Slaughter in Cell House 3: The Anatomy of a Riot - Softcover

Patterson, Wayne K.; Alt, Betty L.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0964961512 ISBN 13: 9780964961517

Publisher: vanderGeest Publishing and Distribution, 1997

Synopsis

A well-researched nonfiction account of a prison riot at the Colorado State Prison in Oct. 1929. In terms of lives lost, this was the most violent prison uprising in the nation's history until New York's Attica experience. Text is energized by 30 photographs, many of which were released to the public for the first time in this publication. Often, in their own words, or in a combination of statements made by guards and convicts in post-riot interviews, the anatomy of the 1929 melee is told by the survivors who participated in or observed the death and destruction that occurred. There were an amazing number of unbelievable events which took place during the course of the turmoil, i.e., a Catholic priest and coal miner run across the prison yard dodging convict bullets carrying 50 lbs. of dynamite in a futile attempt to blast open a wall in the occupied cell block. The Warden (who was considered by the public and the convicts as a "Civil Servant" with no stomach for dangerous confrontations) proved to be "rock hard" in negotiations--refusing to submit to the demands of the convicts despite being assailed by families of the captured guards who were being systmatically shot and their bodies dumped into the prison yard. Local citizens line up on a ridge overlooking the compound firing rifles and shot guns prison yards. Sadly, 13 people loose their lives in this botched prison escape, eight of which were guards. A quick but exciting read suitable for both the general public or as supplementary material in Criminal Justice classrooms.

About this title

From the Author:

When we started out to write a history of the Colorado State Penitentiary we didn't realize what an fascinating piece of Colorado history would be found in the 1929 riot. We didn't think we could do justice to the 1929 incident in the major history and felt it deserved a book by itself.

From the Back Cover:

This is the story of a prison riot-the most violent in terms of loss of life of the first seven decades of the 20th century. It was triggered by the ruthless plot of two desperate prisoner, Daniels and Pardue, trying to escape by taking hostages and bargaining with an administration which they presumed, mistakenly, was weak and gullible. The drama began on a quiet morning which soon turned into a red October afternoon followed by a black and tragic night. The time: October 3, 1929. The place: The Colorado State Penitentiary, Canon City, Colorado.

About this edition

• Publisher: vanderGeest Publishing and Distribution
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0964961512
• ISBN 13: 9780964961517
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 85