The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-04-18
PRISONERS BREAKING JAIL.


Exciting Fight with q Marsbars Posse-One
Desperate Killed, Three Wounded and Re-
captured.
A st. Louis (Mo.) special says: From the
town OF Knobel, Ark, comes news OF
a most thrilling episode that occurred in
the town OF Gainesville, the county.seat
of Green county, Ark. There were con-
fined in the Graiuesville Jail eight prison.
ers-one charged with murder, three with
borse-stealing, and four with minor Of
fences. The ialler's name is William Ons-
by. Last evening about 5 O'Clock he
made his usual rounds OF the cells
with supper for the inmates. He
was the only person in the building,
excepting the prisoners. When he entered
the enclosure in which the cells were To-
Gated be noticed nothing unusual, but
while engaged in the distribution OF food,
ne was suddenly struck blow on the back
of the head and knocked down. AS he
iumped to his feet he found himself sur
rounded by desperate gang OF criminals,
armed with chair-backs, chair-legS, and
such weapons as they could secure ny
breaking up the stools in their cells. He
tonight yaliantly and succeeded in shooting
one OF the prisoners in the leg, but he
was beaten into state OF insensibility
and disarmed. The prisoners then made
a dash for the door, having secured pos
session OF the keys, and without wasting
any time made for the iailer's house,
where they knew there was stored quite q
quantity of arms and ammunition. Sc
curing the arms. the crowd darted out
into the street. The shooting in the jail
had alarmed the town, and when the jail
birds emerged they were met by great
crowd OF citizens. But they were despe-
rate men and we'll armed, and did not hest
tate at shedding blood to effect their escape.
The people generally barred their doors.
many OF them being under the impression
that the town was being Inlded by gang OF
outlaws for purposes OF plumber. The out
laws started on a run down the main thor
oughfare leading from the courthouse and
Iail with citizens on foot and on horseback
following in hot haste. The chase was an
exciting one; in fact, regular running
tight, in which over hundred shots were
tired. The pursuing citizens, with the
town marshal at their head, shot with poor
aim. and 90 did the escaped prisoners.
One of the latter DANES Beekman), who
had been imprisoned for a burglary OF
store at Bethel. raised bis gun TO shoot
Alonzo Stedman. citizen, but Stedman
got in his work first. and shot Beckman
through the head, killing him instantly.
Three of the other prisoners were
wounded In the skirmish, and were
disarmed and taken back to Jail under
strong guard. The rest OF the gang con-
tinued their fight, the citizens following,
and the chase was only given up when the
fugitives reached the cypress swamp, and
darkness made pursuit into that region
very dangerous. None OF the citizens were
wounded. When il was seen that further
pursuit was useless the enraged populace
retained to the Jail and made preparations
to lynch the wounded men, who had been
recaptured, but Jailer Onsby, though him
self seriously wounded, interceded for
them and prevented lynching. News
from there late tonight is that the iailer
will probably die. None Of those who
took to the swamp last night have been re-
captured.