The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-03-17
KEEPERS VENT SPITE
ON PRISON INMATES
stung by Criticism, Guards at
Pontiac Slay Prisoners to
Catch Informers.
Inmates at Reformatory on the
Verge of Mutiny as Result
of Brutal Treatment.

Springfield ILL.,, March 15.-The hire
lings of the unholy Deneen- Yates COM
bination in charge of the Pontiac re-
formatory, smarting under the lash of
criticism for incomperency, unspeak-
able crimes, gross negligence and mis-
treatment Of inmates and misuse OF
public funds and public property, ac-
cording to the latest advices from the
institution are making the lives of the
present body of prisoners at the in
stitution more nearly unbearable, if
possible, than any of those in the past.
Like the angry beast stung by the
unseen weapon, the gang trying to
check the exposures coming daily from
the institution are striking at every
one in sight, hoping that blind luck
may aid then in reaching the suppress
ing the informers.
The solitary" cells in the low, damp
corridor, reeking with consumption
germs and filth, as already described,
have been working overtime. Almost
any time one could enter the corridor
and find an unfortunate youth hanging
by the wrists from the chains sus-
pended from the ceiling of the corri-
dor, and the wear on the stock of
"blackjacks' carried by the guards
threatens a shot and leather famine.
Deneen Remains Silent.
The prisoners desperate at the add
ed abuses heaped upon them, are on
the verge Of mutiny. Still Gov. De-
neen permits the abuses to continue,
and does not even raise his hand or
voice in behalf of the defenseless un-
fortunates suffering under his cruel
taskmasters.
So desperate have some of the boys
confined in the institution been at the
abuse heaped upon them that they
would readily sacrifice their lives
In order to get away from the tortures.
Attempt after attempt at escape has
been made, while the incompetent
negligent guards were doing something
beside attending to their duties.
The most desperate and sensational
dash for freedom to escape the abuses
was made by a youth known in the
institution as Red He was des-
perate at the treatment accorded him
and : determined to get away from it
Il 1t cost him his life. He did get a
quarter of a mile away. when he was
hack BY tnes SisIafds VINO our
sued him and la1nented that they had
not shot and killed him. Before he
was through with the water cure soli-
tary bread ard water diet, and hang
ing by the wrists, he wished it more
than ever.
Walls Left Unquarded.
REDS dash for freedom involved
a novel plan, and was the most audac-
ious that has ever been attempted
single handed In any penal institution in
the country. Ee was employed in the
engine room which is situated nearly
200 yards from the high wall that sur
rounds the grounds of the reformatory,
near the small boys dormitories. The
Chicago & Alton has a track entering
the grounds through a gate near this
dormitory, and when cars are to be
sent out or others brought in, it is nec-
essary for a guard to open this gate.
The man whose duty it is to look after
this work is usually occupied at some
thing else, so it has become custom
ary for the quart in the tower at
that corner of the enclosing wall to
leave his station, go to the ground and
open the gate.
That this practice left some 1000
feet of wall unguarded seems to have
been lost sight of by the officials in
charge, but did not escape the watch
full eyes Of Red" One day when he
heard a switch engine whistle as q
signal for the gate to be opened. he
walked boldly from the engine room
where he was employed with a six
teen foot plank on. his shoulder.
Straight across the parade ground he
went, past the small boys dormitory
and up the wall near the vacant guard
tower. AS he neared the wall he hur-
ried. Quickly fitting the plank that he
carried so that one end rested on the
ground and the other on the top of the
wall, ne Skinned" up the incline
formed like monkey. Before the as
ton1shed guards at the other towers
on the wall knew what he was about
ne mad leaped down on the other side
! and was off across country like a deer.