Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 November 1901 — CONVICTS IN A MUTINY. [ARTICLE]

CONVICTS IN A MUTINY.

Overpower Gnarda and Escape from Leavenworth Prison. Two men were killed and three injured In a battle between prison guards and convicta Thursday at the new United States penitentiary building, Leavenworth, Kan. After the guards were overpowered by the leaders of the jail breakers the gates were thrown open and all the 450 convicts given a cltance to escape. Only twenty-six broke out and they made good their escape, hiding in the tall woods near the prison. The attack on the guards and the escape was the culmination of a well-laid plot, carried out in the most daring manner.

The meeting took place at the new prison building, where the convicts were at work. The thirty guards in charge of the men weTe surprised. Then the ringleaders in the mutiny urged all the prisoners to join in the revolt. The movement spread, and the stockade was in wild excitement. Twice repulsed in efforts to break from the stockade the convicts finally carried the main gate by assault, and once outside started a reign of terror. They drove the persons living near into their homes, captured wagons, buggies and more arms, and holding close together they started on their flight. As they went the mutineers spread terror through the country. The escaping convicts started in to get citizens’ clothing by making farmers, either in the fields or roads, strip and exchange for the numbered and striped convict suits. Meantime all the prison guards had been using every effort to prevent a general uprising. The military at Fort Leavenworth was called on to help restore order at the new penitentiary site and held in check the convicta who did not leave the stockade.

Some unknown person had passed in three revolvers to the ringleaders. Gus Parker, one of the plotters, secured the weapons unnoticed and he was joined by Frank Thompson, a big negro, and the two men held up the office of Frank Hines, the contractor, and compelled Mr. Hines and his assistants to march before them as a shield while they attacked the guards on the towers. Ford Quinn, a convict, and J. B. Waldrup, a guard, were killed. Three other guards were injured. Early Friday morning an increased number of guards, well armed and mounted, were started out from the penitentiary, and the day was spent in as exciting a man hunt perhaps as has been experienced in that part of the country since the border days. The convicts and the pursuing party—forty guards and a tTOop of federal cavalry—met In fierce battle about seventeen miles southeast of Leavenworth, and a desperate conflict was waged.