The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-22
CoNvIGTs
Kansas Convicts I'm a Mine Revolt and
Hold the Guards as Hostages.

Leavenworth, Kas-, March 1s.-In the
Kansas state penitentiary coal mine,
at Lansing 2S4 prisoners, who went
down into the mine on Monday morn
ing, have mutinied and are holding hf-
teen guards as hostages. They refuse
to let the guards come to the surface
until Warden Tomlinson promises to
to kill the guards if their demands are
not compiled with.
The mines are worked oy the worst
class Of convicts and among those who
have mutinied are twenty life prison
ers. Warden Tomlinson has refused TO
grant the demands. There was great
CONSERVATION this afternoon among
n families Of the guards who are held
by the convicts. All the penitentiary
shops have been closed and the on
victs have been locked in their cells in
order to have all the guards in readi-
ness for emergency to handle the on
victs should they attempt to rush from
the mine.
Many complaints have been made by
the prisoners because of the grade Of
o furnished them, and to this dis
satisfaction has been added allegations
of m~istreatment. 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 mines, but the threat is laughed at
by Warden Tomlinson, who says they
would not attempt his 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 mine took
place shortly after the noon meal yes
terday n was started by the ~convicts
in Division No. 8. OF the nineteen men
in this division sixteen seized the
guard and overpowered him and an
nounced hat they nae decided to
strike. They told the guard that they
a decided to mine two instead Of
three cars of Goa as a days work in
the future and that they proposed to
a better food This guard was left
in charge of two of the convicts in the
mutiny while the others marched to
the adjoining division n 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
I picks. Other desperate conVictS en-
tered the spirit while short term men
generally offered no opposition to the
mutineers and quietly joined them. So
far as can be learned no opposition of
any III was offered the convicts. The
officers being unarmed were helpless
and the life of any one would have been
fnrfaifa6 had he tried nN-Pn RI nHanH
the mad spirit OF the convicts.
Guard McShane. one of the fifteen
hostages, was hoisted to the surface to-
night, the striking convicts permitting
it because of his being i'll. He report
ed that the prisoners nave been care
full to avoid any violent act. The other
| guards. ne said. are in good condition
and will hold out as long as the con
victs remain muntinous. An hour later
a signal came from below and a lone
convict not IN sympathy with the strike
was hOisted. AS the cages We're hail.
the distance from the bottom of the
shaft, the prisoner was compelled 10
J climb 400 feet, crawling up on the shaft
timberS to reach the cages. The con-
Wet said the men in the mine had had
| nothing to eat since noon yesterday eX-
| cept some corn coffee which was mad.
from corn used to feed the mules in 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 20 surrender unconditional
ly. much as he regrets starving his own
officers
Leavenworth. Kas., March 19.-The
instruction Of the convict miners N
the state shaft at Lansing was brought
to a close at 1850 O'Clock ton1ght ana
| the mutinouS convicts are being placed
in their cells as fast as they can be
fought to the surface. The imprls-
oned guards have been released ano
are again above the surface.
More Rubouic PIaoue at Cape Town