The record-union., 1895-03-04
EXCITEMENT AT FOLSOM PRISON.
Three Convicts Make Break for
Liberty.
They We're Shot Down by the Guards.
and Recaptured-One May be
NIortally Wounded.

A break for liberty occurred at the Fol-
som State Prison Saturday morning, and
three convicts were shot. One of the
men, a negro named Turner, is sup
posed to be mortally wounded; another,
q Mexican named Manuel Garcia, had
his right forearm shattered and his hip
dislocated, the latter injury resulting
from fall among the rocks. Anderson,
amuIatto is wounded in the legs.
During the past week force of four
teen convicts, in charge of Guards Ellis
and Nickerson, the latter mounted, have
been engaged in blasting a way through
the granite bedrock at the west end of the
Folsom. Dam for the purpose of building
fish-ladder.
At 1890 O'Clock Nickerson escorted two
of the laborers down to the boat-landing
to pass them across the river to the
prison for dinner. The men, being en-
ployed as basters, ate their noon meal
before the other convIctS, to enable them
10 fire blasts while the rest OF the men
were absent, thus avoiding the delay in
operations that would necessarily result
If the blasts were touched off at any other
hour.
AS Nickerson passed out of sight over
and Garcia threw down their drilling
hammer, sprang to their feet and ran
rapidly up the steep hillside.
EL!.IS' GOOD CRAFTSMANSHIP.
When Turner, who was in the lead, had
run distance of sixty yards, Guard
Ellis-after warning him to halt-threw
bis Winchester rifle to his shoulder,
took careful aim and fired. The bullet
struck Turner below and back OF the
left armpit, coming out at the center Of
the chest AS soon as the bullet struck
the negro he threw his hands in the air
and fell headlong.
Ellis then fired at Garcia, and the bull
let struck the mans right forearm aud
shattered the bone. He also fell
In the meantime, Turner had regaiued
his feet and was running rapidly out Of
sight. Ellis fired two more shots at him,
but without effect. He then fired an
other shot at Garcia. who had regained
his feet and was also running. This like
wise failed TO hit the mark, owing to the
rapid lodging OF the fleeing convict
among the rugged rocks that cover the
hillside.
Ellis then turned and ordered the rest
OF the crowd to fall in and march back to
the boat landing. He disclaims having
Tired any shots at convict Anderson, and
thinks he must have been hit by Guards
Prigmore or Luttrell, who had opened
ire from their posts across the river and
directly opposite the place where the
break occurred.
The instant Nickerson heard the shots
he realized that Ellis was in trouble. and
pointing his gun at the two men under
his charge, he ordered them to run for
the boat. They promptly obeyed, and as
soon as he saw them on their way across
the river, he galloped up the hillside to
cad of the tleeing convicts.
AS he reached the top of the hill he saw
Garcia dragging himself along the
or ltIS han de- a,,Il
oered him TO halt, and the man imInedi-
ately surrendered. He said he was too
badly wounded TO walk, so the other two
conVlcts were marched to the spot and
compelled TO carry their wounded COM
rade TO the river, where he was placed in
boat, taken across the river and to the
prison hospital.
sPENCERs GOOD WORK.
When Ellis fired the first shot Guard
Spencer, who was on the east bank OF the
river jumped into a boat and rowed to
the other shore. lie hurried directly up
the hill and encountered the two colored
conViCts who had been wounded by Ellis
Anderson was sitting in a shallow ditch,
supporting the head of Turner on his
knees. Spencer ordered the men to come
OUT and the convicts, seeing that resist
anee was useless, sullenly obeyed.
After travelling some distance Turner
began to vomit blood, and was unable to
proceed further stretcher was pro-
cured, and he was then taken to the hos
pital. Anderson, who had suffered only
slight flesh wound on the leg was con-
hned in one of the solitary cells, and the
break was ended.
GARCIA THE RINGLEADER.
When the wounded men were inter-
viewed that night by RECORD UNION re-
porter Garcia, who was propped up in
bed, with his wounded arm IN splints and
bandages, said:
There's no use denying the truth.
This was put-up job by US. We made
all the arrangements several DAYS ago to
make this break. l was the leader of the
business and planned the whole shooting
/, match, bet (here smile of grim humor
stole over his swarthy face the thing
failed, because lot of the fellows lacked
sand. Il got this" pointing to his
wounded arm, land Turner over there
got his Cruel, guess. That's all l can
tell you about the matter"
SOMEBODY FLUNKED
Turner seemed to be suffering severelv.
and was constantly wiping away the
perspiration that fairly ran in streams
down his face and neck. When asked for
his version of the break, he also stated
that 1t was preconcerted affair. and
claimed that the failure of the plan was
caused by the arrant cowardice of his and
Garcia's comrades, who failed to do what
was expected of them. Just what that
was, he refused to state.
81 was desperate" he continued. lover
the treatment l received in this cursed
place. Pm thankful its all over with me
pve got enough. Why, my life amt been
worth a snap OF the finger for a long
time.
There's a con- in here, named Jack
Connors, that has sworn TO Kill me. lie
tried II on once, and nearly made the
rifle. He hit me over the head with Am
iron bar, and got solitary for awhile: but
he didn't care for that. l knew he was
bound to kill me- and was afraid of him
/ tell you, boss, life in here is hell! Why.
knowing how feared this man Conners
they pat him in the adjoining cell To me-
and l never stepped out that did not ey-
pect to get my death-wound.
Nv ell, Pve got 1t now | guess. hut |
don't care. I'd rather die from n hall |
from guards rifle than to be killed bv a |
id CON-
There's one thing Pm sorry about
ana that IS that my chum, Anderson, |
failed 10 get away. say, boss, that mans
skin Is yellow, but it covers a whiter
heart than many Of the officers here. |
When was Int by that bullet | knew | |
had got 1t good, and If it hadn't been for |
my chuIn's sake I'd a quit right thera.
But l knew if L stopped he would. so |
picked myself up and ran, although |
every step was agony. We got over the |
hill, and then / went down for good. !
tried TO get Anderson to leave me and |
run, but he would not do it, and Guard /
Spencer came up and caught us.
well, l DON'T care-it was death !
either way for me. Pm sorry for |
Anderson, though, for he will miss me if |
! croak."
PRAISE FOR GUARD ELLIS
ha ar~Yto n