New-York tribune., 1913-07-25
"Shoot to Kill" Order Issued to
Guardsmen Held in Readl-
ness for a New Out
break in Prison.
OSSINING FOLK IN TERROR
Howls of Desperate Prisoners
Throw Women and Children
of Village Into Panic, and
Authorities Appeal
for Protection.

Almost 1,5OO convicts in Sing Sing
prison. many of them nurderers ana
other desperate characters, were IN SO
ugly a frame Of mind all day yester-
day and last night that two companies
Of militia infantry and one OF naval
militia were held in readiness to be
rushed to the prison in case OF a Sc
rious outbreak.
Under Sheriff Weisendanger, Of
Westchester. was also prepared to
take drastic action at the first signs
Of trouble. and hastily swore in an
extra force of deputies, all heavily
armed. The town of Ossining, sttu-
ated near the big prison, was in panic
of fear last night, fearful at every
moment that word would come OF an
uprising among the prisoners.
John s. Jenkins. Supervisor Of Os-
sining telephoned TO Under Sheriff
Weisendanger in the afternoon, telling
him ii might be necessary to call upon
him to protect the people of the town.
who dreaded the consequences should
the prisoners succeed in escaping from
the grim walls Of Sing Sing.
Shoot to KiII' Order.
The Under Sheriff Immediately got
into communication with Captain
Glover in command Of the Ossining
company Of militia, and requested him
10 hold his command of eighty men in
readiness for service. Captain Bogart
Of Yonkers, was also asked TO be pre-
pared TO entrain his company Tor
Ossining at a moments notice.
These orders were responsible for
scenes Of unusual activity in both ar
mories yesterday. The men busted
themselves in cleaning and preparing
their arms. Each received full issue
Of ammunition. In case Of serious
outbreak in the prison the militia Will
be ordered to shoot TO Kill"
In addition to the two companies or
infantry waiting under arms. Lieu.
tenant McCullom. of the ossining naval
militia company. sent word to Super
visor Jenkins that his men were ready
TO move on the instant in case OF riot
call from the prison.
The rumor went forth early in the
afternoon that the First Battalion OF
Naval Militia. with headquarters on
the training ship Granite State, lying
AT 9th street and the Hudson River{
had also been ordered to hold itself in
readiness TO embark for Sing sing at
short notice. This report was Denied
however. by those in authority on the
Granite State.
Rioters Locked in Coils.
Following the rioting among the pris-
oners In the workshop on WEDNESDAY
Warden Clancy kept a double guard on
the men. The two hundred prisoners
known.as "B" men. or second termers'
who were responsible for the outbreak
Of disorder during the fire in the prison
on TT sday. were locked in their cells
all day yesterday.
Warden Clancy, knowing the surly
ta,,per OF these men, known az the
knitting gang. did not feel Jus'E't
T., ts king chances With them IL was
these men who were the ringleaoers
in creating discomfort and disorder al
the time of the fire. After being
locked in their cells, the "B men
made Wednesday night hideous with
their continuous storm OF yells and
curses.
Persons living in Ossining were
awakened from their sleep by the
shouts and catcalls OF the convicls'
and many women became so mighty
wrought up by the blood -curdling
noises issuing from behind the grim
walls of the prison that they remainei
awake. In a state ot constant fear.
The Warden pIar.g TO send sixty %
these "knitters" TO Auburn prison TO-
dav. among whom will be included the
of the outbreak. The priS-
oners will ne se1t ~ the upstate prison
on a special train Of tha New YORK
Central, with a heavy guard IN at
tendance. \ Jay or two later another
hatch of tho same two hundred VIII
be sent to Auburn. In this way II 10
hoped 10 eventual. quell the unrest
among the other prisoners.
Fire Set by Prisoners.
AT present the entire convict popu-
lation OF Sing Sing is sullen. obsu-
nate army of desperate men. Threat
eninp cries and derisive howls echo
from the great gray pile Of granite
at frequent intervals, and keepers are
greeted with snarls and curses. Mu-
tiny is In the very air.
IT is becoming more evident every
eay that the fire of Tuesday was the
work OF the prisoners. Some Of the
more desperate among the second term
ers are believed 10 have started the
hlaze that did 100000 damage and
endangered the lives of several hun
dred convicts. Yesterday morning an
other attempt was made to set fire TO
a prison building. when a mattress in
the clothing industry shop was found
on fire.
Some OF the prisoners seized the
burning mattress and threw II out of
the window. where It was doused with
water by other prisoners. In the midst
of the excitement the fire whistle
sounded. bringing hundreds of persons
from the village of Ossining. They