The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1854-05-31
AN ESCAPE AND CAPTuRE.

The Alton Telegraph gives the following
account of hazard Us experiment lately tried
at the Peniteniiary, in which Cooper, who was
sent from Gnlena for man,laughter, took
prominen mt part
'Yesterday as the convicts were returning to
their workshops from the dining room in the
prison, four of them named Cooper, from Gale
ma, and Rantord, Chalk and Douglas from
Chicago, made effrt to escape, by placing
long plank against The newest part Of the north
wall of the prison, upon which they mounted To
the tip of the wall; and four Of them jumped off
and ran up the hill. The other was shot while
on the top of the wall by one Of the guard, and
jumped or fell back into the yard. His name
is Cooper. The wounded convict is not dan
gerously hurt, although two balls took effect In
his back and one in his arm. His wounds were
dressed by DR.. Metcalf, the Prison physician,
assisted by DIR. Amin, who thinks he will recovs
er in a week or two.
The convcts were all engaged in the black.
smith shop, and had knives concealed upon them
which they brandished at those who endeavored
to arrest them. Several shots were fired at
them by the guards, and it is singular some OF
them were not killed.
A number of citizens, hearing the alarm i'm
mediately started in pursuit, and after rapid
chase succeeded in capturing three ot them
The first was overtaken near the residence OF
Mr. S. Wise, one of the lessees, and exhausted
and faint from the loss of blood, he willingly
surrendered himselfto his pursuers
The second was overtaken in attempting to
scale Mr. J. A Lea's fence on Prospect st He
Immediately turned upon those in pursuit az
brandi>hng huge knife, threatening to kill the
first man who approached him. In the next
moment, however he was knocked down by a
apfS nd ic.fv
The third was captured near the residence of
Mr.. e. Trumbull He also had knife in his
posse ssion, but was secured before he had an
opportunity of using it
The fourth, armed with knife in one hand
| and stone in the "ther, who was in advance
Of the rest ran at the TOP IF his speed the
bluff, and though hotly pursued, succeeded for
some time IN eluding his pursuers. After a
dIIigent search however, he was discovered at
he bottom of a sink hole, hid under the trunk
of a tree immedlatly he started tn run, but
was Stopped by one of the guards on the brink
OF The bluff, who threatened TO shoot him il he
moved another step For several moments h.
seemed to hesitate whether to take the fearful
leap over The precipice into the river below, or
surrender himselfup. He preferred life, how
ever, miserable it was, to such death: and suH-
cred himself to be brought back to his prison
walls
This convict is a stalwart and fine looking
| man, and is said to be one of the most desperate
fellows in the prison. He badge, a
three quarter inch iron collar around his neck.
| We understand that about three months ago he
was missing for three or four days. and was
supposed Ia have made his escape. The yard,
however closely watched, and he was final
| ly discovered, buried in hole which he had
dug in a remnte part of the premises. He was
patiently waiting an opportunity to scale the
| walls