PRISONERS' REVOLT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1866, 27 September 1913, Page 8

PRISONERS' REVOLT.

MORE BREAD-THROWING. GANG HALTS IN THE STREET. RATHER SERIOUS SCENE. An extraordinary and rather scriouj attitude was adopted yesterday evening by tile gang of prisoners—which daily marches through tho streots to tho Mount Cook prison works., The demonstration took place while the men were returning, from their work in tho afternoon. It will be rcmombered that ou Wednesday last the prisoners threw loaves of bread on the road, these loaves in many eases containing notes. This outburst was attributed to the .fact that greater vigilance is boinf* exercised on the part of the gaol officials in searching tho prisoners when they return from their work. This step was deemed necessary on account of certain communication which seems to exist botwoon tho prisoners and the outer world. Gang Suddenly Halts. Yesterday moro bread jvas thrown away as the gang crossed willis Street in the morning en route for work. This time, however, a warder was in readiness to intercept the notes. A climax to the day's proceeding!' was reached when tho prisoners were re< turning. Thoy inarched in tho usuaf" orderly file until thoy turned into Ingostrc Street from Willis Street, ana then to tho astonishment of tho warders they halted. Tho ringleaders, it seemed, were in front, and, when they stopped tho whole gang—fifty in all— stopped also. Two of them commcnced to address a fast-increasing crowd. They implored tho "ladies and gentlemen present" to listen to some story which thoy had to tell. Reinforcing the Warders. Tho half a dozen warders present all once saw that the situation was serious, for in spite of their commands a certain section refused to inovo. A large crowd was meantime gathering, and soon trams wore uuablo to pa,ss. Eventually 41 of tho prisoners off, and tho few warders in charge reported the matter as soon as thoy arrived at the gaol. All tho warders that could bo spared, secured their rifles, and proceeded with all'haste to tho scene of tho "strike." Prisoners Harangue the Crowd. Meanwhile the. remaining warders were doing their utmost- to persuade tha obstinate section to obey orders. Tlicy .refused absolutely, and two men continued the harangue to the crowd, while another seventeen stood by. The speeches in general were a long string of alleged complaints. They said that their grievances were not looked into; they were not getting sufficient porridge and sugar; they had to associate with prisoners who were suffering with incurable diseases; they could not ventilate their grievances in' the prison. And so in short they bad decided, to take tliis course. They appealed to someone —"any man or woman"—in the crowd to write to the papers, and "thus give tile poor prisoners a chance." Here the warders intervened, but the prisc'iers once retire insisted upon speakii ,4. and their plaint then ran 011 to medical treatment and their rations. Outbreak Suppressed. Their speeches wore suddenly cut short. The reinforcements of warders had arrived, and their stem commands •were soon obriyed. Getting into lino the recalcitrants marched off, the presence of extra warders havinij evidently impressed them. It is stated that their. complaints about- the bread are quite unjustified, for the doctor of the gaol and the contractor, being present, on the scene, found it to he sweet, wholesome, and unexceptionable. The ringleaders of the whole trouble—six in number— have been detected, and are. now under snccial observation, with punishment to follow. A report is to he made to the Justice Department, and until this has been done no action will bo taken.