Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-07-11
DESPERATE FIGHT
In the House of Correction at
lonia, Mich.
PRISONERS MAKE A WILD BREAK.

A Rush for the Walls and Liberty Met by
the Guards and Repulsed-One Convict
Shot Dead as He Reached the Top of the
Enclosure and Another Fatally Wound
ed-A Hot Hand-to-Hand Fight The
Warden Prepared.
IoNIA Mich, July ,1.-Fuli seventy-five
, convicts at the House of Correction made
a break for liberty. They were at work in
the various shops. The first ten or fifteen
left their work and started for the west
wall. The ringleader was Convict William
Smith, known as No. 705, a five-year man
sent up from Detroit. Smith has lost time
before, having made an attempt to escape
q year ago last September, and he is a
tough character Tinsmiths have been at
work on shop No. 81, about ten rods from
the west wall, repairing conductor pipes.
| Two long ladders were used and were
standing against the building Smith
, started out and was followed by the others
who We're in the scheme He quickly
claspei the ladder standing against the
west wall.
The warden Was Prepared.
Warden PARCEL had discovered that
something wascoming, over sunday, and
| had doubled the guard. Teacher Gourley
was watching around in the vicinity of
this building. and when he saw Smith aad
| the gang come out he fired a shot from his
| revolver into. the ground and ordered the
, men back. Smith urged them on, paying
! no attention 70 the order. The men on the
wall and abbut the yard quickly assem-
I L
| Warden PARCEL to stop the break. A gem
| eral fusillade commenced and a hand-to-
| hand fight followed The ladders were
Rocked down, but the convicts replaced
| them and Oscar Miller, an eight-year man,
gained the top of the wall. The guard shot
at him and the ball went clear through his
body and he dropped to the ground dead
! Haad-to-Hand Fight Below.
| In the meantime a terrible battle was
! going on below Convict Smith struck at
| Deputy Warden Rowley with a hammer,
| but the latter lodged and escaped DEATH
! Rowley struck Convict Charles f. Jones
| on the head and he dropped. He will
! doubtless die, as his head is terribly cut
! William EAGER, sent from Grand Rapids,
was badly wounded and his recovery is
| doubtful He Is serving fifteen-year sem
| tence for manslaughter. Smith, another
| convict, brought into play long billy
made ont of sheepskin loaded with sand.
| This, with three hammers, a large wrench
and a round stone, were afterwards taken
| from the leaders in the break. How they
| got them is mystery. Teacher Gour Y
was struck on the head with the stone
which was hurled at him. 1t grazed his
skull but did not seriously injure him
~ Used Hot Irons with Effect.
1t was only by prompt action that the
wholesale liberation of the convicts was
averted. Hail Master PARCEL grabbt | up
the hot irons used by some local timers
and commenced prodding the COZ ricts,
who ran back. \ coroner's inquest is in
progress and the convicts are now in their
cells. Four convicts were injured. Jones
has conclusion of the brain as the result of
a blow on his head, and Smith. the i,a Ter,
was found to have bad cut on the ulck
of his head. On seeing the first ten I , ow
| Smith out of the shop, the rest fol wed
until they were driven back.