Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-03-23
A STRIKE OF CONVICTS.
Sent Demands From Underground
to Kansas Prison Warden.
HELD THE GUARDS AS HOSTAGES.

Finally Forced TO Surrender BY the
Determined Action OF Guards From
the serfacs-They Demanded Bet
ter Food and Less Work.
Leavenworth. Kan. March 2o.-In
the Kansas state penitentiary coal
mine at Lansing 2S4 prisoners who
went down into the mine on Monday
morning mutinied, and foS time held
10 guards as hostages. They refused
20 let the guards come to the surface
until Warden Tomlinson promised to
give them better food, and also threat
ened to kill the guards II their demands
were not complied with. The mines are
worked by the worst class OF convicts,
and among those who mutinied are 20
life prisoners.
The instruction was brought to a
close at n:30 last night, and the mu-
tinous convicts were placed I'm their
cells as fast as they were brought to
the surface. Shortly after nightfall
the warden and every available officer
gathered around the mouth OF the
mine, each man heavily armed. Hun
ser began to tell upon the mutinous
convicts, and they began to parley
with the warden. They sent him word
that II he would promise not 70 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 punish
ment to be considered later.
AS the night wore on the warden
held a consultation with his officers,
and 1t was decided to attempt a rescue
OF the guards and also to overawe the
convicts and force them to surrender.
Selecting his men, the warden, with
seven or eight guards, heavily armed,
entered the hoist and were soon speed
ing downward. When near the bot
tom Of the pit heavy fusillade was
opened, the shots being fred toward
the top Of the shaft This took the
convicts by surprise, and thinking that
the shots were intended fer them they
hastily fed, leaving the captured
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
had the ringleaders under arrest, when
the others gave In and surrendered.
Many complaints have been made by
the prisoners because OF the grade OF
food furnished them, and to this dis
satisfaction has been added allegations
OF mistreatment. No outbreak was at
tempted, however, until the men who
had entered the mine refused to return
unless their demands were granted.
Tho miners threatened to wreck the
mines, but the threat was laughed at
by Warden Tomlinson, who said they
would not attempt this, as such action
would endanger their lives.
The first outbreak in the mine took
place shortly after the noon meal on
Monday, and was started by the con-
victs In Division No. s. or the - men
In this division is seized the guard
and oyerpowered him and announced
that they had decided to strike. They
told the guard that they had decided
70 mine two instead OF three cars of
coal as a days work IN the future,
ana that they proposed to have better
food. This guard was left In charge
or two OF the convicts In the mutiny
while the others marched to the ad-
Joining division and called on the con-
Vlcts 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 desperate con-
Victs entered into the spirit, while
short term men generally offered no
opposition to the mutineers and quiet
ly Joined them. So far as can he
learned no opposition Of any kind was
onered the convicts. The officers, be-
Ing unarmed, were helpless, and the
life or any one would have been for
feited had he tried even to check the
mad spirit OF the convicts.