wer, where the guard opened the large gate
below by the use of a lever. The convict, once inside the tower, would
knock the officer down, seize his gun, raise the lever, throw open the
large gate in the wall, and permit the prisoners all to rush out. This
was a bold scheme, and it is a wonder, during the great excitement
that prevailed, that it was not successful. The officer on duty, when
requested by the convict to allow him to ascend the ladder, coolly drew
his gun, and told him if he dared to ascend he would send buckshot into
his body.

Foiled in this, the desperado returns to where the officials are
fighting the flames, and began cutting the hose so as to stop the supply
of water. The fire raged furiously. A strong wind sprung up adding
intensity to the flames. Over $200,000 worth of property was soon
swept away in this direful storm of fire. After a fearful conflict the
prisoners were overpowered and driven into their cells.

A number of them were severely wounded. Several died of the injuries
received. The prison directors had a called meeting and investigated
the riot. The blame fell upon convict Johnson. A criminal charge was
preferred against him in the courts, for arson. He was convicted and
served an additional sentence of twelve years. This, added to his former
sentence, makes twenty-four years of imprisonment for this desperado.
When he was taken out of the penitentiary to stand trial for setting
fire to the prison, he was heavily loaded with chains, and in the
custody of six prison officials. It was feared he would make a desperate
effort to escape during this trial. On his return to the prison he was
placed in a dark dungeon, and has been kept caged up ever since, like a
wild beast. When he is given exercise he wears a ball and chain and an
officer walks immediately behind him, with a loaded Winchester, ready
to shoot him down if he makes any bad breaks. The officials are very
careful when they enter his cell for any purpose, as he is liable to
kill them. Captain Bradbury, the deputy warden, in speaking of
him, says, he is the most desperate criminal he has met during his
thirty-three years of prison experience.

HENRY BUTLER,

a colored representative of Pettis County, has served the longest
consecutive term of any of the male prisoners. Henry killed his man,
and for this mistake has been doing service for the State of Missouri
"without money and without price" for the past fifteen years. The sto