Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-10-05
A PRISON OUTBREAK.
a Party of Negroes Attempt to
Overpower Jailer Elliott.
THOSE TEXAS CAR EXHIBITS.
What Maj. Slosson Says About Them.
Pretty Little Katie Putnam Here.
What j. Il. Marmion Says
OF NeIasco.
ATTEMPTED JAIL-BREAK.
Lively Time at the Jail Yesterda.
Morning.

A Lively Time at the Jail Yesterday
Morning.
Jailor Elliott had j little experience yes
lerday morning that he is not very anxious
20 repeat. When he opened the door of the
corridor surrounding the cells inside the
Carroll might set the basket Of food inside
burly negro named Collins
shouted 'yip." and Jumped square on
CAROLS shoulders. a battle for life then
ensued. MIR. Elicit grapp!ed with the
negro and succeeded in getting firm grip
on his neck and shut off his wind. Another
negro named George Washington Jones
darted by and leaped down the iron stairs,
followed by Carroll. Mr.. Elliott did not see
The negro pass, and supposed Carroll
had gone for his gun. He finally
succeeded in oVcrpOwcring the negro and
forced him backward TO the edge of the
iron step of the corridor. and as the negro's
hcel passed the edge he tripped and fell.
Nlr. Elliott then broke sway and darted
down the stairs. He secured his Winchester
and stood at the foot Of the stairs shouting
10 the gang TO come on. that he was ready
for them. They failed to appear, as it
WAS well known among them that
toe first man TO show himself would be a
corpse.
While all this was taking place Carroll
had not been idle He had darted down
the stairs and into the Jail Office, where he
got his gun and started in pursuit Of the
fleeing negro. who ma turned down the
sziL!rs icadiu" 10 the basement floor,
evidently intending TO make d
break for liberty through the
[iHheE. The cock, however. hearing
NJ racket upstairs SurmiSed what was the
matter and locked the door leading the
yard and removed the key. lie had hardly
uonc so when the fugitive negro came into
siRht, and following close behind came Car
roll with h-S drawn revolver. The cook
Vas frightened on! Ct his wits
thinking Carroll WAS another escaping
prisoner vino had secured 4 revolver.
auj when Carroll ordered the prisoner bacli
up stairs The cook breathed frCer. As he
rAinc 10 tho mt OF the stairs leading 10 the
lhIri floor he found his father standing
guard with his Winchester. Compelling
me negro 10 go ahead, they went carefully
up stairs and found the negroes hud-
uied together in the corridor. They
wer" forced hack i'll their cells and
locked -. The eighteen prisoners
in the negro ward might have escaped if
they had uSeu a little better Judgment,
l"uugh - soon as the noise of the Scutle
WAS heard down stairs the members of the
!ailcC's family secured all the keys to the
outside doors 50 they could not easily have
matte their exit
-Aftcr the prisoner. had been locked in,
scarCn was made for any missing prisoner
lad Il white man, who had been placed
5u.nU% the negroes for punishment, was
found lying on top of one Of the cages. As
soon rs Carol! came IN sight he attempted
70 crawl back further, but 4 shot from Car
:ul!s revolver caused him 10 loosen Ill
colds and fall to the floor of the cage a dis
.ance of some thirty feet. Fortunately, be-
yond shaking-up, 10 serious injury re-
3Iltod.
Wide this outbreak on the part Of the ne
irocs was unexpected, watch had been
kept upon the white prisoners who are con-
lined in the east wing, as it had been under
stood they contemplated such move This
Tas the first time either Mr.. Elliott or Car
oil have gone " feed the prisoners or 9th
nNise attend upon them, uuarmed. which
) probably lucky, as had either of
he men had guns they would
probably have killed one or more cot the
prisoners. OF those VINO made the break,
some hayc been sentenced. others were
awaiting sentence. and some othcr> had not
yet been tried. Hereafter the scncgambian
D0araerS Al the Jail Will be deprived of
uiany liberties heretofore enjoyed by them