The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1901-05-07
LIFE TERM C0NVICTS
BREAK FOR LIBERTY.
ONEKPOWER 4 GUARD AND FLY TO
WATEBEE SWAMI
Another Exciting Man Hunt Tollows-AIan
In II Tree Shoots at Pursucrs But is
Brought Down with Pistol.
Ouly One ERcnprs.
Special to tho State

daring escapes that was over made
from the State farm was mado by
threo convicts yesterday morning.
Tho plow detail was at work near q
thick branch when Israel Sims, life
prisoner from York County, slipped
up behind Guard NJ. O. Burkett,
struck him stunning blow Oh tho
neck and took bis gun from him.
After getting tho gun SIMS attempt
cd to shoot Burkott, but did not
know how to manipulate tho rifle.
lilo Immediately took refuge in tho
branch, carrying tho rifle with him
and was followed by two other des-
pcrato convicts, Grant Mcneil, SEN.
tcncod for lifo from Charleston, and
Tom 1Iaystack, sentenced for 20
years, from Saludn. Tho other pris-
oncrs n.ndo no effort to escape,
though it is said that others wcro in
tho plot. As soon rs il WAS Possible
MIR. Gardner, tho manager of De,
Sauasure farm, was notified Of tho
escape and rs is tho custom every.
effort was mado to effect thcir cap
turo. 1t was not long before tho
guards and TRUSTEES had tho escapes
surrounded in the swamp. With tho
edges we'll guarded on all sides, SOW
eral entered and searched tho almost
impenotrablo swamp. 1t WAS not
long before Isaac Sims, tho ring
loader, WAS discovered up Il treo. Ho
still had the riilo with him and on
being commanded 10 surrender,
opened fire on Mr.. Morris, the man.
agor of the Reid farm, and another
man who was with him. As thcro
was only ono load in the rifle, Morris
knew that no harm could then bo
done, SO ho covered Sims with his
pistol, and effected his capture with
out any fnrther trouble. Sims WAS
then securely tied, turned over to
one of tho guards and WAS soon land
ed in the stockade. The pursuit Of
McNeill and Haystack WAS then con-
tlnued.
Another drive was mado through
tho swamp whom McNoill was discov-
cred. Ho broke and ran and at
tempted to make his escape across
an opon field, but Mr.. Gardner, who
was mounted on his horse, soon over
took him. On being commanded to
halt, Mcneil showed fight, turned
on Gardner and bad to be shot be-
fore he would surrender. Tho wound,
however, is in tho arms and is not
considered dangerous ono. lie was
returned to the stOckndo and the pur-
suit was continued for Haystack.
With the swamp we'll guarded on all
sides, search after search was made,
but tho fugitive could not bo found.
A largo guard forco was kept on
duty all Of last night but at this
writing. Haystack has oludod his
pursuers and it is supposed has made
escape. 1t is simply marvellous how
he effected it under tho circumstance.
The plot to escapo was we'll laid for
the prisoners captured were supplied
with rations sufficient to last two or
three days and also had q small
quantity Of turpcntine which they
use, it 10 said, on their feet to keep
tho dogs from trailing them. When
Sims took Mr.. Burkott's gun, Burk-
ett attempted to shoot him with his
pistol and after swapping overy car
fridge it refused to fire.
Tho damage to the oat crop on tho
State farm, baused by the dams Civ
ing way, will not bo rs great as was
at first supposed. While tho entiro
crop on tho river has been undor
water it is thought that tho most Of
it will now be saved. The breaks
arc boing monded as rapidly as pos
sible. All Of tho cotton that was
planted prior to the recent heavy
rains will have to bo planted over