 Prison officials then cut the electricity and put on hold all further attempts to regain control of the cellhouse until darkness.Warden James A. Johnston asked for federal troops from nearby Naval Station Treasure Island to help deal with the situation.Two platoons of Marines under the direction of Generals "Vinegar" Joe Stilwell and Frank Merrill were dispatched to the island in guarding the general population of convicts and taking the cellhouse from the outside.