Evening journal., 1902-01-31
PRISONERS MAKE
BOLD ATTACK
Assaulted WOrkhOuS0 Guards
and Riot Followed
CRAWFORD USED REVOLVER
Probable Intention Of Men Was TO
Escape Warden MeSerYc Talks
Of the Outbreak

Fourteen prisoners and the entire
stan OF guards at the New Castle county
workhouse clashed again this morning,
and until Deputy Warden Leonard
Crawford quelled the riot with re-
volver shot, a general jaiI.break was
imminent. The ball went wide Of its
mark. however. Many OF the guards
were injured in The fight, but all were
at their posts at 70 o'clock.
The trouble originated in the work
room of the institution about o'clock.
when several oolored prisoners refused
to remain at their machines because.
as they said. Chief Warden Meserve
had insisted on punishing a man be-
/, cause Of insubordination, which led to
the trouble in the workhouse several
weeks ago. Friends OF the man de-
clared he was being unjustly punished.
and that unless he was removed from
E the dark cell they would not return to
e work. The guards in the rooms, fear
ing an outbreak, summoned Warden
Meserve to the scene BY THAT time a
riot was In progress. and Guards Gray,
g Black, Dayett and Shallender were in
an exceedingly dangerous position. The
lrebellious prisoners. Of whom thirteen
we're negroes. were using their fists on
the mere handful Of guards, despite ef-
}. forts on the part of many of the ia
prisoners in the workroOm TO protect
NJ. the guards Frank Gray was in the
II greatest danger. A burly negro ap-
10 preached him from behind with a
heavy piece of wood and had not James
m lShallender felled the man with a blow.
y Gray might have been seriously in
N jured.
ID Believing That the trouble was IN
IN creasing. and that the prisoners had
IT, planned to escape Mn Meserve sum
moned the entire stan of guards, ex-
cept William =. Windish, the centre
guard, to the worl1rOom. AT that time
matters looked even more serious The
" lrcbellious negroes were making lhell
le way toward the door leading TO th,
~ main corridor. Just as they reached II
- Messrs. Founders Crawford, lndcrllel
Is and Night Guard Campbell arrived OF
v, the scene They We're armed. Realiz
~ ing that the men were about to breal
~ ny for The centre corridor, Crawford drew
~, his revolver and fired. Although thl
l'a ball lodged in tho ceiling of the work
'' room, il had the effect of quelllng th
riot. The negroes ran like 50 man.
sheep before a dog.
Meanwhile Mr.. Windish, the centr
," guard, expecting TO be OverpOwered b.
ID the prisoners had thrown his key
re through the barred door to the outsid
III corridor. thereby preventing the escap
es of THE prisoners. had they reached th
&c., lcentre corridor. Mrs. Meeerve later re
at turned the keys. and after the fourtee
ow prisoners had been placed In cells
s23 undergo severe punishment, the wal
dens retired to their respective quar-
tiers 60 recover from the effects of tn
mornings outbreak Although the o
ficers were not seriously injured, the
ue were bruised considerably. Half a
ar hour later all was quiet In the built
.l M ing.
ZEN Mr.. Meserve Tells the Story
ing News OF the trouble was given OF
NE by Warden Meserve. He said he ha
dr. expected such an outbreak and all Oh
ag- guards were ready for Il. lie inslste
sh- that the man undergoing punishmer
IAN for melting the riot Of several weel
raj ago was aIhe guilty man, and that b
as well as the men who we're respons
BILE for this mornings riot, would
severely punished. II think the troub
,,r is at an end now These men realii
~ that we are the masters OF the situl
NH ton
be Mr.. Meserve spoke in tho highe
. terms of the guards Every man can
in to his place." he said He did not b
lieve that it would have been possib
for the men to escape, but believed
was their intention 10 make the a
tempt The names of the prlsone
fill are not given, the institution officia
ome lpreferring to spare their families al
chi - 49,. A.. ,,-..,.ir,,,,t ,,si,ict ,,or.