New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-19
LBS (IOravicts
w n'eck Prison
I'm Fire Riot

guards in refusing to be triched by a
rusc, the plan would have succeeded,
1t is declared.
The first squad Of aim ost zoo prison
ers had been served their noon meal in
the dining hall and had been returned
to their cells, and the second squad,
numbering about eco, were in the din
ing room when two of the prisoners
started fight Soon dishes, chairs,
tables and other missiles were whirlng
through the air. Suddenly a rush was
made for the guards. The latter, how
ever, retrcatcd to the prison walls and
covered the mob with their rifles.
Seen Applying Torch
simultaneously, fires broke out in
the weaving shop, the broom shop, the
shoe shop, chapel and the kitchen. A
negro prisoner was seen applying
torch TO two Of the buildings. A mo-
ment later be was felled by guard.
The buildings, dry as finder, soon
wore in flames. The prisoners broke
Tor the open. The rioting convicts
were like stampeding cattle. Shout
ing and cursing, they hurled every sort
of object or weapon they could find.
selves on the walls to prevent escape
in that manner, other guards rushed
from the buildings and formed lines to
prevent the prisoners from rushing the
gates.
Practically all the shooting took
place in the main building. In the
rioting in the yard the guards used
dubbed rifles and threate Of volleys to
control the frenzied prisoners. 1t was
almost half an hour from the time
that the rioting started before the $50
men had been driven inside the build
ing.
1t is considered remarkable that
many of the prisoners did not succeed
in escaping while they were being
herded into the main building. Several
times the huge gates were swung open
to permit fire engines to enter, and at
these times all that stood between the
prisoners and liberty were two lines
of guards, one inside the gates and
one outside However none succeeded
in breaking through, so far as is
known.
The worst phase of the riotng oc-
CURED after the prisoners had been
cleared from the yard and had been
locked inside the building. Once in
side they deficd the guards when or
aered to go back to their cells, and,
taking refuge on top of the cell tiers,
ralned down bricks, pieces of cement,
wash stands which they tore from the
walls and even huge pieces of steel
"nleh they tore from their cells. They
prled and battered down cells and brick
partitlons and even broke up the ce-
ment flooring. which was eighteen
l1ches thick, and hurled it all down at
the guards and police who were at
tempting TO control them. Practically
40 per cent Of the cells was DESTROYED
IN this manner before the prisoners
We're subducd
For several weeks runners have heen
cnrrent Of trouble in the big neniten-
tiary Prisoners brought from the East
ern Penitentiary, in Philadelphia. both
male and female, nave been discon-
tented, saying that they were not ac-
corded the privileges in the local in
stltution that they had received in
their former abode. The principal COM
plant OF the men was that their food
was not satisfactory and that they
were not permitted to have cigarettes
The women, it was learned, were in
dlgnant because they were not per
nltted to use face powder and rouge,
insisting thot the use CT cosmetics was
as much necessary part of their toilet
inside the prison as it would be were
they on the outside.
Deputy Warden of the Western Pen
ltentlar5 n statement issued tonight
said:
"Conditions which the prisoners
wanted and which would net be granted
under any circumstances, discomfort
and no work are the causes which
started the trouble to-day.
Two weeks ago a small riot occurred
in the dining-room. Yesterday we dis
covered that plan to start riot wa,
formulated, but before the trouble
gained Roadway the guards promptly
qrelled it and the men were taken to
their respective quarters About 1880
a, m. to-day the trouble started.
"Dlshes, chairs, knives and forks and
other articles were hurled by the pris-
onefs at the guards, and at the same
time fire started simultaneously in y
number of buildings and in the
kitchen.
CAS- the guards were making an cf-
tort to control the convicts their atten-
ton was diverted by the fire. The nris.
oners stampeded and ran from the
dining groom into the prison courtvard
Considerable difficulty was exper j.
enced in rounding up the prisoners. but
the guards worked hard and succeedaJ