The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1871-08-17
ESCAPE OF TWO PRISONERS.
STRUGGLE WITH THE
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At quarter past six o'clock on Sabbath
morning Tailor Gaspard went into The Jail,
10 attend to ths wants Of the prisoners be-
fore breakfast. The first time, he locke
,he door Leading from the jailor's room to
he east prisoners hall. Alter supply ing
the five prisoners III the three cells on the
asst side with water, he went to his roou
10 get some medicine for ono OF them Re-
turning again. he closed the door without
locking it. Going to the west hall, he
looked down along the cells, and all SEEM
ed right. The first cell had been ,eupty
for some time and was not locked. Reach
ing up to open the iron shutters in front Of
1t, he was struck from behind on tae heal
with an iron bar IN the hands of Fred
Sherro, one Of the half-breeds who had
been confined some weeks before to await
his trial. Then Peter Spirit,, another half,
breed, struck him with an iron wrench.
Strange to say, these heavy blows failed 10
knock the jailor down, and turning, he
warded them off with his arms, and backed
some ten feet until he reached the wall in
another portion OF the hall. 1t was all in
Partial darkness, none Of the blinds being
"pen. Both the prisoners continued strik.
ing him during this time. When he got his
back against the wall, MIR. Gaspard, who is
powerfully-bu'l. uan, suddenl, sprang
forward and kicking Sherro in the pit OF
the stomach curled him up in the opposite
corner. Spirit then grasped the tjaior by
The throat. and the latter siezed him by the
shoulder, and attempted to open the door
leading into the east hall. 80 80 to ge.
through, close it and leave the two prison
ers in the the west hall. But while strug-
sling for this, Sherro arose, and struck
him On The arm with the iron bar, knock
ing 1t from the door. through which he
ushed, followed by Spirit. They both
Il rev themselves against the door l+a,linc
10 the jailor's room. Mrs. Gaspard Stud
against this, with h.r foot braced aeain,;
The lower part, but the united strength
of the two men threw her over, injur-
ing her foot, and they rushed through
the room into the backyard, followed by
Nr Gaspard. "a Spirit was climbing
over the fence, the jailor struck him on the
neck with the iron bar which he had
wrenohed from Sherro's hands, and he fell to
The ground. By this time, MIR. Gaspard,
stunned by the terrible blows he had
received and exhausted by the loss of
blood, fell insensible beside Spirit as he
reached for him whep he tumbled. When
Mr.. G. recovered, both prisoners we're
gone.
An examination of the middle cell
showed that the prisoners had, by m, ans of
wrench made from a rod taken from their
hedstead, unscrewed the nut which held
the lower bolt of the inside door. During
the warm weather of summer, the heavy
outer doors of the cells are left open tor
vent'la.ion.) Taking out this bolt, they
bent the door, (which was made of crossed
iron bars, pulling it inwards, up from the
bottom, leaving space through which they
crawled out. From their bedstead, they
rad also taken an iron-bar, four feet long,
one inch wide and a quarter Of an inch
thick,swhich they used in the attack on the
jailor. Secre,ing themselves in the first cell,
which was empty and unlocked, they
awaited Mr.. Gaspard'S coming, and stealth
lily creeping up behind him, made their
murderous onslaught. That they did not
kill him, is remarkable. Mr.. Gaspard's
head, face and arms present a sadly bruis-
ed and battered condition.
As will be seen, reward has been Of
fered foe the capture and return Of Sherro
and SDiritt