Evening star., 1946-05-04

Sudloo az AlSotl dD loOll
when rioting broke out there
were being withdrawn from
the island today. Maj. Albert
Arsenault said Warden James
A. Johnston told him they no
longer were needed. There
was some indication that the
rioting convicts, under heavy
fire for two days, might be
dead or wounded.
By the Assoeioted Press
SAN FRANCISCO, May A.
Prison guards strengthened their
battle line with reinforcements
today and prepared to blast
rebel convicts out of their cell
block entrenchment at Alcatraz
if they refuse a surrender or
die" ultimatum.
The choice for the desperate GRIM
inals was to face the blistering fire
of assembled guns and grenades
or to surrender and face charges
of numbering two guards and
wounding IA others in the blazing
mutiny, now in its third day.
Marines, San Francisco police and
guards from other prisons bolstered
the officers of the island Federal
prison as the besiegers tensely
awaited the desperadoes' decision.
James V. Bennett, director of the
Bureau of Prisons, few to San
Francisco from Washington last
night to make complete investi-
CATION" of the riot.
The cell block of the three-story
concrete structure atop the rocky
island was quiet as the doomed men
considered their choice.
Saw Ladders at Windows.
A reporter for the Oakland Tri-
bune said that while cruising around
Alcatraz today he saw several guards
put long ladders to the windows from
which convicts had been shooting;
that the guards peered in the win
dows, and there was no shooting
from inside. There had been no
fire from the convicts since late
yesterday.
A clerk at the prison reported
later by telephone, however, he could
not confirm reports the riot had
ended. He would say nothing more.
The reporter said two ladders
were set up to the windows of the
cell block. Five men mounted the
catwalk.
A shot was fired, either into the
cell window, or to attract attention
Then guard mounted one ladder
and looked inside.
Another man in a gray uniform,
such as convicts wear, climbed the
other ladder and stood for some
time peering inside the cell block,
his head and shoulders above the
window sill.
Then both men descended and
the five departed.
The cornered criminals were re-
ported to have ammunition, but no
hots were heard from the embattled
olockhouse since last night.
Warden Wouldn't Deal.
One of the convicts yesterday
elephoned Warden j. A. Johnston
bargain for surrender.
Well make a deal when you
throw out your guns and ammuni-
tion,' the 72 year = old warden
snapped back.
Silence followed
There was no certainty how many
of the convicts remained alive. A
marine officer estimated "a we're in
volved, on the basis of wounded
guards reports. 1t was presumed
that some were killed and wounded
in the fierce battling with machine
guns, rifles, pistols, hand grenades
and tear gas that ragged for hours,
then slackened into last nights
calm.
Guards Ordered Withdrawn.
Not a sound could be heard from
the portion of the prison which they
had held for more than SO hours.
About 10:30 last night Warden
Johnston ordered guards who had
been attempting to creep within gun
shot of the rebels to withdraw.
We're leaving them alone to-
night, to talk it over" a prison Off
cial said. Wen go to work on them
IN the morning"
When the rioters seized the CELL
block, one of the two guards killed
was brutally kicked and beaten. He
died later of his injuries. Others
were herded into a cell, where fren-
zied and cursing convicts pumped
bullets into them.
The guards held as hostages were
rescued by gallant group of prison
officials, who braved a hail of gun
fire to remove their comrades from
the hands of the, desperadoes.
There was no indication of con-
vict casualties, but they undoubt-
edly have been heavy. For more
(See ALCATRAZ, Page AID