The New York herald., 1922-07-02

that it would not improve his temper
ature to talk much.
That morning the Warden went
alone and unarmed. as was his daily
custom, to inspect the shoe factory
in the prison grounds. The first floor
contained offices and store room, the
second floor was the convict work
room, reached by flight of stairs
which in its course passed window
barred on the outside The Warden
had but stepped upon the workroom
floor when. at a signal, convicts
dashed to his side. surrounded him.
those nearest holding razor sharp
knives against his body. In this
fashion they rushed him down stairs,
threatening him with death If he
made outcry. Passing that window
the Warden crashed his foot through
1t, and for that one threatened to
kill him, but the leader cried, "No,
we need him at the gate" Across
the prison yard, milling as close to
him as they could. the convicts
rushed their prisoner toward the
double gate which was open to allow
passage Of trucks carrying rock from
a quarry inside the grounds. The
crash Of glass had alarmed the
guards patrolling atop the high
stone walls, and they were running
toward the gate from each side.
Nearing the gate. and before it could
be closed. convicts shouted to the
guards. "1f you shoot or close the
gate we'll kill the warden"
Shooting Order of the Day.
Shoot" the Warden yelled, and a
convict stabbing at his throat
slashed his shoulder "Shoot, damn
you, shoot" Matthewson shouted A
guard shot. His bullet killed a con-
vict whose knife was at the War
denis throat. and also wounded the
Warden. shoot. Shoot" he again
commanded.
Two convicts were killed, several
wounded, few escaped before the
gates could be closed and the rioters
sullenly driven to their cells at the
muzzles of cooked rifles.
I saw the dead. Convict watchers
stood near them. / spoke to the
watchers, but they stared at me as
silently as those lying there on rude
litters. The warden had given an
order for silence that night and
prisoners were obeying his orders
that night.
My mind was in tumult on the ride
back to town. 1 tried mentally to
write my story, arrange the Incl
dents. pick out high spots for en-
phasis: / shuddered now and then at
the thought OF the watchers who
only stared, as the dead stared, when
/ questioned them; frankly. at times,
l gave thought to the escaped, to one
who might be lurking in some deeper
shadow, waiting for a lone rider
whose mount would serve well for
further flight. / was young. liked
riding; but youth and the joy of
outdoor sport palled upon me. was
not happy. By the time / reached
the towns streets l longed as never
before for lights and for pleasant
companions. A flash of memory re-
lieved my spirits: Modjeska was
playing in Carson that night, I ran
from the livery stable to the theater.
sent in my name from the stage door
to the company manager, Fred
Maeder, and a minute later the star
greeted me in the wings.
You are just in time for Adrienns
LecouUreur's death." she exclaimed
Gentlemen" she said to Maeder
and the player of the old man part,
James Ninson. I'VE must work up a
strong death scene for my friend"
Death! l had no time to explain
to the amiable lady that I would
have preferred a comedy. even a love
scene. to death,
You must have supper with me
and you and you," she said including
Maeder and Vinson in her invitation.
She told her son Ralph, a half grown
boy. to go to the hotel and order