Evening star., 1932-11-05
'R|OTER ATTEMPTS
:. TO DIE IN PRISON
Authorities Bare CoIored
Mans Desperate Struggle.
Rebellion Crushed.
By the Associated Press.

6y the Associated fTeSS.
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL, Quebec,
November 5.-Chester Crossley, the big
colored man who led yesterdays riot in
the prison on the Island Of Jesus. was
in critical condition today at the prison
hospital with stab wounds after @
suicide attempt. q.
Authorities revealed today how the
man had locked himself in the blazing
tailor shop, fired by his own comrades
and climbed to the fourth floor OF the
building. As they played the hose
lines on the flames firemen could see
him In a cell up there.
II they had not trained q steady
stream of water on him through cell
door on the top floor he might have
burned to death. He tried to escape
punishment by stabbing himself several
times with a shoemaker's knife as
guards went in to capture him.
Four other convicts and nine guards
were hurt yesterday, none Of them
seriously.
Investigation Begun.
Today the authorities began an in
vestigation Of the outbreak.
All prisoners were locked in their
cells. No signs of renewed rebellion
were evident.
Oficials announced no more prison.
ers will be added for the time being.
More than 100 of the 900 convicts in
the institution participated in the third
prison outbreak in Canada in recent
months. The disturbance was not
Quelled until a detachment of Royal
Canadian Mounted Police and Mont
real Fire Department, 9 miles away
had been called out.
The prison authorities themselves,
however, fought it out with the fren-
Zied convictS until they were subdued
despite the roaring flames.
Starts in Tailor Shop.
The outburst started in the prison
tailor shop yesterday. Apparently leo
by a 20-year-term colored convict, Jack
Crossley, all the dozen or SO prisoners
in the shop attacked their guards as
If at a given signal.
CroSsley set fire to cotton waste while
the battle ragged around him. The con-
victs were armed with knives and
tools The guards snatched what they
could.
The prison personnel was called tc
fire stations, but the tailor shop con-
victs had been joined by 100 more and
the fire hose was cut. Finally guaros
succeeded in locking in the main body
Of convicts who had started up the
usual bowling. A call was sent fol
Royal Canadian Mounted Folice anc
the Montreal Fire Department.
The fire fighters arrived, and set tC
work with their own equipment. riskine
their lives TO free conticts trapped be-
hind the flames. The fire was placed
under control within an hour. and later
the damage was officially estimated al
$500 900.
The mounted police patrolled the out
side of the prison and all nearby roads
but took secondary part in the battle
to subdue the convicts
Two Severely Injured.
1t was the prison emergency guarc
system that functioned when the Mont
, real fire fighters relieved the per5Cnne
| from fire stations. The unruly work
shop group was rushed and herded into
prison buildings until all had beer
taken to cells.
Crossley, who refused to come out Of
blazing workshop until the fire wa:
over, and Maj. Emil Jacques. head Of
the tailoring department. were badly
burned. The others injured were moi
in serious condition.
Prison authorities said the break
was planned in advance. and probably
was inspired by the Portsmouth riots o1
october l9 and 81. A double guard was
thrown about the prison today and ar
investigation was under way. The au-
thorities said the riot was over so quick
ly the regular meal schedule was fol.
lowed throughout yesterday.