The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-10-22
REVOLT Of CRIMINAL
INSANE PATIENTS
Six or Eight Keepers overpowered
and Twenty Inmates of Matte
wan Escape.

BY Exclusive Wire from The Associated Pres.
Poughkeepsie. N. y, Oct. 21.-There
was u revolt at the Mattewan State
hospital for the criminal insane at $50
o'clock tonight, when six or eight keep
ers were assaulted and overpowered by
about twenty insane patients. Some Of
the patients escaped and seven are still
at large. One or two of the keepers
are badly bruised as q result of the
assault.
After the patients had been given
their usual Sunday night supper they
were taken back to their apartments
in company with the keepers. Among
the number were fifteen or twenty who
slept in one Of the large corridors. this
being necessary on account Of the
cramped condition at the institution.
In this hall with the patients were six
or eight keepers, who sat on their
chairs watching the inmates as they
walked up and down the hall in rest
less manner. There were no suspicious
movements on the part of the patients
to indicate that they had been plan
ming revolt of any kind. They looked
as they always did, first at one keeper
and then at another. but the keepers
did not think that there was any
trouble in the minds of their twenty
prisoners. Suddenly, and without warm
ing, each keeper was attacked simul-
taneously by two or three patients and
heavy blows fell on the heads of the
surprised attendants. There did not
seem to be any leader of the revolt,
and while the patients were assaulting
the keepers they would gaze at each
other occasionally, as II waiting Tor
the word to make the break for liberty.
The keys held by the keepers were soon
taken from them and a rush was then
made for the door leading from the nail
into the dining room.
AS the patients rushed through the
dining room each of them picked from
the table a heavy plate or cup or bowl
to use as a weapon in case they were
overtaken by the keepers. The lights
were still burning in all the depart
ments and the insane mob had clear
sailing. From the dining room they
went through to an adjoining room,
the doors of which were unlocked, and
then into the long hall leading to the
rear entrance. The patient In ad-
vance of the others was nervously fin
gering over the bunch of keys as he
ran, looking for the key to the rear
door. The keys were we'll known to
them and the rear door was unlocked
without much loss Of time. With a
wild yell the mob rushed out OF the
narrow door, fighting with each other
as they went, each wanting to be In
the lead and to reach the outer gate
first. Through the yard they ran like
deer and crowded around the big gate
in the wall while one of their number
was turning the key in the lock. When
the gate was thrown open, they rushed
out of the yard. fairly tumbling over
each other in their anxiety to be free
again.
In the meantime the keepers who had
been overpowered and who had rapid
ly recovered from the surprise given
them by their assailants, soon sent in
an alarm to the main Office. joining
the other keepers they saw the pa
tients running across the hospital farm
back of the main building. A hot pur-
| suit followed. In which all but seven
| of the patients were captured.
DIR. Allison Immediately notified tho
police department of the escape OF the
| patients, and it is believed that they
will all be captured within twenty
four hours,