The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-11
CONVICTS DOWN GUARDS
THREE DESPERATE NEGROES Els
CAPE FROM THE CHAIN-GANG

TAhEE DhSEEha4h n GAOEo III
CAPE FROM THE CHAIN-GANG.
Guard Qualls Fooled Into Turning His
Back on the Convicts for a Moment
is Attacked aud His Gun Taken
From Eim-Ons of the Trio Re
captured and the Others Make Good
Their Escape After Beating Guard
Lang Into Insensibility.
Albert Israel, Albert Holmes and Thomas
Young, three notorious negro desperadoes
who have been doing long time on the
chain-gang for thefts, assaulted Guard 1.
P. Qualls yesterday at Camp No. 2ist Dun
dee and made their escape. Israel was re-
captured shortly afterward, but Holmes
and Young succeeded IN getting away.
Guard John Lang ran upon Holmes In
the woods and the convict beat him into
insensibiity with sspling and carried of
his gun. Lang is now at the camp hospital
IN q dangerous condition.
Chief Lane sent Guard Qualls with Israel,
Holmes and Young TO do some work about
500 yards from the main camp about 10
O'Clock In the morning. The convicts we're
shackled, and although they were
known to be desperate characters the chief
had no idea that they would attempt an
escape while in chains, and especially viii e
In charge of Qualls, who has the reputation
of being very watchful and careful guard.
HOW QUALLs WAS ASSAULTED.
The work took them out Of sight of the
main camp, near the edge of the woods.
The three negroes WORKED along all right
for awhile, with Quails standing
near them alongside a wheelbar-
row. The escape was evidently precOn-
certed between the convicts. and carefully
planned, because, after working some time,
one of them called 70 Qualls 20 look across
the road. Never thinking of ruse the
guard turned his back on the trio for mo-
ment to see what had apparently attracted
their attention. Quick as a flash Israel
struck Qualls a heavy blow back OF the ear
ami sent him across the wheelbaTrow on his
face Holmes aud Young then sprang upon
the guard and rained blows upon bis head,
while Israel wrested his gun out Of his
hands. Then the trio made for the woods.
FIRED OFF THE GUARDS GUN.
While running Israel emptied both bar
rels Of the guards gun In the air. The
report attracted the attention Of the con-
Yicts at the camps, and, looking IN the di-
rectiou from where the reports came,
they saw Israel, Holmes and Young disap-
peariug in the underbrush. They raised the
alarm and Chief Lang sent two guards and
seven TRUSTEES" in pursuit of the fleeing
convicts. Israel was caught in "a few
minutes lying IN thick growth of under
brush. He tried to use the empty gun as a
club 70 fight off his captors, but the "trus-
tiesn quickly disarmed and tied him.
In the meantime Guard Lang and a
"trustien moved farther into the woods in
an opposite direction from the balance of
the pursuing party. They had not gone
far when Holmes suddenly sprang out from
behind clump Of trees with young sap
ling in his hands and dealt Lang a
terrific blow across the head. He fell. and
Holmes then made a pass at the trustie,
who ran yelling back TO the camp.
HOLMES DEADLY ASSAULT ON LANG.
Holmes must have struck Lang several
blows after he fell, because when the other
party Of pursuers found him few minutes
later be was lying insensible in pool Of
blood with his head split and his face badly
bruised. His gun was gone and there was
no trace of Holmes.
Lang was taken 60 the camp hospital and
q messenger sent into the city for DIR. CHS
holm. He pronounced the guards wounds
dangerous, but hopes TO pull him through
Although the woods were thoroughly
searched, no trace OF either Holmes or Young
could be found, and the guards gave up the
task Of finding them as hopeless.
GoueElu hOudu duu DeL6CGiFe morgan
were notified at once and they will leave
nothing undoue to effect the capture of the
two escaped convicts. Both are desperate
men. and as Holmes is in possession OF Guard
Lsng's gun he Will undoubtedly make a
fight before surrendering
ISRAEL TO ANSWER IN COURT TODAY.
Israel will be brought into the city to-day
and tried in the city court for his attack on
QuAlls and his attempted escape. He
was sent TO the gang by Detective Morgan
several months ago for robbing country
man OF a watch and So. Judge MacDonell
gave him eighteen months for the ofPense,
but after serving a few weeks Israel
escaped. he was recaptured four
miles from the city on the
South Bound railroad and Judge
M2cDonell added another twelve months
TO his sentence, making It in all two aud a
half years. he will undoubtedly get a
heavy addition to-day for his latest achieve
neut.
Holmes is the man who was sent up by
Detective Morgan for robbing the Plymouth
Rock Pants Company. His term was "a
year.
Young is an all-round thief, who was
serving year for larceny from the house.