Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-08-29

Escape OF 400 state Priaoncra.
IRON Ne San Frahoiaco BuileslD, July a.
From the most authentic sources, we are
enabled to give the following full and cor.
rect report Of the unparalleled outbreak and
'cscape Of convicts en- masss from the State
Prison yesterday:
At noon everything was quiet. No indi-
cations were observable whsn abe eonvicts
alo their diuner. Half an hour afterwatd
gang Of ISL werc passing in from the
brickyard in the rear Of the prison, through
tho lover (rear) gate, when from 10 to 20
Of them ran around tho outside Of tho wall
to the front gate, where man named MUIR
phy--not Con. Murphy Of the mint
guarded it. Lieut.. Governor Chellis had
Just taken lunch, and was in his Office, close
by this gate, outside the wall. Ho saw
them coming, aud being without arms, hur-
ried at once into his bedroom and locked
the door. The gang Of convicts arrived in
double quick time, aud while some stood
guard over Murphy, who refused to deliver
the gate key, others broke open Gov. Chel-
hs's bedroom door, and seiziug him, de-
manded that he should order the guard to
deliver TO them the gate key. The Gov
ernor gave the order, but the bravo guard
refused to give Il up, pretending that he
had not got it. They attacked and beat
him most numerically, and having taken
by force the key from his person, they open
ed the gates aud raised the cry Of 'qiberty."
Another account is that he still retained
the keys and they broke the locks with
iron bars, and thus furnished tho means of
escape TO those inside.
Soon as the cry was raised, all was ex-
element and hunyiug hither and thither.
A body of full 100 convicts soon joined the
ringleaders, and rushed to get out Of the
gate. Nearly all the workmen from the
shops took with them axes, hatchets, knives,
files-anything in the way of weapons that
was handy--aDd with loud yells followed
the Hrst party, in spite Of the firing Of the
guards, whereby q large number were
wounded. Meantime some of the ring
leaders went tothe armory, in the hope Of
securing tho person Of Edward Vanderlip,
Captain Of the Guard. Not finding him,
they broke into the armory, and secured all
the pistols and other arms that they could
fnd; but fortunately they only found one
revolver loaded, aud they missed one case
Of sabres that was within reach If they had
only known it.
Thus armed, the convicts, to the number
of(some say 800, some 24O, and others)
200, escaped outside the gate; but the
guards, under Captain Vanderlip, soon sue
ceeded in capturing some SO Of them, and
killing and wounding several others. All
those now inside the walls were put under
lock and key to prevent further escapes.
While this was going on inside, the es-
capped body of prisoners with Gov. Chellis,
held we'll in front ofthem, advanced around
the prison wall to Watson's guard post
(No. 81 situated on hill close to the pris-
on. Watson was about to give load of
grape into the ranks ofthe insurgents when
the captured Governor threw up his hands,
exclaiming, "For God sake don't shoot
doubtless being forced to this measure by
divers 'prodsn from the sharp knives Of the
conyicts. So Watson turned bis gun to
the water, discharged and spiked it. Bare
ly had be time 10 do this, when the liberia
ted fellows rushed upon Watson, beat him
badly, threw him over q precipice where
there is q quarry, and tumbled gun and
gun carriage after him. Watson was badly
hurt by the fall and the gun carriage was
broken to pieces. The convicts had in-
tended to use this gun to dsmount another
on an opposite eminence. Hence they were
so cxasperated that they tried to kill Wat
son by throwing the gun upon him down
the precapice-but they fortunately missed
their mark.
They now marched leisurely along across
the brick-yard towards the other gun sta
ton, mo. 10y still holding the Governor as
security before them.
Every able-bodied man, for miles around,
who could beg or borrow gun, pistol or
weapon Of any kind and horse, (some
without horses,) had turned out to chase,
and if possible catch Che fIgatives. By
good management the guards aud mounted
citizens corrslled squad after squad Of them,
until very few had escaped them under
ceycr of twilight.
The party with their long line Of cap
tives now returned and reached the prison
about eight o'clock last night. The roll of
prisoners was then called, and it was as.
certained that only 33 were missing.