The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-06-28
Five Convicts in Z California
Quarry Break for Liberty.
4 BATTLE WITH rHe GUARDS.
Bullets Rained on the Desperadoes
From 6atling Gan and Rife.
1As Psissssss Rstssa Hirs TN Thsir
DeAiss Are Rulsa With LsaA-
Train Rebbsr 0eerEs sessAg HAD
Flsnned the ATTEMPTED 1sespe.

eAcRasKxro. Cal. June "a special
from Folsom to the sBee says: A bold
break for liberty was nsde this afternoon
by hve conyicts. headed b George son,as.
cousin Of John SontaG. and who VAS one
Of the participants in tho famous Fresno
train robbery in 1897 The convicts
had secured hidden arms and IN the fight
that f,llowed the following convicts were
killed:
A. Dalton. sentenced to ten yeazs fox burglary
In the 6fst oegree, from San Francisco.
Hy Wilson. sentenced to twensy yeAu for
burglary, from Soiano cornty.
Frank Williams. United ststss convict. ssn-
tenced for Iife, from San Fsancisco
The wounded are a. follows:
George C. Constant, alias ooutae, seotenced
Tor life for robbery from Esesno county, rixht
leg hadiy broken IN two places and wounded in
tbs left thigh. viii lose his ~ and probably his
life
Charles Abbott, ssntencsd Tor life for murdss
from san Francisco: shot II the thigh. ankle
broken and several shots about the body aud
iacA
The following two men were wounded
accidentally:
Thomas scheI, OF San Fraaciseo. fatally shot
through the abdomen.
Joseph Duffy. of san Francisco. nesh wound
In the Leo.
At 3:30 this afteruoon q gang of con.
victs employed In the upper quarry next
to the headgate Of the big dam, consisting
Of iife-timer George Sontag, a cousin Of
John Sontag, the bandit, life-timers Rus
sell Williams, Ben Wilson and Charlie
Abbott and ten-year convict named Dal-
ton suddenly seized Frank Briare, lieu
tar of . hA ID 4
head and started together to run up the
hilt Before reaching the top of tho
hill It Was developed that
additional revolver which had been con-
ceaied among the rocks. Up to this time
the guardsDs been unable 70 shoot, a.
Briare was in the grasp of tho would-be
escapes and. ~ they we're closely banded
together, . shot might mean death to
him. Just before reaching the summit of
the hill, Briare jerked away, a6d the
guards opened FIRE from all directions.
The convicts took to the rocks. concealed
themselves as best they could, and re-
turned the fire ~ rapidly - possible.
The regular guard Vas coon re-
inforced by reserves from tho
prison and . terrific fight took place
which lasted halt an hour. during al of
which time shots we're fired indiscrimi-
natety from -Gatling sxuss. Winchester
rides and revolvers 10 rapidly as triggers
could DO pulled At the end of about
thirty minutes one of the convicts held up
his hat on rifle as token of surrender,
and Warden Aull. Capt Murphy and
few guards advanced to the convicts'
stronghold, where they found Williams,
Wilson and Dalton stretched dead on the
ground. George Sontag was badly wounded
by three or four bullets. he had one bad
shot tn rough the body and two through
the thigh. Abbott was groaning with .
broken leg. At the beginning of the fight
two prisoners were wounded, but were i'm.
mediately carried into the prison by the
other convIcts and at the time the news
was sent to the Fee itwasnot known rho
they were. None Of the prisoners escaped
nor were any Of the guards injured
in the scrimmage. Warden AulI speaks
in the highest terms of the
bravery displayed by tho guards.
saying that they all stood UP msnfully.
not one showing the white feather. This
break was not unexpected. About three
months ago the warden received reliable
information that Evans and John Sontar
and their friends were about to make an
attempt to carry the prison by storm
and release George sontag. With.
out making any fuss about it
or even notifying the officers
with the exception Of Capt Murphy and
Deputy Warden Hughes. Warden Auli
prepared to receive the company. Several
picked men from various parts Of the state
were sent for and placed in respon.
sibls positions. New guns and pis-
tolls were distributed, and, in fact.
everything was put In order for
. desperate fight. So quietly was this
done that neither the guards nor the con.
victs suspected that anything unusual
was about to happen. While the battle
was in progress today the whistle blew
and the balance of the convicts, although
excited, were marched into the prison in
good order
The Record Uaion's special from Folsom
says: While going uphill one of the des-
peradoes held big knife over Briane and
would occasionally stick him with il be-
cause he would not 60 closer to the bank.
One convict. Williams, shot directly at
him twice. II Was altogether an exciting
occasion. For nearly an hour the fight
"VAt ofl 0uu toS Nas1su ana MS men
stood plainly out. shooting at their op-
ponents. There were not many in
volyed. but what was lacking
IN numbers was made up in in
tensity. Warden Aull was as cool
and collected as though on quail hunt.
When Record Uaioa reporter and Deputy
Sheriff Burke entered the captains Office
shree dead men were laid on, in q row.
Dalton was shot in the shoulders and
heart. and, when turned over, his back
WAS literally riddled with bullets. Wilson
had only few shots. Williams stomach
was filed with bullets and torn and rid
died badly. he must have received the
fnll charge from 3 Gatiing gun. Sontas
ana Abbott are in serious condition and
may die. Dutiy's wound amounts 10 moth.
ina. Thomas Scheu viii probably be dead
before morning.