The times., 1901-03-25
ACONVICT'S ACT REWARDED
Pardon for the Negro Who Aided
i'm QueIling Mutiny.
Led the Guards Against FeIiOw-Con-
victs During Riot in Kansas
Minc-Ciiven His Liberty and
Substantial Donation of Money.

Led the Guards Against FelOw-C on
victs During Riot in Kansas
Mine-Gtven His Liberty and
Substantial Donation of Money
LEAyENWORTH, Kan, March "a
Floyd Graham, the negro convict wh'
led the party of armed guards down int
the Kansas Penitentiary coal mine Wed
ncsday to subdue the mutiny and rescue
the fifteen imprisoned officers, stepped
out OF the great prison door a free maI
yesterday afternoon. He was dressed II
a stylish black suit and had $l00 in hl'
pocket, presents from Warden Icmhh
son and the other penitentiary officials
as a testiomnial of their appreciation
and gratitude for his bravery.
1t was known since the interview haC
by Governor Stanley with Graham OF
Thursday that the convict would be
psrdoned. so the clothing was ready fol
him AS soon as the pardon papers were
read to Graham he was told to prepare
to leave. When he came in from the cell
house the officers surrounded and tender
ed him an informal reception. 1t was q
proud moment for the young negro, only
second 10 that of Thursday when Cover
nor Stanley said to him: You have done
the State a great service and / thank
vou. In appreciation Of your manly con-
duct ! viii grant YOU a pardon.
FIovd Graham is about three-quarters
white. over six foot tail, and, next 10
Emmet Dalton the noted train robber,
the finest specimen Of physical r2ahhood
in the penitentary.
When asked what he intended to DO
Graham said:
We'll, the first thing will be TO hunt up
nv mother ] have no job promised, put
will write a pamphlet on prison lie ana
tell all the details of the mining. have
already drafted a few pages.
Il am twenty-eight years old, and was
born in Texas. IN 1883 I started travelling
around. one night ] arrived in Fort
Scott. Kan. hungry and without cent.
I had a pistol and came to a restaurant
where a man was asleep on the counter.
After debating a long time, walking up
and down past the place. I went in, and
at the point Of the pistol demanded some
thing to eat and the mans money. He
told me to go ahead and eat. Instead OF
eating l made him give me the money in
the cash drawer. SL91 I was captured
by the officers There had been a num-
Der Of hold-ups in Fort Scott and l was
the first person caught. Owing to public
opinion / concluded to plead guilty, and
was sentenced 10 fifteen years in the
penitentiaTy.
Il could hardly read and write when I
came here but now I can do that fairly
well ] read good books in my cell when
ever / had chance
The first i heard about the mutiny or
strike was Monday morning. Many Of
the miners did not want to join and re
mained quiet. ] began an agitation soon
after the trouble commenced, and there
was a mutiny and non-mutiny party. |
served on committees representing the
Tnutineers to try and arrange for sur
render After the second visit to the top
TO confer with the officers, / found a bad
feeling at the bottom. il was proposed
10 kin two guards and send their bodies up
to bring the warden to time. l opposed
this strongly, and my life was threatened.
AS soon as possible l slipped away and
climbed out of the mine, 720 feet 1t took
me two hours, and / was nearly overcome
when l got out.
''On reaching the top l told the warden
the exact situation and talked over plans
to capture the bottom of the pit and
rescue the guards. l volunteered to go
down with armed guards. I was furnish
ed revoIvers and dagger. I wanted the
NeAEtEA ~ A42dN II We AElt N1BAhItN i
could defend myself. The lives Of the
guards might have been spared, but with
me a capture meant death
"On going down we heard the bows sing
ing: they thought that the committee
just sent UP on the ascending cage meant
victory for them. When they crowded up
10 strike with picks We commenced shoot
Ing, first over their heads, and then TO
Kill ] halloed: Collect at north end and
save your lives Many were scared and
did this. Then I said: Officers, come on.
lets get TO the stables The prisoners
ran as we came down the entry way.
shooting, and we soon had the doors open.
Then ] yelled Officers. come out. the
cage is ready for YOU 70 go up They came
quickly and we rushed them 10 the cages.
Soon more fresh guards came down.
warden Tomliusou with them I stood
by the warden and helped line the priso-
ners.
i remained in the mine all night and
uhJl near noon "wednesday 10 help hunt
the muuneers out and protect the mules
ana property Ny COINCIDENCE is clear
J dio not betray anyone I was not in fav-
or or mutiuy nor of killing over half
tHe miners were opposed 10 it. and ] did
aIl q IaEor 10y going down and helping
subdue the mutluy-
When asked about his interview with
Governor Stanley Graham replied: Il
cidnt know al first ! was talking 10 tb.
Governor lie had me tell am thar bad
occurred The warden finally said. -Iu
your opinion. Floyd. what has been vour
most serious offence while fD here
ME reply was. j can't answer. that
womb be setting me up as Judge
AT this Governor Stanley told me who
he Vas ard said; J want 10 compliment
you on that answer
The Governor also said ] was lnc Of
the most intelligent colOred men he had
ever met. ] did not have "a very good
opinion Of myself until then.
Warden Iomlinsou. when asked about
Graham. said. Floyd made some mis-
takes when BE- first came here. but his
record is good. He has studied hard and
is the best Of all the colored prisoners
] always had confidence in him.
Climbing out Of the shaft was a haz-
srdous undertaking Had the nutineers
known OF IL they would have signaled
-four bells. meaning some one wanted
run up through the shaft to kill FIoVd
lie was covered with grease, tar. and
slime on res ching the top.
4 did not hesitate to arm him and
send him down with the guards When
] went down he stood beside RE. pistol
IN hand, while the mutineers were
brought out He protected the mules
from hamstringing and saved the prop
er.y OF the State.
'-Floyd is brave. Had the armed paltv
been overpowered the mutineers would
have cut him 10 pieces.
LUNATIC INVADES A CHURCH.