New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1923-10-05
LOST legion Still
HOLDS BACK GUARDS
Kentucky ConVicts Withstand
Terrific Hail Of Bullets
ASSAULT BEING HELD UP
Prison Fortress strong Enough 20
stand on Regiment, Warden says
Troops Called out-Dynamiie
May be Used Eventually.

Eddyville. KY. Oct. 6.--"The siege
OF Eddyyille" entered its third day 10.
day.
Their hands red with the life blood
OF three prison guards, Monte Wal
ters. Lawrence Griffith and Harry
Ferland. convict murderers, still lurk-
ed behind the bullet riddled walls OF
the two-story brick meEs hall OF the
western state penitentiary.
For more than two days and two
nights the gunmen three had held the
improyised fortress. despite combined
efforts of prison guards, troop of
National Guard machine gunners and
volunteer citizen rifiemen to dislodge
them.
Have Desperate Courage.
The desperate courage of the lost
legion-those men with "all to gain
and nothing to lose"-carried the trio
through two barrages from high pow
er rifles and two machine guns that
drove hail of steel jacketer bullets
through the mess hall walls tearing
out large holes in the north and west
side at points where the Are was con-
6do dbtdCh lClNdoCu W
tear gas bombs lobbed into the build
ing through the breaches In the walls
and a bombardment of rifle grenades
Just before midnight Governor Ed
win p. Morrow ordered additional
guardsmen to the scene. Acting up
on request for reinforcements from
Warden John Chiffon, who said the
machine gunners were worn out by
the strain Of the long watch and need
ed guard relief, Governor Morrow or
dered 20 members of Co. l., 149th in
fantry. from Maryland to the scene.
May Use Dynamite.
Twenty-Five Thousand rounds of am
together with a supply or
rifle grenades arrived late yesterday
from Camp Henry Knox. In addi-
tion the besiegers have obtained a
quantity of dynamite and 1t has been
intimated that an effort might be
made to mine the building and raze
1t with heavy blast of the explosive.
Not All Killed Anyway
Opinion was expressed in some
quarters early last night that the be-
eaguered desperadoes had been kill
I'd or seriously wounded by the vol
eys directed against their fortress. 1t
vas proved, however, that at least one
If the trio still was able to walk when
, figure was seen to emerge from the
bullets from the rifles of watching
guards the man fled back into the
lark interior of the building, Later a
guard in attempting to place to more
ldvantage one OF the torches, mo-
deserted cover and three
hots were fired from the building |
moving that the ammunition Of the |
ness hall defenders had not been ex-
lausted.
Persons familiar with the interior
# the mess hall explained that it |
would have been possible for the gun
nen to have escaped the besiegers
ullets by entering the prison ovens,
uge brick affairs lined with sheets of
ron.
Assault Held Up
Warden Chiffon said further efforts
D dislodge the men would be held
p until this afternoon awaiting the
rival of three members of the state
oard of charities and correction.
Warden Chiffon said the convicts
had used four ninety gal
in iron steam boilers in the front of
ne building and a steel sbeeted bread
lixer in the rear as hiding places.
They are located at the only en-
to the building, In the ward
MS opinion the convicts could hide in
,ese places and stand off a regiment.
Firing Resumed.
Firing upon the mess hall of the
ate penitentiary where three convict
lurderers are barricaded was re-
imed shortly before noon. 1t was
ecided to resume firing when guards
en at vantage points, with the aid
field glasses, reported belief they I,
,uld discern two forms recumbent
! the floor oflthe dining hall. No
gn of third was detected. ..