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.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
" . . .a well written , well-researched book describing an ugly and bloody page in Colorado prison history . . .dramatically highlights the pressure placed on officials being blackmailed by desperate men willing to kill or be killed to get their way . . .a very readable book." -- Huerfano World
". . .a raw account of desperation for freedom among violent convicts, compounded by mistakes made by individuals at many levels." -- Canon City Daily Record, July 8, 1997
"Slaughter is clean and fast, about a 90 minute read . . . complete with photos, some gruesome." -- The Pueblo Chieftain
"Slaughter is quick but thorough, an easy read. . .also photographs, some gruesome. -- The Pueblo, CO Chieftain, June 5, 1997
. . . a raw account of desperation for freedom among violent convicts, compounded by mistakes made by individuals at many levels. It is a tale of human error, from the guard who failed to record Pardue's movements inside the prison on that sunny, warm October morning, to Warden F.E. Crawford's adamant refusal to deal with the inmates' demands." -- Canon City Daily Record
". . .a raw account of desperation for freedom among violent convicts, compounded by mistakes made by individuals at many levels." -- Canon City Daily Record, July 8, 1997
"Slaughter is clean and fast, about a 90 minute read . . . complete with photos, some gruesome." -- The Pueblo Chieftain
"Slaughter is quick but thorough, an easy read. . .also photographs, some gruesome. -- The Pueblo, CO Chieftain, June 5, 1997
. . . a raw account of desperation for freedom among violent convicts, compounded by mistakes made by individuals at many levels. It is a tale of human error, from the guard who failed to record Pardue's movements inside the prison on that sunny, warm October morning, to Warden F.E. Crawford's adamant refusal to deal with the inmates' demands." -- Canon City Daily Record
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.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Chilling and accurate,
This review is from: Slaughter In Cell House 3--The Anatomy Of A Riot (Paperback)
I manage a business next to this facility, and I try to read what I can about the history of the area, so I can answer questions from tourists. I read this book, and was riveted, and horrified. I knew that there had been a riot there in 1929, but to go inside the minds of the 'cons', along with the conflicted feelings of the warden outside, trying to make the best, least deadly choices, was a rare opportunity. It's well illustrated, and takes the reader thru the situation, hour by hour. It's pretty graphic, but for readers who don't like sugar-coated history, it's a treat.
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