Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1891-06-23
A FIGHT WITH CONVICTS.
THEY MAKE A DARLING BREAK
FOR LIBERTY.
Two Guards ana Three COnvjcts
Killed and Two COnVicts Ics.
cape Several others wounded
How Did They Get AramsP

How Did Thev Get ArnisP
COLE Cry, Ga, June 23.-0ne of the
most daring breaks for liberty ever made
by couvicts in this state occurred at
Slope camp yesterday morning.
At 6 O'Clock yesterday morning Capt.
]. M. Moreland, assistant warden at
Slope camp, went into the stockade,
accompanied by Jesse Rankin, night
guard, to count off the convicts and send
them to the mines. The convicts, about
200 in Number, are employed by the Dadc
Coal company to work in their GSal
mines here.
Seven convicts remained behind for the
purpose OF getting some extra overalls,
claiming they were working in a very
pwct place. =
After the first convict made his wants
known, Mr.. Morcland turned to the next
one and remarked: "Do you want
pair of overalls too" Getting no an
swer he started to the gate, when Wilson
Palmer, ,'one OF the convicts, holding
pistol close to Morclands head, fired,
the ball striking him in the right side OF
shc neck and ranging downward.
AT the same instant, Jesse Rankin was
seized and the keys taken from him. Then
hegan scene that almost bcggars dcs-
cription. The seven convicts made a
break for Capt. MorclaAd's Office, where
they expected to get arms and ammuni
ton. Once inside, they secured one dou-
blc-barrcled shotgun, which Wilson
Palmer took, battered in dcsh and pro-
cured a lot of cartridges.
BY this time the guards were aroused,
and a regular fusiladc began both from
within and without the Office. In the
midst of the firing old man Lansdownc,
a convict, was shot and instantly killed.
He and his son were sent up from Pickcns
county, Ca, for sale blowing and run
ming a moonshnc distillery. They were
both tough characters.
Pat Rowland, one of the guards was
the next one killed.
S. A. Lansdownc, another convict was
the next man hit. He was but slightly
hurt, ball just grazing his breast. Sam
Green, another convict, was badly shot
in several places, but lived till about 4
O'Clock. He was sent mp for horse steal
ing.
Convict Wilson Pamer's turn came
next. While holding the doublc-barrclcd
shotgun his right forehngcr was taken
off, the shot shattcring his gun, breaking
it in two. At this uncturc the office
became too hot for the convicts and they
was again shot in many places. He died
at 3 O'Clock He was a safe-blower and
was considered desperate character.
Jack Rankin was the next victim of
the murdcrous convicts. He was shot
in the bowels and died almost immedi-
ately.
George Ward. convict, was the last one
shot. He was hit twice in the top OF the
head. Just above the forehead. His
brains oozcd out, his eyes protruded, and
altogether he was a sickening sight. He
lived till near night when he expired.
While the firing was in progress Abe
Wayman, John Rutherford, colored, and
S. A. Lausdowne. white, escaped. Lans-
dOwne was recapturcd.
The fight was brief but most terrific
one. lasting but few moments, during
which time the Office OF the assistant
warden was literally riddled with bullets
and buckshot. The walls, ceiling, doors
and windows bear startling evidence of
the force OF the short conflict.
How the convicts secured their arms is
a mystery as yet unexplained. The
scheme to escape was very skillfully
planned and was only prevented from
coming to a successful issue by the heroic
and determined action oi the guards.
Capt. Morcland's wounds, while severe
and serious, are not necessarily fatal,
and it is thought with careful nursing
and attention he will pull through all
right. Neither the ball in his neck or the
one in his leg have yet bccn extracted.
The wound in the neck is the most severe
but as he experiences no trouble in swal-
lowing nourishment or talking il is not
| likely to prove fatal,