The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-06-06
CONv|CTS RIOT IN
JOLIET PR SON
Several Buildings Set AhIaze lr
Mutiny; Prisoners Fight
the Firemen.
ONE DEAD AND 8 WOUNDED
Draft and New Rules of Acting War
den Cause the Worst Outbreak
In the History of the State
institution.


Chicago, June Gone prisoner was
killed and eight persons, two of them
guards and one the prison chaplain,
were injured in a mutiny in the Joliet
penitentiary Nearly 1000 convicts
took part in the uprising. Fires were
set within the prison inclOsure and
several buildings were destroyed or Sc
riously damaged. The battle between
convicts, guards and militiamen ragged
in the prison yard for four hours.
Warden Bowen finally pronounced the
situation under control, though scores
Of prisoners were still herded into
corner Of the yard jeering at the sol
diers, who had orders not to shoot
them. Earlier the militiamen had been
instructed to shoot to kill if necessary,
and several volleys had been fired,
though no bullets took effect.
List of the Casualties.
The dead
Flaherty, life-term prisoner, Cook
county; leaped from burning building.
The injured:
Walter O'Brien, former Chicago de-
tective sergeant.
Teddy Webb automobile bandit.
James Murphy, leader of the rioters
James Williams, stabbed in the back
by fellow prisoner.
Michael O'Connell, knocked out by
a soldier.
William Hayward, guard, wounded
in hand.
Peter Waters, guard, struck by
brick.
Rev. Andrew j. Patrick, protestant
chaplain of the prison; burned on the
hand in helping firemen.
The fire damage was estimated by
the warden at $4,000. A building at
tached to the structure used as the
prison chapel was destroyed and the
oil shop, paint shop and rattan shop
suffered serious damage.
Wardens Order Brings Riot.
The riot broke out as the result Of
Warden Bowen's order forbidding con-
victs to receive visits except from rel
atfves.
'"The prison had been full of wom-
an visitors every day." he said "Such
conditions could not be tolerated.
Either had to stop it or my successor
had to. stopped it,
There was some dissatisfaction, too,
the warden declared with the army
draft, registration for which was held
in the prison. This is not thought to
have played a large part in bringing
on the outbreak.
The smoldering rebellion came to a
head at breakfast The prisoners
threw dishes about the dining room
and showed signs of general insubor-
dination. They were apparently quiz
eted, however, and sent about their
tasks. A few minutes later the ward
en- walked through the yard In COM
pany with a visitor. A group of pris-
oners saw him. One of them uttered
an oath and the group moved threat
eningly toward the warden and his
companion. The rebellion was on.
The warden and his visitor lodged
into q nearby building and sent for
help. Meanwhile prisoners throughout
the inclosure threw UP their work and
swarmed into the yard.
Guard Discovers a Eiaze.
A guard discovered fire In the rat
tan shop. With the helI Of several
other guards he extinguisl.ei it. The
convicts jeered. The blaze had scarce
ly been put out when another was
found in the same building. An appeal
was sent to the Joliet fire department
for help.
The first company TO arrive was
greeted with volley of bricks and
stones from the convicts. There were
| hand-to-hand conflicts between guards
and prisoners who sought to obstruct
ttv, work of the firemen. Chief Royce
of the fire department was knocked
down and rescued by his men.
Other fires We're reported. There
was one in the oil shop, one in the
paint shop and one in the building
back of the chapel. An appeal was
| sent for more fire companies and
| Warden Bowen wired Governor Low
den for soldiers.
Soldiers Sent to Prison.
/
| AS the prison gates opened to admit
| the little column il was met with
! fusillade of bricks, stones and other
missiles Groups who refused to be in
| Inundated by the approach of the mil
| itary were cowed by volleys of bullets
| fired over their heads
Herded Into ceIlhcuses.
Go1,
one O'Clock, though organized opposi-
| ton to the guards broke down soon
| after the soldiers reached the scene.
| Company E was re-enforced by Com
pany G, and the two units gradually
drove the convicts in little groups into
corners of the yard, where they held
| them at bay. A few at time were
| herded into the cellhouses and locked
up.