PENDLETON, Ind. -- A 15-hour uprising by maximum-security Indiana Reformatory prisoners that left seven guards and two inmates injured ended Friday night when two hostages taken during the disturbance were released by their captors.
Indiana Correction Commissioner Gordon Faulkner said hostages seemed to be in good shape.
'They're very pleased to be out,' he said. 'We are having them checked by doctors.'
Prison officials appeared on local telelvison earlier Friday to announce a settlement of the 15-hour dispute that one eyewitness had described as a 'major riot.'
A prison spokesman said the violence erupted about 8:30 a.m. EST during a search prompted by an assault on a corrections officer, but inmates said prisoner abuse by guards was the cause.
Three of the injured guards were listed in stable condition, one was critical but stable and one in satisfactory condition. Two others were treated and released.
A prison official said two prisoners were in stable condition at Wishard Memorial Hospital in Indianapolis.
Officials estimated 100 inmates were in Cellblock J with the hostages, with at least three prisoners actually holding counselor John C. Weist of Indianapolis and corrections officer Carl Ingalls of New Castle.
A third hostage, officer Dana Millstead of Daleville, was released earlier.
State police and Corrections Department riot troopers were at the scene, about 25 miles northeast of Indianapolis. Prison guards armed with shotguns circled the cell block.
Faulkner and six inmate negotiators read statements to reporters before the hostages were released.
Faulkner said he would ask for investigations of possible civil rights violations at the prison and alleged crimes against inmates. He said he would also seek a legislative investigation of the uprising.
He said the prisoners understood there would be a 'shakedown' after the crisis ended and that the prisoners, who had not eaten all day, had been promised a meal after the hostages were released.
The inmate negotiators presented a list of 14 written demands and one oral request, ranging from guarantees of adequate food and shelter to investigations of alleged brutality against prisoners.
An earlier demand that the prisoners not be punished for the uprising was scaled down to 'no physical harm to those directly involved' in the revolt.
'They had a full-scale riot up there this morning,' said Patrick T. Morrison, a reporter for the Indianapolis Star and one of two reporters allowed into Cellblock J. 'Don't let anybody fool you.'
The trouble started when an inmate allegedly threw a liquid - possibly bleach -- onto an officer Thursday night. A guard searching Cellblock J Friday morning was attacked by inmate Lincoln Love, 32, of Gary, serving a life term for murder and robbery, officials said.
Love was subdued and taken to the infirmary. But the confrontation escalated and four other inmates scuffled with guards in the staff supervisor's office, and other prisoners took hostages.
A man who identified himself as inmate Charles Murphy told Indianapolis radio station WTLC prisoners were retaliating because of reports Love was beaten in the maximum restraint area. Hanks denied Love was beaten by guards.
A hospital spokeswoman said the conditions of guards Charles Widener, 42, William Sheets, 41, and Jack Melling, 56, were upgraded Friday night from critical to stable.
Harold Delph, 39, remained critical but stable, while Mike Richardson, 35, in satisfactory condition, was 'up and walking around.' Treated and released were guards Billy Houston, 27, of Anderson and Edward Broyles, 41, of Pendleton.
Prisoner Terry Hiner, 37, of Goshen, suffered knife wounds, including one that penetrated a kidney, and Love suffered a bump on his head and lacerations.