The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1917-06-07
TROOPS END RIOT
At JOLIET PRISON
One Prisoner Killed and Eight
Persons Hurt.
SOLDIERS FIRE ON C0NVICTS
Fremen Met at Penitentiary by Hail
Of Stones and Chief Narrowly Es-
cspes Buildings Burned
by Rioters.


were injured in mutiny in the Joliet
penitentiary. Nearly 1000 convicts
took part in the uprising. Fires were
set within the prison Enclosure ana
several buildings We're 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 ut 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, Coof
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 baclt
by fellow prisoner.
Michael O'Connell, knocked out b,
n soldier.
William Hayward guard, wounded
in hand.
Peter Waters, guard, struck by a
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.
Warden's Order Brings Riot.
The riot broke out as the result Of
Warden Bowen's order forbidding con
victs to receive visits except from rel
ativeS.
"The prison had been full of WON
an visitors every day he said. "Such
conditions could not be tolerated.
Either had TO stop it or my successor
had to. l 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 10
have played a large part in bringing
on the outbreak.
The smoldering rebellion came 10 a
head at breakfast. The prisoners
threw dishes about the dining room
and showed signs of general insubor
dlnation. They We're apparently qui-
eted, however. and sent about their
tasks. A few minutes later the ward
en- walked through the ward in com
pany with 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 a nearby building and sent for
help Meanwhile prisoners throughout
the Enclosure threw up their work and
swarmed into the yard.
Guard Discovers a Blaze.
A guard discovered fire in the rat
tan shop. With the help of several
other guards he eXtinguished 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 a volley of bricks and
stones from the conyicts. There were
hand-to-hand conflicts between guards
and prisoners who sought TO obstruct
the work of the firemen. Chief Royce
Of the fire department was Knocked
down and rescued by his men.
Other fires were reported. There
was one in the oil shop, one in he
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.
! Company Il set out for the prison,
As the prison gates opened to admit
| the little column 1t was met with a
| fusillade of bricks, stones and other
missiles. Groups who refused TO be in
undated by the approach of the mil
| ltary were cowed by volleys of bullets
| fired over their heads.
Herded Into celIhouses.
Desultory fighting continued until
one O'clock. though organized opposi-
ton to the guards broke down soon
after the soldiers reached the scene
Company Il was REINFORCED 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 We're
herded into the cellhouses and locked
up.