The Calumet news., 1912-09-03
'CONVICTS ON
RAMPAGE, TRY
To GET AWAY
Prisoners in the Yard Liberate
Men in Bull Pens and All
Arm Themselves
OVERPOWER INSIDE GUARDS
Inmates are Cowed by Presence
of Firemen and State Sol
diers From City
OvERpOWER INSIDE GUARDS
MORE SERIOUS TROUBLE FEARED

Jackson. Mich, Sept. 3.-Rioting
among the convicts in the pull pens
has now broken out among the con-
victs in the prison yard, with the Off
cials exerting every effort to keep them
from going over the walls. The local
company of the state militia has been
ordered TO the prison at once, and 1t
is said have orders TO shoot. the first
prisoner who attempts to scale the
walls.
When the prisoners reached the yard
they began running everything within
reach and fearing they would set the
factory on fire, the fire department
was summoned and is now aiding in
the endeavor TO subdue the rioters.
Liberate Men in Bull Pens.
The rioting convicts, overcoming all
restraint shortly before noon, entered
the prison bull pen" and liberated
rs fellow prisoners. An hour later
the authorities apparently had the
convicts cowed by the presence Of the
jackson militia companies, firemen
and special officers, who hurried to
the scene after the outbreak. There
were no fatalities. but considerable
property was damaged.
Conviots Arm Themselves.
About 75 convicts were in the bull
pens which were opened by the in
mates, and practically every prison
er secured weapons of some kind soon
after gaining their liberty. Knives,
used b. the convicts in an endeacor
to overpower the guards inside the
prison walls. Seeing the fire depart
roent enter the yard many rioters fled
back into the prison, while others hid
in the factory buildings hoping to
scale the walls when an opportunity
prevented II is said that during the
excitement. three convicts escaped and
are now at large.
More Trouble Feared.
That the prison officials fear the
worst has not yet come was evident at
noon today. when it was learned that
a Lansing company of national guards
was ordered to this city. Every man
who can he induced to act as a special
armed. The supply of firearms at the
prison is exhausted, and heavy In
roads have been made on the supplies
of the hardware stores. A number OF
newspaper correspondents were sworn
in as deputies and were unable to send
reports TO their papers. One fleeing
convict. failing TO halt when ordered,
was shot down by a guard. The pris-
oner was running across the yard. The
shooting was done by a special deputy.
Hundreds Of people are on the
streets surrounding the prison and spe-
ciaI police are having difficulty in
keeping the crowd orderly,
Militia is In Control
II was said this afternoon that the
militia had successfully cowed the re-
bellious couvicts. who were safely
locked up. Governor Osborn Is expect
ed here tonight to take charge OF the
situation.
A. c. wernicke. chairman Of the
board said a whipping post viii be
erected in the prison yard in plain
view of the men going TO and from
work.
I'VE are going TO restore order in
this prison. he said. 'At present
there is no punishment the warden
can use. excepting to look the men In
se clean. light and airy bullpen cells
IL appears that several of them like
day or two layon from work through
being kept in their cells.
II think the members Of the board
are entirely otherwise than brutal. l
know the warden is the same. but we
cipline IN this prison. C.