Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-08-15
LIBERTY OR DEATH.
Fifty Conviots in the Frankfort Peniten.
tiary Form Plot to Gain
Their Liberty.
A Desperate Fight, in Which Man!
Shots Were Fired and Three
Oonvicts Escape,
A DREAM FOR LfBERTY.


FRANKFORT, KY. Aug. l4-One of
the most desperate outbreaks known
In the history OF the penitentiary took
place this morning about $3.50 o'clock.
The alarm was given by one of the
turnkeys riding through the city on
horseback and calling upon the
the guards. The excitement spread
and citizens with arms in their hands
poured out of their houses and ran
with great speed to the penitentiary.
Meanwhile u brisk firing was heard.
The alarm bell In the engine house
rang, and trusty messenger on horse.
back was stopped several times at the
point of pistol, being mistaken for
an escaping convict. BY the
time aid arrived at the prison
The terrible struggle was over and
nothing but a great number of bullet
holes, the blood of the wounded men
and a thousand panic stricken citizens
could be seen. The prison gates
We're locked and barred.
| But when the authorities were
satisfied that all was quiet and all the
conyicts placed under lock and key in
the cells, the outer doors were I'M
barred and the atmittance of persons
granted. Capt. Ell. johnson, who is
guard at the gate, says he had received
intimation that a consI tracy
was on foot. and for the past two
weeks he had been very watchful and
careful In locking and unlocking the
gate. 1t had been the custom to allow
all the prisoners to make at their leis-
ure hours little articles of various kinds
for their friends and relatives and when
Jno. II. Wolf, the son of the county
clerk of Scott county, who was recent
~ sentup for ten years from LeXing.
ton for forgery, drew near
the gate with box and
asked permission TO set IL outside
that the clerk might have it shipped
to Georgetown. Capt. johnson opened
the gate and told him to step out and
put 1t down in the doorway. James
Cunningham, "trusty,n sent for life
life from Hickman county,
fourteen years ago for the muir
der Of a man who had seduced his
sister, was within the gateway, but a
little removed from the gate at the
time. Just as Johnson opened the
gate he turned to speak to MIR. Charles
II. Hoge, one of the lessees, who was
in another room across the door
way, to which Wolf had been
directed. johnson says he doesn't re,
member anything. He fell senseless
from blow struck by a bottle which
Wolf had concealed upon him, Eight
other prisoners who must have
used Wolfe for their purpose
were at that moment along the wall
on the inside just out of sight of the
guard. When Johnson fell they
pushed the gate open and made rush
for the arms. which are kept in one OF
the rooms near by. Cunningham
ran to the rescue of johnson and
dragged George, also n life prisoner
sent from Jefferson county, oil OF him
just as he was in the act of plung
ing a knife into the fallen guard
Ia the meanwhile ID. o. Robinson, q
guard from the shop, came to the gate
aud the firing became brisk and gen,
eral. Cunningham was wrestling
with c. w. Graves, n prisoner SEM
from Madison county for fifteen
years for murder, and he
iinally managed to run him up. staif.
aud put him under lock and kew.
Wolf with some arms had gotten into
the street and was firing into Capt. III
{. Payne, one of the guards. who
returned the fire, aud though fully
exposed TO their assault, was making
brave efforts TO drive the prisoners
back. Capt. Holloway, who was un.
armed, was describing circles in the
street, while Alsop was pouring volley
alter volley at him, when from behind
atree, Bud Smith, young man who
CHANGED to have a gun in his hand
when the alarm wss given, took aim
az Alsep, 1t is believed he hit him In
the shoulder. The two conyicts
th,n Attempted to cover their retreat
by rapid filing on Payne and south,
but the brave boy from behind the
Tree shot Wolff the leg. He fell aud
WAS captured. Alsop was sent from
jackson county for twenty-three y ears
ios murder, and w. 4. Grant was sent
rom anderson county for twenty-one
years for murder. They started on a
run out ON the 0wenton turnpike and
met Allen Jones, an Owen county
farmer, coming into the city In \
enggy. They forced him TO give the
bhggy up 70 them aud drove two or