BREAK FOR LIBERTY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20782, 30 July 1929, Page 9

BREAK FOR LIBERTY

CONVICTS IN AMERICA. * FIERCE BATTLE WITH GUARDS. GUNS AND BOMBS USED. A * (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) NEW YORK, July 28. (Received July 29, at 9 p.m.) > The Auburn State Prison, one of ihc largest in the State, was virtually destroyed by fire to-night as the result of an extraordinary attempt at wholesale escape by 1700 men and women prisoners. The guards, aided by volunteers, exhibited grefat courage and resourcefulness, under the Readership of Warder Jennings, in holding back the mob of convicts with machine guns, despite the fact that they had possession of the prison’s store of ammunition, gas.bombs, and firearms.' The plot,was apparently perfectly timed and matured, and for .10 hours the situation was desperate, after which Warder Jennings reported that control had been regained; and that 10 convicts were missing, while one was killed and 11 injured. Four guards were i a red by bullets and gas, and four firemen are suffering from burns and suffocation. The attempted break occurred during Sunday morning when the convicts were in the yard. Two of them overpowered the guard and obtained the keys to the ammunition stores, after which others fired the buildings, and hours of difficult work fob the guards ensued.—Australian Press Association.