Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-10-23
GIRLS ON A RAMPAGE
Incorrigible Girls at Mitchellville
Start an Insurrection and Es-
cape From Institution.
The Des Moines Police Called On to
Help subdue the Fractions
Females.
Windows Are Smashed to Smither.
Gems and Discipline Thrown
to the Winds.

Des Moines, Oct. o3-There is insur-
rection in the reform school for girls
at Mitchellville. For long time it has
been brewing, and yesterday it broke
into open rebellion against the consti-
tuted authorities. There are about $50
girls in the institution sent there as in
corrigibles for reformation. They are
classified as good and bad; about half
belong to each classification.
AT midnight Saturday night the Des
Moines police force received a message
to send officers Immediately to Mitch
ellville to assist in subduing the riot.
At in the evening a party of twenty
girls, all OF whom are assigned to the
classification of bad" broke out of the
buildings in which they are kept under
surveillance at night, and refused to
return.
When the first riot broke out Satur-
gents broke out of the buildings,
through the windows of their rooms.
The officers of the institution soon
Learned of their troubles, and following
the girls succeeded in surrounding
them and securing a parley. The girls
Mere willing to parley; in fact, as they
were without substantial resources and
the weather rather chilly, they soon
manifested a Willingness To treat. The
result was that they presently returned
TO the institutions.
But the trouble had only begun,
While the officers were conducting the
campaign after the salying party, the
garrison in the buildings vas necessa-
rily reduced TO such a point that order
could not be maintained. The girls left
their rooms. congregated in the corri-
doris and assembly places, or caucused
in rooms about the buildings, and dis
cussad their grievances. The result
was that not knowing what was going
on outside, they determined to join the
revolt. They We're just on the point Of
a break for liberty when the first party
was brought back The entire institu-
ton was by this time Won over. The
eloquence of the bad" girls had Won
over many of the good ones, and
when the first party of insurgents re-
turned everything was in an uproar.
The officers were unable to maintain
order The girls were ordered to their
rooms; a. few ofeyed. but the great ma
jority fatty refused. They could not be
and they would not consider the moral
suasion proposals submitted by super
tiniendent Miller and his assistants.
The end Was that some time before
lmidnight the entire corps of "bad" girls
H., Il. -. tr,.r.. MI,
They smashed window panes indis-
fortunately. and in few moments half
the inmates were at large. The officers
of the institutions, assisted by local
peace officers and a few citizens,
formed posses and started in pursuit.
But il was impossible TO induce the
girls TO parley further. They separated
into groups and went in different diree-
tions. declining to consider any peace
proposals. They were followed. as Well
az. possible and by midnight the pur-
suers had most of them under sulyeii-
lance. But it was Impossible to bring
them back 10 the institution, and the
officers determined 10 send to Des
Moines for assistance. Al l2:55 yester-
l.day morning party Of police officers
left for the scene Of hostilities.
Noon-'rhe sheriff police and detec-
tives from Des Moines are preserving
quiet at Mitchellvile. The board of con-
troll viii go down at o'clock. 1t is be-
| lieved there VIII be no further trouble
The buildings are badly wrecked I.aS
discipline il thought TO be responsible
for the outbreak, and it is thought the
recent order of the board of control pro
hibiting corporal punishment hac
something to do with the outbreak. The
/ superintendent is new man, Mr.. j. y
Miller, until few weeks ago account
ant at the Soldiers Home at Marshall
town.