The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-15
4 PRISON RESURRECTION.
Desperate Attempt OF Convicts in the Ken
lucky Penitentiary to Escape.

LOUISVILLE, Aug. IA A Frankfort special to
the Evening Times says: The most desperate
outbreak known in the history of the peniten-
tiary took place this morning about $50 o'clock.
The alarm was given by one Of the TRUSTEES rid
ing through the city on horseback and calling
upon the citizens to go to the rescue Of the
guards The excitement spread and the citi-
zens, arms in hands, poured out of their houses
and ran with the greatest speed to the peniten
tary. In the meanwhile brisk fring was heard.
The alarm bell on the engine house rang, and
trusty messengers on horseback stopped several
times, at the point of the pistol escaping con-
victs BY the time aid arrived at the prison
the terrible struggle was over and moth
ing left but great number
of bullet-holes, the blood of wounded men, and
thousand panic-strieken citizens at the gates.
The gates we're locked and barred, but when the
authorities were satisfied that all was quiet, and
the conviets placed under lock and key in their
cells, the outer doors were unbarred and admit
tance of a few persons granted. Captain Ed.
johnson, who is guard at the gate, says he had
received an intimation of conspiracy on foot
for the past two weeks, and had been very
watchful and careful in locking and unlocking
the gates. 1t had been the custom to allow
prisoners to make, at leisure hours, little arti-
cles of various kinds for friends and rela-
tives, and when John R. Wolfe, SON of
the county clerk Of Scott county, who
was recently sent for ten years from Lex
ington for forgery, drew near the gate
with box and asked permission to set it out
side that the clerk might have it shipped to
he GAR
and told him to step out and put 1t down IN the
doorway. James Cunningham, a trusty sent
Tor life from Hickman county, fourteen years
ago, Tor numbering man who seducedh his sister,
was within the gate, but little removed from
the gate at the time. just as johnson opened
the gate he turned to speak to Mr.. Charles q.
Hoge, one Of the lessees, who was in another
ROOM across the doorway, to which Wolfe had
Der anything. He fell senseless from
a blow struck by bottle which
Wolfe had concealed about him.
eight other prisoners who must have used Wolfe
for that purpose were at that moment on the
wall inside and just out of sight of the guard.
When johnson fell they pushed the gate open
and made a rush for the arms, which are kept in
one OF the rooms near by. Cunningham ran to
the rescue Of johnson, and dragged George Al
sop, a life prisoner, sent from Jefferson county,
off Of him just as he was in the act of plunging a
knife into the fallen guard
In the meanwhile, d. 0. Robinson, a guard
from the shop, came to the gate, and the firing
became brisk and general while Cunningham
was wrestling with G. w Graves, prisoner
sent from Madison for eighteen wears for muir
der and finally managed to run him up stairs
and put him under lock and
key AIsog drew a pistol on Captain
jumped out of a window and ran into the street.
Wolfe, with the arms, had got into the street,
and was firing into Captain II. G. Payne. one Of
the guards, who returned the fire. and, though
efforts to drive the prisoners back. Captain
Holloway, who was unarmed. was describing
circle in the street, while Alsop was pouring
volley after volley at him, when, from behind a
tree Bud South, young who CHANGED to
have gun in hand when the alarm was given,
took aim at Alsop. and it is believed hit him in
the shoulder. The two convicts then attempted
to cover their retreat by rapid firing on Payne
and South, but the brave boy from behind the
tree shot Wolfe in the leg, and he fell and was
captured.
Alsop Theophilus Graves (sent from jackson
county for twenty years for murderl, and w. T..
Grant (sent from Anderson county for twenty
one years for murderl, started on a run out on
an Owen county farmer, coming into the city in
buggy, forced him to give the buggy up to
them, drove two or three miles in the buggy,
left it on the road and took across the Hill. More
than thirty armed men gave pursuit, but no
tidings are yet received from them. Each Of the
escaping convicts is armed with more than three
revolvers, and all are regarded as the most des-
perate men under sentence Of confinement.
Alsop foully murdered Constable Harrison in
Jefferson county, who was merely in
teryiewing him with summons. Grant
is one Of the prisoners who attempted
to escape nearly a year ago by scaling the walls.
His wound is serious, SCATTERING the bone of the
thigh and will probably necessitate amputation
of the leg It is thought. however, that it will
not prove fatal. Robinson, the guard, will also,
it is thought, have to suffer amputation.
Cunningham, the trusty, who rendered
such praiseworthy services, is receiving the
gratitude of the city and will have powerful
pleading in his behalf Cor pardon. He was cut
in the side with a knife, but the wound is not
dangerous Captain johnson was beaten over
the head and back, and is suffering much pain
from his wounds, but is still at his post Only
the three convicts named escaped the others
being captured or driven back. Wolfe says
there were nearly fifty in the plot to escape
He is severe in his denunciations of those Who
did not follow, calling them "a lot Of damned
towards. He said also that he was sorry he
did not kill George Alsop for going back on his
word. The arrangement between him and
Alsop was to stand at the gate and kill the first
guard who dared approach them and to remain
until the whole gang in the plot came out.
This he says, Alsop did not do, while he himself
was true to his word.
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