Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-06-06
CONv!CTS RIOT
Set Buildings Afire at
Joliet, Illinois
No Visitors but Relatives Rule
Cause of Troubles Start

Joliet, ILL.,, June 5.--After one pris-
oner had been killed. eight severely
injured and several others hurt today
during three riotous outbreaks at the
state prison by a thousand convicts,
rain storm drove the last 200 of the
mutineers to the cell house although
they had stubbornly refused to move
before the bayonets of the national
guardsmen, who quelled the outbreak.
Fires set within the prison buildings
destroyed the prison yards buildings,
, entailing a total loss of $4,000. Sew
eral other buildings were damaged by
the flames. ER
John Murphy life convict, said to be
leader of the riot, suffered a frac
tured skull when he was struck by
guard with dubbed rife.
Companies E and f of the First ILL.,
nois Infantry, now in Federal service
and encamped near here, were called
to assist the guards in quelling the
disturbance. Three fire companies
which responded to the alarm met OPP
position from the convicts, who used
knives bricks and tools stolen from
the implement house as weapons. Rain
finally drove the men to their quar-
tiers.
The buildings fired were the rattan
and chair factories, which are OF con-
siderable size, the chapel. oil house
and lumber shop. There are about
1900 convicts and the situation soon
got beyond the control of the SO
guards. A. l.. Bowen, temporary war
den, telegraphed to Governor Lowden
for military assistance.
For some time there had been re-
ports Of lax discipline at the prison
and conditions We're the subject Of
recent investigation by a legislative
committee. Warden thinner resigned
recently to accept another position in
Chicago. His successor has not yet
been appointed.
Yesterday in the interests of dis
cipline. Acting Warden Bowen ordered
that hereafter no visitors except rela-
tives would be admitted to the
grounds.
Anger at the order Of the warden
first made itself apparent at breakfast
today Dishes were hurled at the
guards. tables overturned and the con-
victs surged into the grounds, and
making threats, they seized what mis-
siles and weapons they could and OBJ
tanned more from the implement house.
They twice set fire to the rattan shop,
the first zlaze proving abortive. Other
fires followed. Firemen from this city
responded to an alarm but the convicts
= - 1,y-in he OF Mt
Royce was knocked down, but was res
cued by his men. The battle was pro-
ceeding briskly when the soldiers ar
rived. Although outnumbered to 1,
they began an orderly attack with bay
onets and dubbed rifles. In the course
Of the fighting, Peter Waters, a guard,
was injured, and three convicts were
wounded by bayonet thrusts.
Captain H. c. Ridgeway of Co. E
was guarding Solitary" when he was
attacked by a big Negro convict and
knocked unconscious.
I The soldiers gradually forced the
scattered groups OF convicts to the cor
ner Of the yard. The work was ham,
pered by darkness caused by the smoke
from the burning buildings. Acting on
the OTueT Ol lHelF the SOL
diers fired several volleys, Ginning
high The shots had an immediate eff
feet on the spirits of the convicts.
At noon it was daclared that the fires
in three Of the buildings were under
control
The injured were taken to the prison
hospital for treatment. Soldiers and
prison guards were posted on the pris-
on walls as soon as the hand to hand
struggle ceased. to guard against es-
capes Officials said only a count Of
the prisoners would show with GER
tainty whether any convicts had es-
capped.
Break for Shelter
The stubborn 200 held out until 8
O'Clock when a rain storm broke over
the men and accomplished what the
soldiers had been unable to do, drive
them to the cell house. The men had
faced the bayonets for hours, but when
the clouds opened and the deluge came
they hesitated a few moments. then
with a yell broke for shelter.