The Washington times., 1931-03-19
FACING BREAD
AND WATER
DIET
Troops Rushed to Old Prison
to Guard Against New Riot
Reported Brewing There
CONTINUED From Page -

y
minuteIy inspected. While the
soldiers, steel helmeted and in
uniform, made their detailed in
SpectiOn, squads of State police
stood at each cell door.
Early in the search, which was
expected to be under way all
day, q number of knives, some
steel saws and other contraband
material were confiscated, accord
ing to Deputy Warden George
Erickson.
Dynamite Caused Riot
A report persisted that the real
cause Of the search was the
rumOred smuggling of dynamite
into the StateSville prison and
the cOncealment of arms in the
Joliet institution.
Extra guards have been posted
ON the penitentiary walls with
machine guns ready. Territory
for half mile around the prison
enclosure is being guarded by
khaki-cIad militiamen in steel hel
NETS. Two companies of infantry
were held ready for call in Chi
CagO should the trouble begin
anew.
Cell Houses FireprOOf
Foodless and sullen, the $500
prisoners were locked in their
Eteel and concrete cell blocks.
The modern cheese box circular
cell houses were untouched by
the flames which swept the plant
in yesterdays attempted outbreak.
Shouts of hatred and rage at
their failure to gain freedom is
sued from the rebels in their cell
blocks.
Meanwhile the penitentiary, one
Of the most modern in the coun-
try, was paralyZed. Seven Of the
new buildings were swept by fires
set simultaneously.
Damage Put At $5OO,OOO
Damage from fire and vandal-
ism was estimated by Col. Frank
V. Whipp, State superintendent
of prisons, at 100000.
The mess hall, a massive audi
torium with seating capacity
of 5000, was totally destroyed.
The machine shop, blacksmith
shop, the laundry, the kitchen,
and the commissary buildings
were all badly damaged.
Warden Henry C. Hill an.
nounced that he was convinced
the riOting was not an attempt
ut a prison delivery, bat was a
demonstration of resentment
against OvercrOwding, idlenesS,
and the recent policies of the
State parole board.
The outbreak came close in
the wake of the riot of 1,100 at
the old prison, four miles away,
last Saturday, in which two men
were killed. Another outbreak
occurred Tuesday. when prison
ers fought among themselves
over a proposed break for liberty
and five were wounded with
pieces of glass and clubs.
Troops Rushed To Prison
The convicts' rampage began in
the furniture shop at 1880 p. m.
yesterday by pre-arranged sig
nal. and in the As minutes that
they ran wild they beat and
trampled the force of guards and
set fire to the seven buildings.
Extra guards were obtained from
the old prison and from state
police and Joliet Militia units to
force the prisoners back in their
cells. When all but $50 feIons
returned to their cells at the
f,:ular signal, Deputy Warden
Frank Kness ordered them to
surrender or rifles would be
brought into play.
They refused and squads OF
rifIemen surrounded the rioters
as they were firing the dining
hall. 1t was in this final round
up that the three were wounded.
About 30 shots were fired. I'm
prOvised torches Of greasy rags
and matches were used to start
the fires.
A double guard was posted at
the old penitentiary when 1t was
discovered that 900 COnvictS there
had plotted an uprising at break
fast this morning.
Richard Loeb, one of the young
Chicago thrill killers" Of Bobby
Franks, was in the new prison at
Stateville but iS not blamed Tor
instigating the rebellion.
His confederate in the Franks
murder, Nathan Leopold, was on
his way to Statesville from the
old penitentiary when the gen
eral alarm was sounded. The
bus in which he was riding with
other prisoners was turned back.
On Bread, Water Diet
Representative Michael 1goe,
member of the investigation COM
mittee which will begin its probe
of prison conditions today, hur-
ried here when word of the re-
bellion was flashed. The legis-
lator will probe charges Of
cruelty and the assertion of a
resigned prison chaplain that con-
ditions are deplorable and that
liquor and narcotics are peddled
within the walls.
All privileges have been with
drawn and all prisoners have
been ordered confined to their
cells without visiting privileges,
nor are they to receive mail or
newspapers.