The record-union., 1893-06-28

Kept striking at him with large hammer
he had in his hand. Briare grabbed it
from him and struck him on the head.
telling him to the ground. He was mer-
citul. for though sorely tempted he did
not kill him.
While going up the bill one of the des-
peradoes held big knife over Braire
and would occasionally stick him with it
because he would not go closer to the
bank. One convict, Williams, shot di-
rectly at him twice. Lieutenant Briare
was seated in small shed when shot
from behind startled him, and he was i'm
mediately seized, as above stated. Will
son then stepped out and shot at Prig-
more in the guardhouse, Immediately
above.
Sontag had been summoned by Abbott,
and had left his work in the power-house.
AS he turned the corner Captain Lamph-
rey and Deputy Sheriff Dougherty of
Santa Rosa, who had been down at the
big dam, started across foot bridge that
landed them in the quarry
soNTAG, WITH HIS MURDERoUs KNIFE
AND PISTOL IN HAND,
Told them to go back. and they did. In
the early part of the afternoon Guard Betz
remarked to Abbott that it was hot, and
the convict, agreeing with him, added
Significantly that it would be hotter be-
fore the day was over.
Guard Page of Sacramento was on the
opposite side of the river, and was startled
by bullet whistling by his head and
striking tree close by. He Immediately
stepped out and fired at the convicts.
1t was an exciting occasion, indeed.
For nearly an hour the fight went on,
and the Warden and his mon stood
plainly out picking out their opponents.
There were not many involved, but what
was lacking in numbers was made up
in vim.
THE PLUCKY WARDEN.
Warden Aull was as cool and collected
as though on quail hunt. In fact. those
who have been out with him after game
assert that he was much less excited than
when out on such expeditions. Equally
cool were Captain Murphy and Guards
Fitch, Aver, Taylor and William Page of
Elk Grove. Forty-five shots were fired
by Warden Aull.
When the RECORD UNION reporter and
Deputy Sheriff Burke entered the Cap-
tsin's Office the three dead men were laid
out in row, aud the sight was horrible
one. Dalton was shot in the shoulder
and heart, and when turned over on his
back was fairly riddled with bullets
Wilson had only few shots. Williams
stomach was filled with bullets, and torn
and riddled so badly that his bowels were
cut to pieces and their contents covered
his body. He must have received a full
charge from the Calling gun. Sontag
and Abbott are in a serious condition.
and may die.
PITIFUL SIGHT.
Thomas Schen will probably be dead
| before this reaches you. He is only
boy II years old, and as your correspond
ent saw him on his cot, moaning with
| pain, every breath drawn with an effort.
and the dew of death on his youthful
| brow, he could not help but pity the poor
fellow, and wish that a mothers hand
were near TO soothe him, and a woman's
heart to sympathize and tighten his jour
ney TO the great beyond, to which he was
fast travelling.
! Bitter, determined and relentless was
the fight against them all, but when the
convicts gave in the hands that gave their
wounds lifted them tenderly and care
fully, and all that man can do is being
done to alleviate their pain.
| When the battle was over Soptag re-
marked to Captain Murphy: 81 have
played my game and lost" Sontag was
| the brains of the crowd, and it is gener-
ally believed that he planned the whole
thing. The weapons were concealed, no
| doubt, by some of his friends. and the at
tempt was undoubtedly precpitated bv
the capture of Evans and Sontag's
! brother.
WELL-CHoSEN BATTLE-GRoUND.
The place was fine one for the at
tempt. The quarry is over halfway up
| the canal and forms a cttL de sac of about
fifty feet. On one side is the canal, and
on two sides are high walls of solid gran
| ite, the north end being very steep, with
| just sufficient slope to allow a person to
climb. This quarry is guarded by three
| posts and the man in charge of the con-
| victs.
| One guard is on the canal, one directly
above and out of range, and one to the
north. All of the posts are remote from
the rest. A slight ascent brings one out
of range of the canal, but in range with
the other two posts. With the guard as a
shield, they would soon have got out of
range and escaped to the hills. The
! fighting convicts who were not injured
are all in solitary confinement. The
whole matter will be thoroughly investi-
gated.
| CONCERNING THE PLOT.
| The prison authorities have possession
of information that of course would do
no good at present to expose, but un-
doubtedly they will get at the bottom of
the whole affair soon. The event is the
most exciting that ever occurred here and
/ is ali the talk.
Like his brother, Sontag weakened
completely when he was wounded, and
| is now as meek as lamb. The complete
control of the convicts, and the rapid ity
with which they were got into the cells,
demonstrated the perfect control that
exists there.
PLEASED WITH HIS MEN.
Warden Aull was briefly interviewed
/ by telephone from the RECORD UNION
Office last night, and he expressed him
self as highly pleased over the coolness,