Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-09-04
TWO COMPANIES OF GUAItDSMEN
WE'RE NECESSARY TO
RESTORE ORDER.
BROKE down The DOORS
One Convict Was Shot Down When
lie Failed 10 Halt When
Commanded.


companies of national guardsmen are
tonight camped within and without
the walls of the Michigan penitentiary
here, guarding prisoners who today
revolted and caused reign OF terror
within the prison enclosure. The con-
victs, whom the authorities alleBe
We're responsible for the outbreak are
locked up in the heart OF the peni-
n Tertiary, many of them being chain
ed to their cells.
Every convict was In custody to-
night, and not a prisoner was badly
hurt, according to the statement or
Warden Sampson. He admitted that
during the riot a trusty was seriously
shot and that then he had escaped.
Smashed Up Everything.
Fifty men lodged in the prison bull
pen" have been held responsible for
the riot, which ragged for over an
hour. Warden Simpson declared after
the trouble that he had considered
the penitentiary impregnable, but II
failed when pitted against the skill,
the ingenuity and the recklessnsSs OF
convict safe blowers. The building
In which the so-caled desperate char
acters were quartered Is composed pf
twelve sections and attached to the
cell house. Some one In the cell
nearest the prison stone house sue
ceeded in forcing the doors. This oc-
CURED shortly after the noon hour.
In a few moments a number OF the
convicts unobserved, entered the stone
house and armed themselves with
mallets and sledges. The other doors
of the bull pen" quickly were bat
'-tered In. Yelling like mad men, the
majority Of the convicts streamed into
the prison kitchen and began smash
s'ing everything in sight.
The convicts We're so successful In
their early movements that the riot
was in full progress when Warden
Simpson was notified. He immediate
" asked the military authorities In
Jackson to hurry to the prison. at the
same time ordering his guards and
special deputies to hold the rioters at
bay
SOlu1eTS SIieCktu INi"NiS'
There was no checking the prison.
ers however, until the soldiers ar
rived anu then the demonstration
anded almost as suddenly as 1t had be-
gun. Several of the convicts told
the warden they would go back peace
fully. The men considered most liable
to attempt further trouble We're hand
cuffed to their cells, while the 9TH
ers we're searched and locked in their
steel rooms.
The only convict wounded, was shot
by man said to be soldier In civil
ian clothes. The prisoner who was
running at the time, failed TO obey
the command to halt and received a
bullet in his arm. Warden Simpson
refused to tell the name of the VIC
tim.
After order was restored, two other
companies of the Michigan National
Guard arrived at the prison and the
adjutant general took command. Gov
ernor Osborn, also in Jackson, said he
was satisfied that the members of
the prison board of control were JUS
titled in asking for the soldiers
1t is understood the prisoners will
be given an opportunity to return
peaceably to work. The guards vii
be on hand as a moral influence. War
den Simpson stated that thus far he
has not allowed any Of the convicts
} TO be flogged, although the board of
control allowed him to use his own
Judgment in the matter. He did rot
say, however, that he would fail to
exercise that prerogative II necessary
There has been trouble between the
convicts and officers for some time
but the open break came Friday In
, the dining room. 1t Is said that a
dispute over food was responsible.
Since then, over two score Of the men
>, have spent most of their time sulklng
in their cells or hammering against
the grating. Fearing outbreaks at
any time, the warden has had num-
ber of emergency guards working
with the regulars.
Everything was quiet about the
prison tonight.
hau IN fap