Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-01-14
The Experience of a Night


= Would you like me to drive, Misther Ted?'
The Experience of Night.
By z. W. TOWNSEND.
One afternoon, about three years ago,
] was seated in the editorial room CT .
Comstock paper, just after the paper
had gone to press, when the following
dispatch was received:
CARSON, New, October -, 1877.
Attempted break at prison. One
prisoner killed, two badly wounded.
lathewson shot through the arm.
The Nevada State Prison is at Gar.
son. Msthewson was deputy warden.
The managing editor handed me this
Dispatch, and said: run down to the
depot. There is wood engine goes to
Carson about this time. Get all the
blood and thunder you can, and come
back by the morning train"
] just caught the engine 40 it was
moving out Of the depot. A ride down
grades and around curves making the
widest railroading on the Central Pa
ci6o appear straight and level by COM
paris0n--landed me in Carson shortly
after dark. / ran to the nearest livery
Stable. and was soon galloping mus.
tang at his best gait toward the prison.
At the prison found an air Of sup
pressed excitement. an extra guard; and
4 took some time for my carefully in.
speoted card 10 work its way to the
vardens Office. An order finally came
oadmit me, and ] was shown into an
Once occupied by General Batterman,
Aevarden, Mr.. Mathewson, his deputy.
md several " TRUSTEES |" % guards. The
deputy soon told the story OF the at
tempted breek. That afternoon he had
] oous into the prison shoe-shop, in the
01eond story Of : brick building, and
uhile talking to foreman, was sudden
II surrounded BY : gang Of convicts,
/ 1ouriahing the raxor-like knives used
= their trade. and bowling, /" Liberty
- DEATH" The deputy carried no arms.
md vas soon overpowered and his hands
I hound behind him. The convicts
HUSTLED him down stairs, and 60 he
I paseed window he sent his foot crash
~ throsgh the glass, 10 attract the At
] tentton OF the guards. The yard was
reached, and the e0nvicts, croxding
axolnd and keeping him in the center
Ct their midst. made 1 rush for an opor
GAts. " 6hootl" cried the deputy 70 .
guard On the nearest parapet. The
g0Ard hesitated, for the convicts pur-
possly kept their prisoner in 1 danger
! %. position, should . guard fire.
shoot DIN y0u, ahootl" cried Math-
-evucn again; and ball from . Win
ehester rife ploughed through . cen.
vietS ahoulder, and then through the
dsputy's ara.
The oircling mass Of convicts poured
On toward the gates. Over the inside
4ate-there we're two through which
hay had 10 pass-a bridge was bulk,
- That the patrol need mot be inter
xupted. When the first gate was
reached, two guards stood on this
bsidge, carrying shot guns loaded with
huek'shot. They were directly over
NE escaping convicts.
IL Jon order them TO shoot. I'll
drive this knife into Your heart" aaid .
eenvict. serving . term for murder.
Blaze away" yelled Mathewson.
Tho convict raised his knife. and fell
desd, with his body riddled with buck
1hck The outside gate was lowered; q
aossn guards, running from all parts Of
tho prison. covered Che escaping CON.
vloes with their guns. Don't shoot-
No give upl" they cried.
The prisoners were al locked up. the
dead murderer laid out in Q corridor.
md the wounded cared for. When the
deputy had fnished this story, I asked
% b shown over the ground. I was
q search OF more blood and thunder.
l NV the broken glass, the bloody
ground, tho wounded man. and vas
than taken to the corridor whore the
Dad convict was laid out He was
being watched BY four conyicts, The
turnkey had looked the deputy land
1ysell) inside with them. The cold
stony place was half-lighted by the
candles ct the dead mans head and
feet.
Did you know him 2" I asked of
one Of the silent watchers, pointing to
the white, hsrd-looking face.
The man did not answer. I asked
the same question of another watcher.
He looked at me in Q manner which
showed that he had heard and compre.
hended the question, but did not re-
ply. It had an unpleasant effect on
ones nerves to have . man look at you,
under those circumstances, and remain
dumb when you question him. I con.
eludeds rather suddenly, that had all
the material necessary. and walked
toward the door, conscious of a slight
mental chill.
The turnkey Changed the bolts and
door back, and We passed by him to the
enter hall. Hooked back through the
grating. and saw the four convicts 81.