The news & observer., 1901-03-21
AND HELD AS HOSTAGES
Prisoners Had Demanded of the War
den Better Food.
THREATENED GUARDS WITH DEATH
Late Last Night, However, the Convcts Weak.
ened and Finding no Terms Could be
Made With Warden, Finally
Surrendered.
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated Press.)
Leavenworth, Kan, March 19.-The
2S4 convits in the coal mine at the State
penitentiary at Lansing mutinied yes
terday, seized the fifteen guards, stopp-
ed work and took complete possession of
the mine. The convicts mold the guards
as hostages for the endorsements of
their demands for lighter work and bet
ter food. AS many of the convicts are
life term murderers there was great
fear today for the safety of the guards.
1t appears tonight, however, that no
violence has been offered, the convicts
merely going on strike.
Guard McShane one of the hostages,
was hoisted to the surface tonight, the
striking convicts permitting it because
of his being i'll. He reported that the
prisoners have been careful to avoid
any violent act. The other guards, he
said, are in good condition and will hold
out as long as the convicts remain
mutinous. An hour later a signal came
from below and lone convict. not in
sympathy with the strikers, was hoist
ed. AS the cages were half the dis
tance from the bottom of the shaft, the
prisoner was colnyglied TO climb 400
feet, crawling up on the shaft timbers
to reach the cages. The convict said
the men in the mine had had nothing
to eat since yesterday except some corn
coffee, which was made from corn used
to feed the mules ir the mine The
mules, he said, will be eaten unless the
strike is ended soon.
Late tonight another convict was
hoisted to the surface to confer with
the warden.
Warden Tomlinson says he will
force the convicts to surrender uncon-
ditionally, much as he regrets starving
his own officers.
Leavenworth, Kan, March 19-In the
Kansas State penitentiary coal mine at
Lansing, 2S4 prisoners who went down
into the mine on Monday morning have
mutinied and are holding fifteen guards
as hostages. They refuse to let the
guards come to the surface until Warden
Tomlinson promises to give them better
food. They threaten to kill the guards
II their demands are not complied with.
The mines are worked by the worst
class of convicts, and among those who
have mutinied are twenty life prisoners.
Warden Tomlinson has refused the de-
mands.
There was great CONSERVATION this af-
ternoon among the families of the guards
who are held by the convicts. All the
penitentiary shops have been closed and
the convicts have been locked in their
cells, in order to have all the guards
in readiness for emergency to handle the
convicts should they attempt to rush from
the mine.
Many complaints have been made by
the prisoners because of the grade Of food
furnished them. and to this dissatisfac-
tion has been added allegations of mis-
treatment. No outbreak was ATTEMPTED
however, until the men, who had entered
the mine refused to return unless their
demands were granted. They killed the
mules used in the mine and are living
on this meat.
Serious trouble is apprehended if it is
found necessary to send deputies into
the colliery.
The miners have threatened to wreck
the HIueS, UuG Tic tuISdl Is lduSleQ at
by Warden Tomlinson, who said they
would not attempt this as such action
would endanger their lives. He says he
will starve them out.
A communication was received from
one of the guards today stating they were
hungry and tired, but so far as he could
learn all were alive.
The first outbreak in the mines took
place shortly after the noon meal yes
terday and was started by the convicts
in Division No. g. OF the nineteen men in
this division, sixteen seized the guard
and oyerpowered him and announced that
they had decided to strike. They told the
guard that they had decided to mine
two instead of three cars of coal as a
davis work in the future and they pro-
posed to have better food. This guard
was left in charge of two of the convicts
in the mutiny while the others marched
to the adjoining division and called on
the conyicts there to join the revolt. The
convicts were soon marching through the
mine from one division to another yelling
and swinging their lamps and picks. Other
degenerate conyicts entered into the spirit
of tba affair while short term men gen.
eralIv offered no opposition to the mutt
noers aud Quietly joined them.
So far as can be learned no opposition
of anv hind was offered the convicts. The
officers being unarmed were helpless, and
the life of any one would have been for