Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-15
AN UPRISING IN JAIL.
Convicts Attack Their Keepers In Des- :
perate Break for Liberty.

LOUISVILLE, Aug. IA Frankfort
special says; The most desperate out
break known in the history of the penl-
tentiary took place this morning at about
$3.50 O'Clock. An alarm was given and
citizens were called upon to 90
to the rescue of the guards.
The excitement spread and citi-
Zens armed poured out of their houses
and ran to the penitentiary. In the mean
time brisk firing was heard. By the time
aid arrived at the prison the terrible
struggle was over. The gates We're locked
but when the authorities were salts
fed that all was quiet. and
the convicts were placed under lock and
Key in their cells, the outer doors were
unbarred, and a few persons admitted
capt. Edward johnson, the guard at the
gate, says that be had received intima-
tlon that a conspiracy was on foot
and for the past two weeks had
been very watchtul in locking and un-
locking the gate. 1t has been the custom
to allow the prisoners to make, in their
leisure hours, various small articles for
relatives and friends, and when John r.
Wolff, son Of the County Clerk of Scott
county, who was recently sentenced
for ten years from Lexington
for forgery, drew near the gate and asked
PERMISSION to get a box outside that the
clerk might have it shipped to George
town, Capt. johnson opened the gate
and told him to step out and put it
down in the doorway. James Cum
ningham, trusty, sent up for
life from Hickman county fourteen years
ago for murder, was within the gateway,
but a little distance from the gate, at the
time. As johnson opened the gate he
turned to speak to a man across the
doorway, to which Wolff had been di-
rected.
THE KEEPER FELLED.
johnson says that he does not remem-
Der anything more. He fell senseless from
a blow struck by a bottle which Wolff had
concealed about him. Eight other pris-
oners who must have used Wolff for their
purposes 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 a
rush for arms, which were kept in a room
near by. Cunningham ran to the rescue
of Johnson, and dragged George Alsop off
him just as he was in the act of
plunging knife into the fallen guard.
In the meanwhile d. o. Robinson, guard
from the shop, came to the gate, and firing
became brisk and general. Cunningham
grappled ID. w. Graves, a prisoner, and
hnally managed to put him under lock and
key. Alsop drew pistol on Capt. L. w.
HallOWay, prison clerk, who jumped out of
window and ran out into the street
Woltf, with the arms, had gotten into the
street and was firing at Capt. II. e. Payne.
one of the guards, who returned the fire,
and though fully exposed to their assault,
was making brave efforts to drive the
prisoners back. Capt. Holloway, who
was unarmed, was describing a cir
Gle in the street while Als0p was
pouring volley after volley at him, while
from behind Bud South, a young man who
chanced to have a gun in his hand when
the alarm was given, took aimlat Alsop and
tits believed hit him in the shoulder. Two
conyicts then attempted to cover their
retreat by rapid firing on Payne and
South, but the brave boy from behind a
tree shot Wolf in the leg. He fell and
was captured.
FLEEING TO THE HILLS.
AlsOp and Theophilus Graves and w.
I. Grant, also prisoners for murder,
started on a run out on the Owenton
turnpike. They met Allen Jones, a
farmer in buggy, forced him to give the
buggy up, drove two or three miles
IN the buggy, left it on the
road and fled across the hills. More than
30 armed men have gone in pursuit, bnt
no tidings have yet been received from
them. Each of the escaping con-
Vlcts is armed with more than
three revolvers. Grants wound was
serious but not fatal. Robinson, the
guard, was also, seriously wounded.
Cunningham, the trusty, who rendered
such praiseworthy service, will have a
powerful pleading in his behalf
for pardon. He was cut IN the side
with knife, but the wound is not dam
gerous. Capt. johnson was beaten over
the head and back. Only the three con-
canflIrnd or d1.iunn hnnI-