The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1875-03-20
A BAD BREAK,
Daring and Partially Successful A.
tempt Of Hight Prisoners 10 Es-
cape from The County jail.
They OyerpOwerd The Guard and
Mako u Dash for Liberty.
Four Of Them Recapturcd-Onc Nor
tally Wounded Officers In
Pursuit.

a bold and daring attempt was made
yesterday morning, about $3.50 o'clock,
by the prisoners confined In the north
room Of the Jail 10 effect an escape.
The prisoners, 10y some means, hud
succeeded In breaking their chains,
aud had placed one in crack Of the
door (which IL constructed Of iron bars
welded and rlveted together, leaving
an opening space of about -four inchr8
square between each joint, The door
locks with hasp and paddock, IN the
center aud consequently when five or
six strong men lent their strength to
pulling on the chain, II was but nntu-
raj that 1t should spring at the bottom.
The time selected for the attempt
was admirably planned. Young
Brooks, the guard, had just stepped to
the south room, TO eXtinguish the
lamps when the plan was put into en-
ecuti0n. Az soon rs he disappeared
from sight, the chain was pulled and
an aperture was formed at the bottom
of the door sufficient to admit the pass
age OF the body of II man. y box was
placed in the opening to prevent the
door from springing back, and two had
succeeded in passing through the OPEN
ing when Brooks returned. He was
Immediately seized by the two prison.
ers, one of whom struck him senseless
with stick of wood, and stuffed tow
el in his mouth, to prevent him from
making n noise, should he become con-
scious before they all escaped. The
two, Bill Watson and Cage Moore, ne
groes, who were charged with cattle
stealing, were then quickly Joined by
white man named Pilican, charged
with horse stealing; Bryan, Il mulatto,
charged with stealing hides; Mansfield
Simmons, charged with stealing a lot
of clothes from federal iliceT Isam
Brown, mulatto, charged with theft;
and Cunard and Caruth, two white
men, charged with the same oitense.
Immediately on getting out Of the
cell, the party rushed pell-mell down
stairs, the noise and confusion of which
awoke several deputies who were sleep
ing in an office adjoining the Jail. The
prisoners were ordered to halt, but
paid no heed to the command, SEEM
ingly determined to press the opportu-
nifty to regain their freedom. Several
shots We're fired at the fugitivcs, one of
which, from the pistol of Jailor James
Walker, took effect in the back of the
mulatto Bryan, inflicting II mortal
wound. Caruth was reeaptured by the
deputies, and short time afterward
Watson and Moore were brought in,
having been recaptured about four
miles west of the city by Mr.. Riley
Pemberton, u citizen of the county,
and Mr.. Ashton Prior, one of the Jail
guards. Deputies are securing the
country for the remaining fugitives,
who it is to be hoped will soon be re-
taken.
The mulatto, Bryan. when shot, was
about thirty yards from the Jail gate,
making his way toward the river. Mr..
Walker stood in the gateway when he
fired. The weapon used was Smith
Il Wesson. Up to late hour last
night Bryan was still alive, though but
small hopes were entertained of his re-
covery. DR.. Johnson was summoned
to his aid, and everything is being
done that can possibly tend to alleviate
his sulferings.