The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-05-16
THE ESCAPED CONVICTS.
A Bloody Fight with the Fagitives near
Bryan.
A GOOD CITIZEN is KILLED.
Part Of the Gang Return to Camp and
Surrender.
HOW THE MuTINY WAS PLANNED.
Excitement and Alarm at Bryan-A Strong
Pursuit organized-The Governor
Offers Rewards for Captures
Immunity for Informers.
THE DAYS RECORD OF GRIMES,
rhe E.onnsd Cnn,lnta-An omnnr

Ihe Escaped ConNlCts-An Omcer. Killed.
BRYAN, May l5.-[Special. The Pilot
this afternoon issued the following
extra:
"About 40 convi cts overpowored the
guards aud escaped from Clay's farm,
near Wellborn, at 3 o'clock yesterday
evening. They provided themselves
with horses and arms ana started off in
the direction OF Bryan. This was tele.
graphed to the authorities here, and a
later dispatch sent from Ed. Farquhar
at WellbOrH, who saw tho furious mob
as they passed that place. we learn
that they fired several shots at Farqu
har, and passed on in regular line of
battle toward Bryan. City Marshal Carr
with MIR. Ley p. Smith and Lew Neal,
stationed himself behind the powder
magazine, mile south of town, Deputy
Robert Smith and Mr.. j. p. Noll taking
places on the College road, near the
home OF Judge Thomas, Between and
? o'clock last night the conVicts came
along the road TO the powder magazine,
and were ordered TO halt by Marshal
Carr. His order to "hAlt" was responded
to by terrific Volley from the convicts.
who were well armed end mounted and
ready for battle. The fire was returned
by Messrs. Carr and Smith until the
latter was shot through the breast mud
killed. Besides the fatal shot, another
took OIL one Of the unfortunate mans
fingers and the stock OF his pistol. Cant.
Carr received shot through the TOD of
his hat and one through his clothing,
neither injuring him any, The
news was sent to town.
the IRE bell rung, and excited men
armed themselves promptly and started
In pursuit. The Bryan Rifles, the fire.
men, civil officers and citizens are still
in pursuit, and by the time this reaches
the reader the criminals will doubtless
be caught. Last heard of them, thew
were still going in body t5@ar6s
Moseley's ferry. Ii seems certain that
their purpose was TO fire and rob the
town, and that the fight in which poor
Lev Smith lost his life saved Bryan
trom great loss OF property and perhaps
One report ia that masked citizens
turned the oonvicts loose and furnished
them arms, seeking TO break up the con-
wet labor system, to which many are
opposed. A more plausible theory is
thai n "trusty" placed arms where they
could get them, and arranged for the
escape,
PART OF THE GANG CAPTURED.
MILLIcAN, May l5.-[Special, l. Seve-
raj OF the cOnvicts that escaped from
Clay's farm have retured to the camps.
Two captured in the Bfazos bottom,
and one reported captured at
Bryan, leaving 25 still at
large. The property taken with
them from the camps were seven
mules, two horses, two saddles, five
pistols and seven guns. 1t seems the
whole plan was executed by brother
and broiher-in-law of Reickart Schnei.
der, sentenced for 10 years for horse
stealing from Dewitt county.
HOW THE ESCAPES WERE MADE.
WELLBoRN, May 10. - Special. THE
HERALD correspondent saw the ser
geant of Clay's farm to-day and he dc.
scrlOes tho escape Of the convicts as
tollows: Between and O'Clock yes
terday, rs one OF the squads under
one guard cam0 to the end of the rows
bordering ON the WOODS, two men, who
had been laying in ambush, threw their
guns down on the guard and COM
manded him to surrender. He did 80.
They then armed the whole squad, con
sisting Of seven, and marched out to
whore several more squads were work.
ing aud commanded all the guards 20
surrender Jhelr arms. The guards did
not throw their arms down immedi-
ately, whereupOn the convicts began
firing. As thoy'had the drop on them
the guards we're compelled to surren-
der. Some OF the cOnvicts liberated re-
fused to run OF, but remained with tho
guards. The sergeant was in another
part OF the field, about n mile OF. Ho
came 70 tho soeue or conflict as soon US
possible, hut was too late TO do any
good. Several of tho escaped convicis
are reported 90 havo returned 10 camp,
Dut no others have been captured vet.
REWARDS OFFERED.
AUSTIN, May l5.-lSpeoial. - The
governor this morning received
information of the release of couyicts
At Clay camp, Brazos county, aud
promptly issued proclamation, Of
iering reward of $500 for
the arrest of each person
engaged in the affair, and he further OF.
lers full pardon 10 any one or two of
the conYicts who win nut
the state In possession of sufficient evi.
dence TO secure the conviction of the
parties planning and engaging in sal d
release.