The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-08-20
THE REVOLT IN THE PEkITEN-
TtART.
Two Of the Escaped ConvIc,s and
One ofthe Pursuers Killed

One ofthe Pursuers Killed
Lexington. KY, Aug. GA Thurs
day a revolt of convicts IN the State peni-
Tertiary IN Fiankford resulted 10 the es-
cape of three murdereI., George Alsop,
Theophilus Graves. aud w. T. Grant
The revolt was led BY John K. Wolfe,
who vas seut up for ten years for for
sery. lie got into the front prison yari
with a box he wished to send away, and
knocked down the guard who stood at
the inner gate. Eight other convicts,
concealed lst inside, rushed for the ar
mory close b, where they obtained arms
aud began a running fight with the guards
aud Dui Smith, a young mau who came
to the assistance of the guards Wolfe
was shot through the thigh, and ha, had
his leg amputated. A guard named
Robinson Was shot in the thigh. Alsop
received a wounds in the shoulder, but
escaped with his two companions.
Measures were at once set on foot for
then capture. but nothing was heard Of
them until Friday when il was learned
chat two of them had, near Midway,
seized two horses. A lookout Vas kept
but he c~onvicts lay low until this morn
ing, when they demanded breakfast from
one man and forced 81 from another, about
seven miles from the city. A sherifTs
posse was soon formed to 20 in pursuit.
County Attorney Sharp aud George Cad
wallader were ordered to proceed by
Jacks Greek road, but hearing that the
conyicLs had attempted to cross toward
he Walnut Hill road, they took the
later.
Taking their horse from the buggy,
they concealed themselves at a point
Commanding a view of The country tor
some distance both ways. Presently they
saw Two men pass across the road from
some straw stacks. The pursuers closed
toward the fugitives, but lost sight Of
them. They searched through a church
yard and learned that two armed men
had been seen passing back Of the Nc
Fadden place. Going into Walter Scott's
place they discovered the two men run
ming through a hemp field. Sharp gal
,Oped after them, warning them that he
did not permit hunting on the place, but
as he advanced within about sixty yards
of Them both levelled their guns at him
He slipped off his horse and -prang be-
hind a tree. The convicts also sought
cover, blL soon ran across a Stubble field,
Sharp firing first at Graves and then at
Alsop, whom he shot in the left shoul-
der.
The fugitives ran toward a corntield, iD
which they sought shelter. Sharp rode
around the cOrafield saw that no track
ed out, and reported to the posse. now
coming forward. Men were placed al
around the field, and Sharp entered on
the track of the fugitives, accompanied
by George Cassell and James Vail, far
mers of the neighborhood. Cassell being
the owner OF the corn. They passed out
Of one cornheld across a grassy ravine and
into another field o. corn. They had not
penetrated far into this second field when
two shots were fired by the ~convicts, and
Cassell was shot through the body. He
fell, and as he reeled another bullet
crashed into his head. Vial fired at one
of the convicls, and Sharp threw himself
down, seeing which Vial retired to report
the death OF both of his companions.
Sharp listened and heard one of the
convicts say be had killed the e.
-" Then he rose, drew a bead on the
convict. fired, fell, reloaded, aud again
listened. All was still as death. Sharp
crawled TO the ravine and waved his hat
for aid but not receiving an answering
III huA. III oNlON III wi "
the woods, and reported to the posse. A
regular advance was now ordered, the
men taking the direction toward where
the bodies lay. Sharp. in crossing the
river, saw one of the c~onvicts raised on
his elbow. presenting a pistol at Deputy
Sheriff Rogers. The weapon snapped,
and Il was found to be empty A voiley
was ordered, and Alsop fell back, NOR
tally wounded. Graves was found already
dead Alsop died in a few minu.es.
The fupitives had two needle guns and
FIVE pistols, but little ammunition re-
naming. 10 Alsop's pocket a certificate
of good standing In the Church, signed by
a minister, was found. The bodies of
the two convicts were left in the cora.
and the Coroner notified Geo. Cassell's
body was carried to his residence lear
by. lie anG Sharp and Vial belonged to
the same company in Morgan's cavalry