Evening star., 1935-06-18
FIGHT BREAKSOUT
AS CONv|CTS SEIZE
MINE IN MUT|Ny
Attack of Strikers on Gun
Cage RepeIled by Off,
GERS Gas Guns.
Superintendent HAS
TALK WITH MEN. IN PIT
Elevent Kansas Prison Mine OFF,
cials Are Held-Ammunition
Rushed to Scene.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LANSING, Kans, June 18.-Fight-
ing broke out in the Kansas Peni-
tentiary coal mine today, when a
group Of striking convict miners at
tempted to capture the gun cage
manned by five prison officials on the
730-foot level.
The convicts, part Of $50 miners
who mutinied early today and since
have held the mine, were repulsed by
gas guns. The five men in the cage
reported by telephone to the surface
that they could hold their position
indefinitely.
The gun cage was manned by Guard
o. A. Johnson, John Christian, Fred
Murray, John Stewart and Mine Supt.
Robert Murray.
Supt. Murray had returned to the
gun cage after four-hour parley
with the mutineers. He had just re-
ported that all was we'll when the
miners dashed out of tunnel and
made for the cage. The gas-masked
officers laid down a heavy gas bar
rage and the choking mutineers re-
treated
Gun Gage Communication.
The gun cage, guarding the air
shaft and telephone, Is the only COM
munication between the mine and the
surface. 1t was saved earlier today
by johnson, who routed five convicts
as they sought to jam the air shaft
elevator cage with empty mine cars
Despite the work as usual order
Of Assistant Deputy Warden A. J..
Graham, the prison yard began to
take on an air of unrest as more
ammunition and gas began to ar
rive and heavily armed guards ap-
peared on the walls in ever-increaS-
ing numbers.
A few minutes before the attack on
the gun cage gas and ammunition
had been lowered to the beleagured
quintet.
Murray went unarmed into the
mine to meet with the mutineers at
7:30 am. today. He telephoned
Graham from the 730-foot level gun
cage at 1850. the deputy warden
said.
mo one has been hurt" Graham
said Murray told him. "I'n have all
their demands for you in few min
utes. Every think Is o. K"
Murray's telephone message was the
first word from the sullen convicts
since they went down into the coal
mine shortly after $40 am. today.
Volunteered as Negotiator.
Personally liked by the men, Muir
ray volunteered to go down and talk
to them after it became apparent
mutiny was in progress.
The $50 convicts who mutinied,
made hostages of IL guards, and de-
family held out against prison au-
thorities who sought to end the strike.
The mutineers cut on virtually all
communication with the surface.
Warden Lacey Simpson said he
doubted that the convicts had fire.
arms or other weapons than clubs,
rocks and possibly few knives.
The fate of the unarmed guards
was unknown but prison officials ex-
pressed belief they would not be
seriously harmed.
Deputy Warden Graham. veteran of
several prison breaks here, said he
was not sure what the men were strik-
ing for but declared the prison was
in a better position than ever before
to cope with the situation.
Work as usual" was the order on
the surface as Graham, aided only
by his regular guard shift, remained
at the air shaft and sought to learn
from johnson, on the 730-foot level,
what the convicts were doing.
johnson, armed guard who had pre-
ceded the day shift of miners into
(See MTTTTNY. Page Al