The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-06-05
Serious Disorders Occur in the
Illinois Penitentiary and Two
Companies of National Guards.
men Are Ordered to Scene.
FIVE BUILDINGS SET ON
FIRE BY THE PRISONERS
Firemen Respond to the Alarm
and Are Beaten With Bricks
and Stolen Tools; Ban on Wis.,
itors Given as Cause Of Mutiny.

by Associated Press
Joliet. III. June i--serious rioting
among con,l lets ~ the state prison
here broke out this morning. Five
buildings were set on fire. Two COM
panies of national guardsmen were
called TO assist In quelling the dis
turbance
The penitentiary is on the outskirtg
or the city. Three fire companies
which responded 10 the alarm met op-
position from the con,icts who used
bricks aud tools stolen from the imple-
ment house az weapons. There were
some knives among them also.
There are about 1900 convlcts and
my guards. The situation soon got
beyond control and temporary Warden
Bowen teiegraphed to Governor Low
den for the militia
For some time there have been re-
ports OF lax discipline al the prison
aud conditions were the subject OF
recent investigation By legislative
committee. Warden thinner resigned
some time ago. voluntarily to accept
another position In Chicago. his home.
His successor has not been appointed
and Bowen has been acting temporsr-
ily. Yesterday, IN the Interests OF dis
4
no visitors except relatives would be
admitted to the grounds. This Is said
To have resulted in the disturbances.
A battle between cOnyicus and guards
was proceeding briskly when the sol
uiers arrived. They we're ordered 70
hold their fire. aud although out
numbered nine to one. they began an
/ orderly attack with bayonets and
| ilmlheI rifIaa IA, IA. ss,attss. .tf bs.
| fighting Peter Waters. a guard. was
injured. Captain II. G. Ridseway cf
r Company was attacked hy big
negro. There was o terrific encounter
Tor moment until the soldier knock
ed his assailant unconscious with q
blow from his pistol
The first work OF the soldiers was to
clear the convicts away frcm the blaz-
ing buildings so that the firemen could
work. This was quickly accomplished
At ll;lt. three hours after the trouble
started. tile cOnvicts had not been sub
dued but the soldiers were making
steady progress ia herding them to-
ward the cell rooms. The infantrymen
were instructed not TO shoot Unless 10
save their own lives.
ht O'Clock all but zoe of the pris-
oners had been returned ;o conane-
.ment The goa were stlll 81 a corner
'ot the yard defiant Soldiers were
not allowed to inJurc them aud were
jeered bN he convicts.
The hames were under control but
two buildings the paint shop and
chapel had been destroyed Three
.convicts and tw5 guards we're iaiurcd
hut not seriously.
|, Al .. m. this afternoon the cas-
Qualities we're reported az one dead
and eight injured. John. Flahcriy .
lGfer, was killed by jumping from O.
window of the rattan factory which
'wns on fire.
l. Five con,icts suffered severe IN
iuries. including James Murphy their
leader
Three ~ the guards were injured
The two hundred stubborn rioters
held uut until o'clock whcn a ra,n-
storm broke over them and accom-
plishcd what the soldiers had been
unable to do. drive them 20 the eel
house.