food be-
fore the very eyes of the keepers.
Shouting and banging on the doors was
continued all day, and those within hail
ing distance were greeted with the vilest
epithets. The men declare they will
never submit to the discipline again,
and the prison officials are fully aware
that it will be a difficult task to restore
tranquility. Warden Hale declares that
there is no foundation, in fact, for the
complaints regarding the quality of food
served. He thinks this charge Is merely
a pretext for the convicts refusing to
work in the jute mill, and positively de-
clares that, having quelled the first out
break, he Is now master of the situation.
"Shoot the first man who breaks out
of his CELL"
That was the order to the guards at
San Quentin tonight. The prisoners
We're shriekng like maniacs, and rafting
and pounding on the iron doors of their
cells. The guards were doubled and
each carried shotgun loaded with
buckehot.
Two men who were released today,
their terms having expired, told what
the desperate convicts are planning.
1t has been agreed among the ring
leaders that when they are permitted to
return to work in the jute mill they will
make a sudden rush, kill Engineer
Young if necessary, overpower the
guards and completely wreck the mag
nificert plant, on which an enormous
amount of money. said to be nearly
$1,000 900, hae been spent. The machin-
cry is of such nature that it could very
soon be damaged and practically de-
stroyed, but the convicts were worked
up to such a pitch that they would stop
at nothing. There are 1864 prisoners
within the walls at San Quentin. Over
half of them are in open revolt. Many of
the others sympathize with the violent
ones.
Yesterday afternoon Governor Budd
telephoned to Warden Hale requesting
advice as to the exact situation at the
! prison. The governor was anxious to
know if there was any danger Of Jail
break. The warden replied that the
situation was improving, and informed
the governor that the men were all safely
locked up, and that in his judgment
there was not the slightest chance for a
single prisoner to escape.
| Governor Budd did not make any sug-
| gestion as to what course the warden
should pursue, but left everything with
Hale, telling him that he would back
him to the end, and would send militia
if necessary. The warden says that all
the complaints made by the men are
trivial. Director Wilkins declares that
the opium fiends, who have been de-
prived of the drug, are at the bottom of
| the trouble.