The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-24
GIRLS RIOT IN A SCHOOL.
IOWA REFORM INSTITUTION ALMOST
WRECKED M THE REBELS.

Crockery Thrown at tho Heads of the
Kospers-windows and Doors Broken
SUPERINTENDENT Calls on the Sheriff and
tho Leaders Are in jail Mt Des Moines
DEs MONIES. Ia. Oct 23-Ths recent trouble
in the New York House OF Refuge for Women
was duplicated in similar institution In
Iowa last night and to-day. and for
somewhat similar causes Tho State Re-
form School. known as the Industrial School
for Girls. located In the little town OF Mitchell
willie. near this city. was the scene Of the
trouble The institution has 1875 inmates.
many OF them more than IL years old.
About year ago the State Board Of Control.
which mas absolute control OF all State
institutions abolished corporal punishment
in all OF them and also forbade the employ
ment OF any superintendent's wife as matron.
". l.. Leonard. superintendent OF the school.
| resigned partly on this account. and the girls
were angry about It, They were prepared to
dislike the new superintendent James N.
Miller. a man wholly without experience in
this line OF work. and they have made
trouble ever since he assumed control. Yes
terday he was of chasing three girls who had
escaped. and in his absence the trouble began.
superintendent Leonard had warned his sue
| cessor that trouble was coming for the 81 rs
had been planning 1t ever since the revolt in
the Denver institution last year.
Some OF the worst ones gave siGns OF trouble
and were locked In their rooms In the after
noon. Maudo Jefrres broke out of her room
and others followed They gathered recruits
until more than 100 were out on the
rampage. They literally Quilted two OF the
buildings. In one OF the largest on the grounds
they destroyed everything in sight furniture.
| crockery. bedding and even the windows and
| doors. which were all smashed.
liatra taI O., Ill IAnt no1Ia lad 49,,
| the peor!e in the village to help him. for only
| two other men are mployed in the Institution.
But But '' alter r''t the deputies had been lit
| over the head few times by croc kerry
and other missiles: and threatened by long.
arrival trivial Of the sherifi from thi. city. With four
| Ter refused to let him use handouts as it was
| against the rules OF the Board OF Control.
hs iF OF wnrst
active ones in the trouble. into a basem ent. with
| a guard &C every window with club to pre-
| here till this morning. destroying in the can
tire all tie tns prSpss IN the
easily co1trosd the r rotns 0"H lasted Tt ali
night, and has continued all day. The
. hns GqSE1d ns."Ehpns s m ssG
| girls have come in for a good share OF their
abuse but the superintendent is the main OBJ
Several OF the, girls escaped during The night
| ami have not been rechptured. The sheriff
| sent for reinforcements this afternoon and the
| refractory girls were marched under guard to
the third floor. awaiting the determ nation OF
| the Board OF Control which went to tho scene
this afternoon.
| The girls covered the walls with obscene
! writings. broke all the windows. and threw
| the aashes out. Many OF them tore of all ther
| clothing. and some made dashes into the cor
| rdor. undrefsed. to secure pencils with which
to write on the walls.
About twenty Of the leaders In tho rioting
| were brought to Des Moines and placed in the
county jail