New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-19
Nine Inmates Shot and
5 Police and Firemer
Hurt During 2.Hour
Battle in Pittsburgh
Torches Applied
AS Rush Begins
Cells Torn Apart and
Bricks Rained Down on
Guards as Flames Rage
speesa, p:spatoA to TIE Trinnns


building of the Western Penitentiary
here was wrecked, dozen smaller
buildings connected with the institu-
ton were destroyed by fire and four
we're injured to-day when the 1,1S5
prisoners started riot and attempted
70 overpower the guards and escape.
The nine convicts injured were shot
By city police, county detectives and
prison guards while attempting to fight
their way to liberty. Three were so
seriously injured that it is declared
their recovery is impossible. The
others wounded are three city police
officials and a district FIRE chief, who
we're injured in the rioting, and city
fireman, who was seriously burned
while lighting the flames.
The buildings destroyed, all within
the great wall that surrounds the
penitentiary, were:
Dining room, combination three
story frame and two-story brick;
north end destroyed by flames, re-
mainder wrecked by rioting convicts.
Weaving shop, large three-story brick;
machine shop, three-story brick; broom
story brick; chapel, one-sSory brick
large storage house, one-story frame ;
kitchen, one-story frame; four smaller
one-story frame storage houses and
two lookout towers on the prison wall,
all burned.
Rioting Lasted Two Hours
Virtually all of the prisoners, except
fifty women inmates, took part in the
rioting both inside the main building
and in the prison yard. 1t lasted more
than two hours and another two hours
had elapsed before the fremen had the
fire under control. Flames leaped fifty
feet above the high prison wall.
The injured are:
CAMPBELL, H. c., prisoner, gunshot
wounds in the body.
COBERLEY, P. K, struck with brick
hurled by q prisoner.
CORCORAN, NJ. j., policeman, struck
BY brick thrown by prisoner.
CRAWFORD, George, prisoner, gun
shot wounds in shoulder and face; con-
dition serious.
CRYSTER, ". B., policeman, struck
by brick.
DAVID, Charles, negro, prisoner,
gunshot wounds in body; condition not
serious.
EMIL, Edward, prisoner. shot in
body; not serious.
HARLEY, H, fireman of Engine Com
pany 40, burned by brands.
HARRIS, William, negro, prisoner,
gunshot wounds in body; condition
serious.
JOTNcoN s1.I
eF,. shot; condition serious.
JONES, Daniel, district fire chief,
struck with a piece Of iron hurled by
one Of the prisoners.
IOKNlO,. Joseph, prisoner, gunshot
wound in body; condition not serious.
TRAYMOR, David, prisoner, gunshot
wounds in face, body and arms; condi-
ton not serious
RENO, .Carnicto, prisoner, gunshot
wound in left shoulder.
Three Prisoners May Die
Deputy Warden Egan tonight said
tnas Campbell Harris and Johnson
were wounded seriously and probably
would die.
While $50 city and county police
emcials and the full corps of guards
,ought with the naddened convicts. all
se tremen from the North Side battled
with the flames to keep them from de-
Hroylng the main building, where all
1he eonvicts were confined after they
had been driven from the prison yard
!As the flames leaped up from the build
.nes and licked the window frames of
.ae cells in which they were conlnod
sne prisoners shrieked, cursed, prayed,
shouted for help and frequently tore
And through it all there was the
sssssperate battle between the hundreds
.. guards and police on the one hand
quo 'ne criminals on the other, who
se'e hgnting madly for freedom and
tS,a ~ escape from the fiery death that
me rloting and fires broke out stimuli
ssaanseously, sas and, according to the prison
tesmc'als, ~. were part of plot to empty
cr,r rn great institution of its horde of
'"''hals. But for the alertness of the
CONTINUED on pass four