The record-union., 1897-06-01
Much More Peaceful Than Before the
Order Went Into Effect.
Wild Shouts Occasionally Break Forth
From the Men in the Dark Dun
geons, But the Unruly Ones Are
Gradually Being Cowed Under the
Strict Measures Put Into Force by
the Warden.

SAN QUENTIN, May 3l.-The con-
victs, who for two days past have been
bowling like lunatics in their efforts to
maintain what they term a strike, nave
quieted down to-day.
The bread and water diet imposed
upon them by Warden Hale has COM
menced to have the desired effect and
though the rebellion is by no means
entirely at an end the situation is
more peaceful than it has been hereto
fore. Occasionally wild shouts break
forth from the men in the dark dun
geons and those at liberty within the
walls go about with a sullen air, but
they are being cowed.
Warden Hale is very hopeful and
entirely sanguine He declares that
practically the revolt has been sub
dued. He said to-day:
"The men are now in better eondi
tion than at any time since the begin
ming of this trouble Yesterday I re-
leased fifty Chinese and to-day a num-
Der of white men who had been in soli-
tary confinement We're released. l be-
1ieve that by tomorrow all of the 9TH
ers now in solitary confinement will be
willing to submit and think that by
that time they can be released safely
There has been no trouble since yester-
day and the accounts of the affair as
published by the morning papers have
been very much exaggerated. All of the
men with but few exceptions are un-
der submission and can be handled
without difficulty. AT all events, should
they become boisterous again l have
ninety efficient officers all of whom are
good shots.
But continued the Warden, 81
don't anticipate any further trouble.
Indeed, the backbone of the strike is
broken and only a few of the more
stubborn and more vicious convicts are
holding out. 1t will only be a short
time, though, before they too will be
willing to submit.
Il have been greatly assisted" added
the Warden, during the progress of
the strike by Captains Birlem and Ed
gar. Captain Edgar furnished me with
the information resulting in the release
of the prisoners mentioned before. He
was able to pick out the troublesome
ones from those better Inclined
Three of the Prison Directors, Messrs.
Hayes, Wilkins and Fitzgerald, visited
the prison this afternoon. They will
hold meeting to-day to devise means
to effectually and promptly settle the
trouble with the convicts.
Warden Hale said that work In the
jute mill will not be resumed for some
time. 1t requires 400 men to run the
mill and he has not that number of
convicts whom he can trust
The Directors say there is no truth
in the published story that the prison
ers had planned to murder Superinten-
dent Young.
WARDEN HALE UPHELD.
SAN QUENTIN, May 31-The Board
of State Prison Directors at a meeting
held here this afternoon passed resolu-
tions upholding the Warden in his
action in connection with the striking
convicts, and deciding also that the
strikers who refuse to return to work
shall forfeit all credits due or to be
earned by them in the future The
Directors We're unanimous in the ex-
preston that the most severe measures
should be taken to put down the strike
Immediately.
A message was also received from the
Governor, in which he assured the
board and Warden of his support in
their efforts to quell the strike, adding
that any convictS who refused to work
or who in any way intimidated their
fellow prisoners would not, at the ex-
piration of sentence, be restored to citi-
zenship, and also that under no cir