The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-25
ACONVICT'S ACT REV ARDED
Pardon for the Negro Who Aided
in Quelling Mutiny.
Led the Guards Against FeIIow-Con-
victs During Riot in Kansas
Mine-Given His Liberty and
Substantial Donation of Money.

Nicts During n Riot in n kapsa,
Mine-Given His Liberty and s
Substantial Donation of Money
I-EAEENWORTH, 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 free mar
yesterday afternoon. He was dressed II
stylish black suit and had 500 in Ms
pocket, presents from Warden Tcmlin
son and the other penitentiary official:
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 b,
psrdoned, so the clothing was ready fol-
him. AS soon as the pardon papers wer,
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 9
proud moment for the young negro, only
second to that of Thursday when Cover
nor Stanley said to him: You have done
the State great service and / thank
YOU. In appreciation Of your manly con-
Duct ! will grant you a pardon"
FIovd Graham is about three-quarters
white. over six foot tall, and, next TO
Emmett Dalton. the noted train robber,
the finest specimen of physical manhood
in the penitentiary.
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 life 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 l started travelling
around. one night ] arrived in Fort
Scott Kan, hungry and without a cent
| had pistol, and came to restaurant
where a man was asleep on the counter.
After debating long time, walking up
and down past the place, ] 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 | made him give me the money in
the cash drawer. Sl91 l was captured
by the officers. There had been num-
Der of hold-ups in Fort Scott and | was
the first person caught. Owing to public
opinion / concluded to plead guilty. and
penitentiary.
Il could hardly read and write when
came here. hut now l can do that fairly
well I read good books in my cell when
ever l had a chance.
THE first ! heard about the mutiny or
strike was Monday morning. Many of
the miners did not want to join and re-
manned quiet. / began an agitation soon
nd
was mutiny and non-mutiny party. l
served on committees representing the
mutineers to try and arrange for sur
render After the second visit to the top
TO confer with the officers. / found bad
feeling at the bottom. 1t was proposed
to kill 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, 100 feet. 1t took
me two hours, and / was nearly overcome
when l got out.
ION reaching the top / told the warden
the exact situation and talked over plans
to capture the bottom of the pit and
rescue the guards. volunteered to go
down with armed guards. / was furnish
ed revoIvers and a dagger. / wanted the
dagger so that If we We're captured ]
could defend myself. The lives of the
guards might have been spared, but with
me 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 ND
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 l 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 to go up They came
quickly and we rushed them to the cages
Soon more fresh guards came down
Warden Tomlinson with them. I stood
by the warden and helped line the priso-
Il remained in the mine all night and
until near noon Wednesday to help hunt
the mutineers out and protect the mules
ana property. My conscience is clear
did not betray anyone. | was not in fav-
or Of mutiny nor of killing. over half
the miners were opposed to IT, and | did
an a favor by going down and helping
subdue the mutiny"
When asked about his interview with
Governor Stanley Graham replied. II
didn't know at first l was talking to the
Governor. lie had me tell all that had
occurred The warden finally said: In
your opinion. Floyd. what has been your
most serious offence while in here
My reply was: i can't answer: that
would be setting me up as Judge
AT this Governor Stanley told me who
he Was and said: want to compliment
you on that answer
The Governor also said ] was one of
the most intelligent colored men he had
ever met. ] did not have very good
opinion Of myself until then"
Warden Tontlinson. when asked about
Graham, said: Floyd made some mis-
takeR when he first came here but his
record is good. He has studied hnId and
is the best Of all the colored prisoners
] always had confidence in him
Climbing out Of the shaft was a haz-
ardous undertaking. Had the niutineers
known of IL they would have signaled
four bells, meaning some one wanted
to come up, just to have had the csge
run up through the shaft to kill FLOYD
lie was covered with grease, tar. and
slime on reaching the top
4 did not hesitate to arm him and
send him down with the guards When
] went down he stood beside me 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 rarity
been overpowered the mutineers would
have cut him 10 pieces.
LUNATIC INVADES A CHURCH.