The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-13
AMONG ooLoRADo CoNvICrs.
x Perilous Stroll That Eearly Resulted
Fatally.
From the Pittsb,lro Disdatch.

= From the Pttsbur0 Disddtch.
ia, Leaving Canyon City l started to explore
v the Grand Canyon of the Arkansaw, whose
bluff portals open couple of miles west of
town. Nearly midway l noticed a huge
stone building against the side of white
bill Of limestone. half hidden by the clouds
frpm a score Of hmekiins. had talked
with no one in Canyon City. had no idea
what thi1 building was; but at nearer APP
proach the sight or watchful, hard-lookiDg
men pacing up and down here and there,
with six~shooters on their hips and double
barreled shotguns over their shoulders, told
the story unmStakably.
Swarming about the kilns, delving In the
hillside and engaged at various other work.
were hundreds Of fellows in telltale stripes
or black and white. 1t was the Colorado
penitentiary, containing at the time $50 odd
convicts-mostly murderers aud "rustlers,"
horse THE es)-all of whom worked outside
the walls by day uufettered.
Never having seen prisoners thus loose, /
grew interested, and trotted like any other
fool along the sidewalk, gazing curiously at
the 100 faces OF the Jail birds who were at
work on the two-foOt wall at my very side
1t did occur to mo that my appearance
caused considerable excitement among
them, but could not take the hint, though
their faces wore the very look of hungry
wolves.
| was walking westward, and the morning
sun was behind my back-two trlfies for
which have since been grateful A group
or convicts rallying 10 some work a few
hundred feet TO the south caught nv eve
and turned me half back to the wall. As |
stopped to gaze at them something seemed
to drag my eyes down to the light, smooth
dust In front of me, and there was some
thing that for an instant made my heart
stop beating. 1t was only a shadow-a
clear. sharp, long shadow thrown beside my
familiar own-tne shadow of large burly
figure swinging a heavy stone hammer
above my very head. That silhouette on
the sidewalk Will never lose one clear cut
line in my memory. had been stupid be-
fore, but | was awake now.
To spring half way, TO the middle of the
road. with tremendous leap whose half
could not cover now, jerking my forty -four
from its scabbard even while in the air,
aud to throw down" on the convict with a
savage Halt" was the work of an instant
and none too soon
The fellow and his mates sprang back to
their work with looks OF bafffsd rage, and
one Of the mounted guards came I'D in
such dash that he nearly rode me down.
| Two six-shooters were buckled to his waist,
and his hard face wore an expression which
was anything but pleasant.
why, you Internal blankety- blank foo, -
he snapped. Don't you know no better'n to
sashay along in reach o. them fellers, with a
gun stickin' out handy hkel There's nine
teen life termers in tibet gang you was
a-huggin' up to so. an tibet pop o. youru
meant life an liberty to any one on 'em that
| get his hooks onto it, Bout quarter Y a
secont an your head would "a been mush.
an we'd "a had break fur the hills. Now
| git out into the middle o. the road, an keep
ez fur from anything striped ez you know
how. Gitn
shivered little and got" and found
no fault with the dust in the middle Of the
road. Ordinarily l do not like strangers to
address me as brusquely as did the fortified
person on the black horse, but under the
circumstances it would hardly have made
| me resentful had he shaken me-
To guard the great body of desperate
ruffians there were thirty-eght guards on
foot, armed with double barrelsd shotguns
| with nine buckshot In each barrel, and As
caliber six shooters. Three mounted patrol
men, without guns, but carrying two big
Colts revolvers apiece, were constantly
riding about the entire place. In the LITTLE
| stone sentry boxes along the high wal
which inclosed the small yard Of the pen
were several expert marksmen, each armed
with the finest long range rifle ever manu-
featured, with telescope sights, and good il
such hands to bring down a man at so
yards every time.