The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-12-23
Police Chief Tells
How Auburn Prison
Was Lost and Won
Continued from page one)

S~ Wv
convict.
Winnie dartcd to a door opening on
the prison ward. In . split second,
before the convict could thrust the
gun through the grill and fire, Win.
ne was out through the door.
Thus. mt a moment between 1913
and 1920 a. M, q the original
play of the d~esperadoes thwartcd.
Had they captured Winnie in the
box office" egress to the front
yard would have been a matter Of
minutes and just beyond was the
outer gate.
, Down to the ground level and back
to the south corridor raced the
chagrined convict. Already the sub
lection of guards had begun, timed
to the expected capture Of the 'box
office"
Heroic r. n Shot Down
Principal Keeper George A. Durn.
ford was hailed as he left his Of
flee at the guard room end Of the
south corridor leading to the chap
ell, by a convict said to have been
Max Becker. He ignored the call.
The first volley of shots startled the
prison..
Durnford fell with several bullets
in his chest. Despite his wounds
the "P. X" stumbled toward the
door. only to drop again, this time
to rise no more.
Auburn prison vas in a furore.
Warden Jennings was seized BY
three convicts. The conviets then
forced the other guards to open the
cells of the emergency isolation
block. Pawlak and Sullivan took
command.
I'VE arc going to get Quit" shout
ed Sullivan. "Come along If you
want to. If not. stay in your cells
and shut your heads!"
Not more than 4 handful joined
them.
Guards Barricade Selves
Throughout the prison, guards,
civilian employees in the bertillon
room and storckeepers with their
convict aides b~arricaded themselves.
Captain Byron Sawyer was at the
desk in the Auburn city hall police
station when the telephone bell
rang.
This is Auburn prison. he heard
an excited voice shout over the wire.
Another riot is in force here. The
warden and some of the guards have
been captured. Get all the help YOU
can and come ut Once!"
Sawyer called Chief Bills from the
next room. 1t was Bills who set
the machinery Of rescue in opera
ton. Help was called from the
Oneida barracks, the state troopers
headquarters, and the police depart
mcnts Of half a score Of nearby cities
and towns. While his aids were thus
engaged Chief Bills telephoned Ma
Jor. Frederick s. Johnston, Of the
Auburn National Guard company.
He detailed officers to tour the city
IN q car and pick up all available
policement and rush them to the
prison. Bills then sped down to the
prison to grapplc with the greatest
crisis in his career.
Own Father Captured
Within those walls Warden Jcn-
nings was a captive, in imminent
danger of death. And with him was
Guard Claude j. Bills, Chief Bills
own father. when / arrived 1t the
prison" reeds the report Of Chief
Bills, II found Sergeant Sullivan,
Captain McGrain and Morrison, FOs-
ter and Clerk Demo Of the prison,
with my own men, Sergeant Green,
and Patrolmaen Bobbett, Arnold,
Bunncll, Brandstetter and Craney
holding the guard room.
About this time John MacTaggart.
2 prison cmploye. was led up to the
wicket In the south door Of the guard
room. Behind him was q convict
with . gun. We could not shoot him
without sending . bullet through
MacTaggart.
"MacThggart asked for Captain
McGrain, who went bravely to the
door. MacTaggart said:
Tells 81 Death Threat
John, the warden. myself and SIX
guards have been captured BY e Ii.
mates. they say that II they are nj
allowed to 60 to freedom they Win
kill the warden and all Of the euarde.'
"Mc0ratn could do nothing. The
inmate took MacTaggart away.
While they were below I asked 0ulll-
van Il there was any gas In the
prison, he said there was none. Some
had been ordered but had not arrived.
:" then took steps TO get eas
bombs. While doing 30, MacThegart
was brought back to the wicket and
Mc0rain summoned.
"MacTAggart said: The warden
wants you to unlock the dora and
let u out
~ can't take order like this" re-
piled Mcorain. How am = to know
tho warden said so?'
"sWl you unlock the door II Ne
bring . note from the wardenf' asked
the inmate.
Calls Fer Gas Dembs
Il Was then that Chief Bulls dotGe.
mined upon . tear gas assault at
once. Hastily telephoning % oyra-
cuse and Rochester, he called Tor gas
bombs to b sent By airplane O. By
any other rapid means.
He resisted . note bearing what
purposed to be the warden's sigma.
ture directing tho opening of the
prison. accepting instead the terse
order Of d. Raymond 7. g. Kieb,
state prison commiasioner, ~ they
come out, shoot them down. u thoy
don't como out. 60 In and get th1m."
In the lower hail Warden jennings, |
NacTaegast and Guards Dempsey,
Eolzhauer. Huguinen. Van Housen,
and Atkins ware facing . situation
which evegy instant became moge
critical.
The inmates brought Warden ZEN.
uines % the W1cbek, Q eun Of hiS
hood," the report continues. ~rhog
threatened instant 6oath. We could
only continue - etoll than. Tine,
and moee TIM. Woe what - noodo6.
1hon FATHER o1oofy arrived h. mo6e
several trips Into IT, prison Soe pr.