New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-06
Joliet Convicts
Fire S Buildings;
One Killed; 8 Huh
Rain Drives the Mutin.s|
Back After Troops Fail
to Restore Order
900 Convicts in F;ol,
Order Restricting Visits STA.
ed Rioting; Lifer's Skull
Fractured
900 Convicts in Fish

Joliet. ILL.,, June 5.-Af,.r al
prisoner had been killed, eigh, s,v.,.
injured, and several Others bn-
day during three riotous ou,h,.,L
at the state prison by 1900 cor,;,.
a rainstorm drove the last 200 q, !,
mutineers to the cell house, si,bo,.
they had stubbornly refused 70 ~
before the bayonets OF N,,o,,
Guardsmen, who quelled the ou,b,..,
Fires set within the prison buldl,,
destroyed the prison yard bui!d,,n
entailing a loss of $4,000. Sever
other buildings were damaged.
John Murphy, life convict, said to !,
a leader of the riot. suffered IN.
tured skull when ne was struck BIZ :,
guard with a dubbed rife.
There were three riots during .,
day, but the disorder was almos, Co,
tinuous from the first outbreak u,,i
order was finally restored by troW,
All offenders are locked in cell, !.
night.
The first disorder came at hr.t
fast, when 900 ccnvicts showed ts.
pleasure over an order issued !,
Warden Bowen that hereafter priS,.
ers could receive no visitors e1us
relatives. Shouting disapproysl, IL
men began throwing dishwan AZ.
breaking furniture and driving ill
guards to cover.
State Troops Called
The second outburst followed II
setting of a fire in the chair iscts;l
about three hours later. The prs;
fire department was assaulted By a.;
victs when an attempt was made =
extinguish the blaze. But use Of u
fire hose upon the conylcts drove tis'
back. The threatening attitude Of ID
convicts caused the warden TO al
Tor state troops. The troops in Iol'
arc in Federal service, and an Orts
had to be obtained from army hes'
quarters in Chicago. By the time D
soldiers arrived fires had been set
several places. threatening the enilr
prison.
The outbreak Of unruly pris0ns
then became so threatening that "a
tain Hamlet c. Ridgwsy ordered
soldiers to drive the men back "
fixed bayonets while the firc pepN
ment fought the flames. AS me sl
points of the steel penetrated the elo'
ING of the front ranks Of the conU'
thew WINGED and finally broke mo
run that carried all the outlaws 70
prison walls. ~
There the men were told that ~
must return TO the cell house. Win !
flames cracking near them, the men !
fused to yield, apparently hoping
fire would release all 20 the open ne Z
As the flames were quenched' 81! :
200 of the convicts gave up ana We ~,
thus placed under lock and Key. y
remainder sullenly stood their grow,
and the officers decided not 70 h's
the men except as a last resort
Rain Drives Men to Cells
Rain began TO fall in torrents OF y
prisoners, and they surrendered 70 g
Shelter. All were quickly plseeq
cells. In the meantime MAJOR .,
Clinnon arrived with second a se..
ment OF troops and guards were sn ~,
around every part Of the peeniIu.n a =,
Captain Ridgway was detaiied v -
on duty at the prison until all Gang
should be past. ,.l
While the tightening Of prison Iu \
was said TO be the sole cause =, !,
disorder. Hinton c. Clabaugh, o.
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Chicago. sent eight men to ae'e.a s,,
what part. il any, objection 70 9oH'''
ton registration played.