Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 308, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 December 1915 — Fifty Convict Coal Miners Mutiny At Leavenworth. [ARTICLE]

Fifty Convict Coal Miners Mutiny At Leavenworth.

Fifty convicts of the Kansas state penitentiary were palced in solitary confinement Wednesday charged woth being ringleaders in a mutiny in the coal mines operated at the penitentiary. It is said that practically all of the 300 convicts at work in the mines had a part in the demonstration. After a score of guards had been captured by mutineers armed with picks the prison officials granted the demand of the convicts, for better food and agreed to meet a committee of prisoners to talk over working conditions. Then the mutineers dispersed. The mutiny was not known, of above ground until a professor of the mining school of the University of Kansas, with a party of twelve students, descended into the mine oh a tour of inspection. As soon as the cage stopped all were seized and put in the stables, where the convicts were holding a dozen guards at bay. After an argument with the leadens the professor induced them to permit the university party to ascend and act as arbitrators.