The Topeka state journal., 1901-11-14
HOW 1T ALL HAPPENED.
Detailed Account of How Cott tonwood
Convicts Were Caught.


State Journal correspondent at Cot
tonWood Falls furnishes the following
authentic account of the capture of the
three convicts, Southerland, Mullins and
Robinson, near that place on Monday:
About Z a. m Cliff Blackburn, feed
ing cattle for J. H. Mercer on Rock
creek, saw three mounted men going
south. They had two guns strapped to
the horns of the saddles. Later Carl
Palmer went to the Bardell ranch to
secure a steer for j. H Mercer, and
while there three men moving very
leiSurly passed him going west They
diSmounted on the brow of an adjacent
hill and allowed their horses to Craze
Palmer returned to the McNee place
and suggested to Blackburn and Mar
tin, living on the old Nesbit place, that
information be communicated to proper
authorities
Martin proceeded to Bazaar and i'm
parted information to J. H Mercer,
who at once dispatched messengers in
pursuit of the United States prison
guards, who were travelling in a south
east direction from Bazaar on cold
trail. The guards were overtaken in
the Thompson pasture, five miles south
east of Bazaar, and Immediately re-
turned to Bazaar, where they were
Joined by other guards and a posse OF
Cottonwood Falls and Bazaar citizens
and proceeded to the place where the
convicts were last seen. Here Deputy
Warden Lemon and posse OF guards
went west and north.
Capt -Trelford, posse and citizens went
south and west following three tribu-
taries of Rock creek Upon arriving
at Dwight ChapePs farm, J. H. Mercer
and Carl Palmer left the party at
went west into Peter Schimpff's pas
ture and at the creek watering their
horses, discovered the three convicts-
Without any demonstration or undue
haste they proceeded upon their course
until the protection of a friendly hill
offered the opportunity to return to the
main body where they gave the alarm.
At this point the actual pursuit began
and continued west and south for four
or five miles with constant interchange
of shots between pursuers and pursued.
During this exciting chase the Chase
county boys, who are noted for their
expert horsemanship and perfect mas
ters of the persuasive Winchester, were
ever in the foreground.
Most conspicuous of the volunteers
were Enid Shaft and Fred LangendOrf
of Clements and Paul Carter, late a
member of the First battery field artil-
lery, .. S. regulars doing service in
China and Philippines islands, Robt-
Stewart Carl Palmer and Fred Coe-
Being so closely pressed when driven
into corner of barb-wire fence the con-
victs abandoned their horses and
sought shelter in the barn of Mr.. Hes
senbarger. They were Immediately sur
rounded and seeing that resistance was
absolutely useless, surrendered to the
the United States penitentiary guards.
They We're later lodged in the county
Jail at Cottonwood Falls until 10:4S No
vember 13. when they We're taken to the
federal penitentiary at LeaVenwOrth.
All credit is due the volunteer MEM
bers of the posse who We're really the
direct cause of this most important
capture.
Many amusing and ludicrous Incl
dents marked this memorable affair.
The remarkable feat of Go way back
and sit down" of some of the venture
some and unarmed members of the
gang of followers when by accident
they bumped into the convicts was a
sight worth going miles to see. The
magnificent spectacle of AL White, with
one eye in a sling perched up on the
back of "Old Beck the faithful black
mule with ears cooked at an angle of
As degrees, a right line for a back and
tail in shape of crescent, hump up,
was we'll worth the price of admission.
A standing offer of Capt. Trelford for a
photo of the mule with "Al'' in his ia
vorite attitude, is still open with no
takers