The morning call., 1893-06-28
BREAK AT FOLSOM.
Three Convicts RiddIed
by Bullets.
FOUR SERIOUSLY WOUNDED.
George Sontag Among the
Latter.
THE BANDIT LIKELY TO DIE.
The Fugitives Were Armed With
Winchesters and Pistols and
Fought Desperately.
HE BANDIT LIKELY TO DIE.
Special to THE MORNING CALL.


Record U Union from Folsom says:
At 8: 80 this afternoon a break for free
dom was made at the Folsom prison, result
ing in the death of three convicts and the
wounding of four others after a stubborn
fight. lasting forty-five minutes. The trou-
BILE occurred at the quarry, on the lines of
the canal above the pewer-house and below
the headgates. The lieutenant of the
guard, Frank Briare. has charge of the
quarry gang, some thirty-11ve conVcts,
comprising half dozen of the worst char
acters in the prison.
At $3.50 o'clock Briare was surprised and
seized from behind by Dalton, Williams,
Wilson, Abbott, Smith and another
To the surprise of Briare he found him
self confronted with four Winchester rifles,
two pistols and large dirk knife Briare
was powerless in their hands and they
forced him up the HILL though with some
difficulty. Guards Prigmore, Ayers and
Fitch, who were Immediately over the
quarry, were for moment deferred from
firing for fear OF hitting Briare.
AS the convicts reached the top of the
cliff Briare, who had been waiting for an
opening. by violent effort freed himself
from all but one and jumped down the
steep cliff, taking Smith with him. A
rife, which was held to his head, exploded
at the same instant without effect.
Frank Wilson was also knocked off the
cliff back into the quarry, leaving the five
peradoes-SGntag, Williams, Wilson,
Abbott and Dalton-on top of the cliff.
This was the opportunity the guards had
been waiting for. Prigmore, Fitch and
Ayres opened fire on them, which was
supplemented by Guards Taylor and
Payne from across the river. The con-
victs lodged behind the heavy rocks ard
at once returned the fire, cen tering upon
Guards Fitch and Prigmore, both of whom
were in the open. without cover. Captain
Murphy, who was in the vicinity of the
power-house, climbed the hill. and taking
Guard Consumes gun Joined in the fight.
Warden Aull was in his Office and at the
first alarm secured his own Winchester
and fifty cartridges, and was driven in a
cart by Deputy Warden Hughes to the
scene of the conflict, which had assumed
the proportions OF battle. When the
Warden reached the upper side of the
battle ground he sent for extra guards, in
the meantime joining in the fight with
Guard Fitch.
The convctS were finally located in a
hole behind pile of boulders, and as the
fOr 1frr 10, G
kept directed at this particular spot, which
fire was occasionally answered by the
conviets.
After placing the guards the Warden
directed all hands to fire all together, and
for the space of a minute perfect storm OF
lead was rained on this particular spot. A
hat was seen to go up On rife barrel in
token of surrender. When the firing
ceased SOntag crawled out in the open,
more dead than alive. followed by Abbott,
neither of whom could walk.
The Warden, Captain Murphy and sew
eral guards advanced toward them at
once. when a CHASTITY spectacle met their
view. Williams. Wilson aud Dalton were
dead in the hole, lying on top of each
other, their bodies completely riddled with
bullets. Sontag was hit three times, in the
thigh. the shinbone and the lower part of
the body, each bullet breaking bones.
Abbott bas n broken leg and was hit in
two other places. Convicts Duffy and
SchelI. who had nothing to do with the
break, were also wounded. Schell fatally.
None of the guards were injured.
1.-Two Winchester rifles. two pistols and
large dirk were found in the hole where
the fugitives had taken refuge. All of the
officers and guards engaged in the fight
showed excellent discipline. They were
all exposed, and not one shirked or failed
to stand up like old soldiers. Warden Aull
expresses pardonable pride in the dis
cipine and courage of his men as we'll as
the splendid craftsmanship displayed
Dalton was struck twenty-four times and
Williams was hit through the heart by a
shot from Guard Prigmore.
This break WAS not unexpected. For
more than three months Warden Aull and
Captain Murphy have feared this and
have been quietly preparing for it. About
liable information that Evans and John
Sontag and their friends were about to
make an attempt TO carry the prison by
StUTiH anu TelcdSe OeOTRe OOnlaR. WICD-
out making any fuss about it. or even
notifying the prison officers, with the ex-
ception of Captain Murphy and Deputy
Warden Hughes, the Warden prepared to
receive company.
Joseph Prigmore, man in whom the
Warden has great confidence, was sum-
moned from Humboldt County and given
the post over the quarry. His gallant
fight of to-day justIfes the confidence re-
posed in him. Several picked men from
various parts of the State were sent for
and placed in responsible positions. New
guns and pistols were distributed, in fact
everything was put in order for desper-
ate fight.
So quietly was this done that neither
guards nor convicts suspected that any
thing unusual was about to happen.
While the battle was in progress the
whistle blew and the balance of the con-
victs. although very excited. were marched
into the prison in good order.
The killed are as follows:
A. Dalton, five years, burglary, first de-