Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-08
They Escaped From Government
Prison at Leavenworth, Kan.
MOUNTED GUARDS IN PURSUIT
All Are Desperate Men and VIII
Make Hard Fight.
TWENTY-SIX GOT A WAY

LEAVENWORTH, Kan, November S.
Forty mounted guards are beating the
country for a radius of five miles around
the federal penitentiary at Fort Lsaven-
worth today in search of twenty-six con-
victs who succeeded in escaping from the
guards late yesterday. The country is wild
and rough and affords ample opportunity
for escape, and all Of the convicts are
desperate men and armed conflicts will
doubtless result before they are captured.
The net result of the mutiny and the fol-
lowing fight with the guards was one con-
vict killed and four guards shot or other
wise hurt, but it is believed that many of
the fleeing convicts received wounds from
the bullets sent after them by pursuing
guards
The dead:
Quinn Fort, desperate criminal from
the Indian territory, who is believed to
have been the leader in the outbreak
The wounded:
Joseph B. Wadrup. prison guard, shot in
the forehead and breast; condition still
critical.
Arthur Trelford. captain of the guard,
shot in leg; not serious.
G.. E. Burrows, guard, shot in neck;
slight
Andrew Leonard, guard, leg broken.
Mutiny Planned Some Time Ago.
1t developed that the mutiny was plan
ned several months ago, but that the men
had never found favorable opportunity
to carry it into effect until yesterday. The
general plan was not new, but it proved ef-
fective because of the limited number of
guards. AS the better behaved prisoner are
used in the outside work, the conspiracy
was Matched among the men in the inside
gangs.
The. convicts chose the most favorable
moment of the day, while many of the
guards acting as foremen of construction Of
the new cell house were unarmed.
Since last night the old prison has pre-
sented an air of activity that it has not
known for years. AS soon as the alarm
was given guards were formed in march
ing order, and mounted men, armed to the
teeth, were drawn up in front of the main
entrance. Most of the guards We're old
plainsmen. The escaped convicts were
counted the most desperate criminals in the
southwest, and the guards started out on
their hunt in full realization of this fact
Scene of the Mutiny.
The scene of the mutiny, however, being
some distance from the prison proper the
convicts had secured a good start and
aided by the rough, wooded country, they
had, before darkness fell, placed a good
gap between themselves and their pursuers
The guards at best could make but a des-
ultory attempt at pursuit and We're COM
PEELED to await daylight to take up the
search.
The alarm was sent out In all directions
the officials of Kansas City, Atchison, St.
Joseph, Topeka and Leavenworth being
asked to keep the police on the lookout and
all night In each of the cities armed police
and detectives patroled the outskirts
During the night reports came in from all
directions of thefts of horses and vehicles
clothing and food by the convicts and as
the report spread that the convicts were at
+ large, citizens in the outlying districts be-
came terror-stricken and barred their
houses
More Guards in Pursuit.
Early today an increased number of
guards, well armed and mounted. were
started out from the pentientiary
1t is believed that all the convicts will
ultimately be captured if not overtaken by
the guards and shot. Each prisoner has
undergone an examination under the Fer
tillon system, and today these descriptions
were mailed to every chief of police in the
country.
Warden r. W. McClaughrey was in KAN
sas City when the mutiny broke out, ar
ranging for the annual convention of the
National Prison Reform Association which
is to convene there tomorrow. He arrived
home at the prison about three hours later
and Immediately set to work to recapture
the convicts.
Il haven't completed my investigation :"
said he today, but / am of opinion that
the outbreak was not due to the fault of
any of the guards.