End of the riot Montana State Prison

bazooka damage cellblock 1

thirty-six hours after myles, smart, , alton pitched gasoline @ guard start riot, montana national guard ended riot. @ 4:45 a.m. on 18 april 1959, bill rose of national guard fired world war ii bazooka @ southwest tower of cellblock 1 while highway patrolman bob zaharko fired thompson submachine gun through window had been identified myles , smart hiding on northeast tower of cellblock 1. media had been placed under watch ensure did not leak news of attack inmates, listening radio inside prison.

while rose , zaharko rained ordnance on cellblock 1, contingent of 7 teams of national guard waited outside door women s prison on western wall of prison. first bazooka round hit cellblock 1, burst through door , split up, rushing main entrance cellblock 1, others going cellblock 2, , more circling around storm inside administration.

view prison northeast door

the team invaded cellblock 1 had burst through 2 barricaded doors before gaining access tiers of cells. of inmates in cells , did not give guardsmen problems. soldiers filed hostages kept , freed them, escorting them through door minimum security facility in northeast corner of wall. hostages emerged unharmed.

back in cellblock 1, team of guardsmen entered tower myles , smart hiding. soldiers had push past pile of rubble had been removed unsuccessful tunneling attempt made way stairs. during ascent, jerry myles managed shoot lieutenant francis russ pulliam in arm, removed , remanded hospital @ fort harrison in helena. after pulliam shot, third bazooka round exploded against tower, followed tear gas canisters fired walls. moments after gas began take effect, myles , smart ended riot murder-suicide.