The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-06-05
JOLIET CoNVICTs
IN REVOLT
Continued from Page H.

suited In probably fatal injury OF
three convicts, minor injury OF score
of others and serious injury of two
guards was under control this after
moon.
While there was still fighting in
side the prison enclosure, 1T was
gradually dying down and prison au-
thorities had wired Governor Lowden
at Springfield that the situation was
we'll in hand.
Fire, set by the convicts, had de-
stroyed the oil and lumber houses
and it was believed the chapel would
be consumed. The other buildings, 1t
was said, would be saved.
Three companies of militia, the en-
tire Joliet police and fire departments
and all the deputy sheriffs in VIII
county were called out to battle the
500 inmates when they started the
trouble.
The guards seriously injured were
named Hayward and Waters. The
former was struck by bullet which
ricocheted from stone wall. Waters
was hit on the head by brick. The
names OF the injured conyicts were
not announced.
Governor Lowden has ordered
Charles L. Thorne, head of the de-
partment of public welfare, to this
city to take charge of the situation.
The rioting began at the breakfast
table, following Acting Superinten-
dent Bowen's announcement that none
but relatives would be permitted to
visit the institution in the future. The
convicts began pelting their guards
with dishes, knives and forks and
chairs. Superintendent Bowen sent
an appeal to a park near Joliet where
the First Illinois infantry is quar-
tered. Companies E, F. and G were
dispatched to aid him.
In the meantime the number of
rioting convicts had grown to nearly
500. The guards were being show
cred with rocks. clubs and other mis-
siles. Two convicts made their way
into the oil house and emerged bran
dishing two cans Of kerosene. There
prison guards tried vainly to fight
their way through, the torch was ap-
piled to FIVE buildings, the chapel.
the repair shop. the Oil house, the
lumber house and the boiler shop.
Joliet's entire fire department was
called. AS it reached the gates. the
convicts surged forward ready to
make a dash for freedom as soon as
the gates were swung back.
The fire department was forced to
halt outside, waiting for the militia
to arrive. $3.50
1t was nearly half an hour later
that the militia swung down the
streets and reached the prison.
Superintendent Bowen appealed to
the soldiers to avoid killing or wound
ing if possible. In close formation
they swept through the gates and
met the onrush Of the convicts with
a yoIley aimed into the air.
The convicts halted and the sol
diers charged. They were met with
rocks, pieces of broken chairs, bars
of steel and other missiles. Several
of the guardsmen FELL slightly injured
but Immediately regained their
in the ranks and rushed forward with
blood running down their faces.
During the first rush three con-
yfcts were seriously injured One was
shot in the abdomen, another, who
leaped at a soldiers throat, was
pierced with a bayonet and third
gun.
Captain Ridgeway, OF Company e.
saw giant negro convict stealthily
approaching the entrance to the soli-
tary house and leaped forward. The
negro grasped him by the threat and
hurled him back. Ridgeway loosened
his assailant's grip and the two rolled
about until the captain finally grasped
his revolver and beat the negro into