The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-20
No Violence offered Them and Nobody
Hurt During the Two Days
of InsurrectiOn.
ALL WANTED TO SURRENDER
But THE WARDEN DECLINED To
GRANT THE TERMS ASKED.
Sent Armed Men Into the Pit Last
Night, Fired a FusiIIade and
Captured the Mutineers.

LEAVENWORTH, Kan, March 19.-The
2S4 convicts in the coal mine at the state
penItentiary at Lansing mutinied yester-
day, seized the fifteen guards, stopped work
and took complete possession of the mine
The convicts held the guards as hostages
for the enforcement of their demands for
lighter work and better food. AS many of
the convicts are life term murderers, there
was great fear to-day for the safety of the
guards. 1t appeared tonight, however, that
no violence had been offered, the convicts
merely going on strike.
At 6:30 tonight Guard McShane, of
the fifteen hostages, was hoisted to the top,
striking convicts permitting it because of
his being sick. He reported that the pris-
oners had been careful TO avoid violence.
below and lone convict not in sympathy
with the strike was hoisted. AS the cages
were half the distance from the bottom Of
the shaft, the prisoner was forced to climb
400 feet, crawling up on the shaft timbers
to reach .he cages. The convict said the
men in the mine had had nothing to eat
since noon yesterday except some corn
coffee this morning. which was made from
corn used TO feed the mules in the mine
At 1890 o'clock tonight another convict
was hoisted to the surface to confer with
the warden The strikers had weakened
but desired to escape punishment for their
misconduct Warden Tomlinson said he
would force the convicts to surrender un-
\ nc0nditionally.
\ The insurrection was brought.to a close
at 1880 o'clock tonight and the mutinous
convicts are being placed in their cells as
fast as they can be brought to the sur
face The imprisoned guards were released
and are again above the surface. Shortly
after nightfall the warden and every avail
able officer gathered around the mouth of
the mine each man heavily armed. Hunger
had begun to tell upon the convicts, and
they began to parley with the warden.
They sent him word that If he would prom
ise not to infiict punishment for their
action they would surrender and come up.
To this the warden would not consent,
sending down word that the surrender
must be unconditional, the question of pun
ishment to be considered later. AS the
night wore on the warden held a consulta-
tiOn with his officers, and it was decided
to attempt a rescue of the guards, and also
to overawe the convicts and force their
surrender Selecting his men, the warden,
with seven or eight guards. heavily armed.
entered the hoist and went down. When
near the bottom of the pit heavy fusil-
lade was opened, the shots being fired
toward the top of the shaft. This took the
convicts by surprise and, thinking that the
shots were intended for them, they hastily
fled, leaving the guards, who were soon
joined by their comrades. after which they
were sent TO the top. The armed guards
then started after the convicts, and soon
others gave in and surrendered. The work
of taking them to the surface began and
before morning the convicts will again be
behind the bars of their cells.
The first outbreak In the mine took place
shortly after the noon meal yesterday and
was started by the convicts in Division
No. s. OF the nineteen men in this division
sixteen seized the guard and overpowering
him announced tnat they had decided 10
strike. They told the guard that they had
decided to mine two instead of three cars of
coal as a days work in the future, and that
they proposed to have their food. This
guard was left in charge of two of the con-
victs in the mutiny. while the others
marched to the adjoining division and
spread the revolt and called on the convicts
to join. The eonvicts were soon marching
through the mine from one division TO an
other, yelling and swinging their lamps and
picks. Other convicts joined them. So far
as can be learned no opposition of any kind
was offered the convicts. The guards, none
carrying firearms. were helpless