The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-05-08
THREE DESPERATE
CONVICTS ESCAPE.
Overpower a Guard and Fly
to Wateree Swamp.

Eagood, May 2 One of the mos
daring escapes that was ever m ade
from the State farm was made by
three convicts yesterday morning
The plow detail was at work near
thick branch when Israel Sims, life
prisoner from York county. slipped
up behind Guard NJ. Burkett. struck
him stunning blow on the neck and
took his gun from him After get
ting the gun Sims attempted to shoot
Burkett, but did not know how to
manipulate the rife He immediate
~ took refuge ip the branch, carrying
the rife with him and was followed
by two other desperate convicts.
Grant McNeill, sentenced for life
from Charleston. and Tom Haystack,
sentenced for 90 years. from Saluds
The other prisoners made no effort to
escape, though it is said that others
were in the plot
As soon as it was possible Mr.
Gardner the manager of the DeSaus
sure farm, was notified of the escape
and as is the custom every effort was
made to effect their capture It was
not long before the guards and
TRUSTEES had the escapes surrounded
in the swamp With the edges we'll
guarded on all sides, several entered
and searched the almost impeuetrable
swamp 1t was not long before
Isaac Sims, the ringIeader, was
discovered up tree He still had
the rife with him and on being com
manded to surrender, opened fire on
| Mr. Morris the manager Of the Reid
farm, and another man who vas with
bim As there was only one load in
the rife, Morris knew that DO harm
could then be done, 30 be covered
Sims with his pistol. and effected bis
carpt1re without auy further trouble
Sims was then surely tied, turned
over to one of the guards and was
soon landed in the stockede.. The
pursuit of McNeill and Haystsck was
then continued. Another drive was
made through the swDp when Nc
Neill was discovered He broke and
ran and attempted to make bis escape
across an open field but Mr. Gardner,
who was mounted on his horse, soon
overlook him On being commanded
20 halt, McNeill showed 6ght, turned
on Gardner and had 20 be shot be
fore be would surrender The
wound, however, is ip the erm and is
not considered a dangerous one He
was returned to the stockade and the
pursuit was continued for Haystack
With the swamp we'll guarded on all
sides, search after search was made,
but the fugitive could not be found
A large guard force was kept on
duty all of last Dight but at this writ
ing Raysssck has eluded his pursuers
and i, is supposed has made good his
escape 1t is simply marvellous how
be effected it uuder the circumstances
The plot to escape was we'll laid for
the prisoners captured were supplied
with rations sufficient to lest two or
three days and also had small guam
sity Of turpentine which they use. it
is said, on their feet TO keep che dogs
from trailing them When Sims teok
Mr. Burkett's gun Burkets attempt
ed to shoot him with his pistol and
after swapping every cartridge it
refused to fire
The damage to the oas crop on the
State farm, caused by the dams Civ
ing way. will not be as grea, as was
at first supposed While the entire
crop oo the river has been under
water it is thought that the most of
it now will be saved The breaks
are being meuded as rapidly as pos
sibte All o the cotton that was
ptented prior TO the recent heavy rain
will have to be planted over again
The heavy rains and extremely cool
weather that followed caused the
seed to rot iu the ground Seed are
in great demand, but the usual crop
will be put in