Washington telegraph., 1852-07-14
Desperate Attempt to Break Prison.


The San Francisco Herald. of the 9th inst. hass
the following account of desperate attempt off
ssome prisoners to break out Of the prison brig inl
1.-THE harbor of that city:
There Were thirty-tvo prisoners in all con!insdS
supon the brig the most daring and reckless OF theS
Estate convicts. These were guarded by four men.
sat the head Of whom was George koher, a son of
Frederick KDhler Esq, and not more than twen-
sty years of age. The prisoners had taken outs
ssome pianks from the partitions between the vari
Sces, and twelve or fifteen of them congrcgatedi
eiu one CELL One OF the keepers named Hall went
sdown stairs to make the convicts bring up somes
stubs before taking them out TO work. The first!
scell he opened was the very one in which they
1 had assembled and the moment he entered theI
door dozen of the scoundrels rushed upon him
Being unarIned, he kept them at bay ior short
time by his skill IN pGgliIsnl. but he was over.
powered by numbers and borne to the ground.-;
AS he fell he seized one OF his assailants by thel
lhair and gave hinl severe Il buttng that he was
glad to let 90 his hold In the midst of the scueI
Hail cries out Look out deck, therc!" andi
thus gave the guard notice. The prisoners having
now mastered their single opponent, rushed on|
sdeck, where ferociolIs attempt made on|
kohier. sHe presented his revolver and told thenl
! to stand, which order being disregarded. he fired
Ills shot not taking effect, be endeavored to cock
sasain, bat the exploded cap prevented the cylinder
Got his pistol from revolving. and the prisoners
ttSLcu upon Hlll Hc SlIuCh one Di5 DuICllldlI
Sover the head with the heayey barrel that laid
! his face open and bled him profusely.
Leaping upon him, they bore him to the deck
sand attempted to throw him overheard de
fought desperately. and while the contest 60
ing on the other guards rushed up with their arms
! and fired several shots at the desperaaoes. In
he meantime Capt. Davis, ole of the prisoners.
swho was allowed from his peaceabe character
more liberty than the rest. seized boat hook and
fought the rascals gaantly, doing his utmost to
3drive them off Kohler. He was forced by the
4 prisoners however, to jump overheard and swan
to the island. where he instantly raised the alarm
4 and gathered half dozen men armed to the teeth.
with whom he quickly returned to the brig
/ here matters had come to crisis. One OF the
sprisoners perfect desperate. named Cyrus VIII
Enamson, broke from the rest and attempted to run
sdown into the cabin where the arms were kept.
He was slightly wounded by shot from one of
i Sthe guards, and then through the body by Hall
i with a bayonet receiving wound which proved
mortal. In the confusion kohier received shot
in his shoulder fired by one of his supporters bat
glad to learn that his wound is not of >er
sous character.
The convicts were forced before the guards and
koher having now recovered, and armed himself
with revovers, a final assault was made with
scharged bayonets upon the rutfans and with the
assistance OF the rclniOrcements under Davis they
We're forced below and secured. One other OF the
prisoners had piece OF his ear shot of. They
Gall appeared perfectly desperate and on reaching
I the deck shouted TO Mr.. KohIer, You are the
Sdamned rascal we intend to kill Williamson
Rwas the rlngleader and when pistol was present.
ked at him, ard the order given to stand he rushed
= in excaiming, Damn your pistol, and succeeded
= in turning it aside before it was discharged.