The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-08-21
A PRISON REVOLT.
rhe Convicts In the Kentucky Penitentiary
Make Desperate Effort to Escape.

The Convicts In the Kentucky Penitentiary
Make Desperate Effort to Escape.
LOUISVILLE, August ia Frankfort
special says: The most desperate outbreak
known IN the history of the penitentiary
'OOk place yesterday morning about $50
o'clock. The alarm was given by one of
The TRUSTEES" riding through the city On
horseback and calling upon the citizens to
20 to the rescue of the guards. The excite
ment spread and citizens, arms in hand,
poured out of their houses and run with the
greatest speed to the penitentiary. In the
meantime brisk firing was heard, the alarm
bell on the engine house rang and the truSty
messenger ON horseback was stopped several
times at the point OF a pistol for an eS-
Gaping convict BY the time aid arrived at
the prison the terrible struggle was over
and nothing but {. great number of bullet
holes and the blOO0 of the wounded met the
view of the thousand panic-stricken citizens
at the gates. Captain Ed. johnson, who is
the guard at the gate. says that he had re-
eelyed intimatiOnS that conspiracy was on
foot for the past two weeks and he has
been very watchful and careful i'll
LOCKING AND UNLOCKING TIE GATE.
1t has been the custom to allow prisoners
to make at leisure hours little articles of
various kinds for friends and relatives, and
when John r. Wolff, son of the County
Clerk of Scott County, who was recently
sent for ten Years from Lexington, for for
gerry, drew near the gate with box and
asked permission to set it outside that the
clerk might have it shipped to Georgetown,
Capt. johnson opened the gate and told him
to step out and put it down in the doorway.
James Cunningham, a ''trusty,' sent for life
from Hickman County fourteen years ago
for numbering a man who Seduced his
sister, was within the gateway, but lit
lie removed from the gate. just as johnson
opened the gate. he turned to speak to Mr..
Charles E. Hoge, one of the leSSeeS, who
was in another room across the doorway to
which Wolff had been directed. johnson
says ne does not remember anything. He
fell senSeleSS from a blow struck with bot
tie which Wolff had concealed about him.
Eight other persons, who must have used
Wolff for their purpose, were at that mo-
ment along the wall OH the inside, 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 i'll one of the
rooms near by. Cunningham ran to the res
cue of johnson and dragged George AlS0p a
life prisoner sent from jefferson County, off
him Just as he was in the act OF plunging a
knife into the fallen guard. In the mean
while ID. o. Robinson, a guard from the
shop, came to the gate and the firing be-
came brisk and general. While Cunning
ham was wrestling with c. W. Graves, a
prisoner sent from Madison for eighteen
years for murder, and finally managed to
run him up stairs and put him under lock
and key, Alsop drew pistol on CAPTAIN L.
ID. Holloway, prison clerk. who
JUMPED OUT OF WINDOW
and ran into the street. Wolf, with the
arms, had gotten into the street and was
firing into Captain Ii. c. 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.
Captain Holloway, who was unarined, was
describing a circle in the street, while AlSOp
was pouring vOlley after yOlley at him,
when from behind d tree Bud South, a
young man who CHANGED to have a gun in
his hand when the alarm was gwen, 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 OH Payne and South,
but the brave boy from behind the tree
shot Wolff in the leg. He fell and was cap
tured. Als9p. TheOphiluS Graves, sent
from Jackson County for twenty-One years
for murder, and W. r. Grant, sent from
Anderson County for twenty-one years for
murder, started on a run out OIL the Owen
ton turnpike. They met Allen Jones, an
Owen County farmer, coming into the city
in a buggy, forced him to give his
buggy up to them and drove tive
or three miles in the buggy. Leay-
ing the vehicle in the road they took
across the hills. More than thirty armed
men gave pursuit, but no tidings have yet
been received from them. Each of the eS-
Gaping convictS was armed with more than
three revOlvers. All are regarded as the
most desperate men under sentence of con-
finement Alsop foully murdered Constable
Harrison in jefferson County, who was
merely interviewing him with a summons.
Grant is one of the prisoners who attempted
to escare year ago by scaling the walls.
His wound is serious, SCATTERING the bone
of the thigh, and will probably neceSSitate
the amputation of the leg 1t is thought,
however, it will not prove fatal. Robinson,
the guard, will also, it is thought, have to
suffer the amputatiOn of leg. Cunning
ham, the ''trusty' who rendered such praiS-
worthy services, receives the gratitude of
the city and will have powerful D!edging in
his behalf for pardon. He was cut in the
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.