The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-08
CONV|CTS BREAK AWAY.


out "a their hunt in full realization of
The scene of mutiny, however. being
some distance from the prison proper,
the convicts h 4 secured a good start,
and aided by the rough, wooded coun-
try, they had before darkness fell
placed a. good gap between themselves
and their pursuers- The guards at
best could make but a desultory at
tempt at pursuit, and were compelled
to await daylight to take up the search.
The alarm was sent in all directions,
the officials at Kansas City, Atchison.
St Joseph, Topeka and Leavenworth
being asked to keep their police on the
lookout, and all night in each of the
cities named police and detectives pa
trolled the outskirts.
CITIZENS BARRED THEIR DOORS
During the night reports came in
from all directions of theft of horses
and vehicles. clothing and food by the
convicts, and as the report that the
convicts were at large spread citizens in
the outlying districts became terror
stricken and barred their houses.
Bright and early this morning an in
creased number of guards, well armed
and mounted, were started out from the
penitentiary, and today was spent in as
exciting a man hunt perhaps as has
been experienced in this part of the
country since the border days.
It 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 Bertillon system, and today these
descriptions were mailed to every CHIEF
of police in the country.
Warden r. W. McClaughry was in
Kansas City when the mutiny broke out
arranging 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 70
work to recapture the convicts. Il have
not completed my investigation" said
he today, but I am of the opinion that
the outbreak was not due to the fault
of any of the guards.
1.-The men were in charge of Arthur
Trelford one of our best men and am
sure he did his duty. The reason for
the escape of the prisoners I believe to
be the small number of guards avail
able. Our appropriation is not sufficient
to warrant the employment of more
guards, but 1 hope that at the next ses-
sion of congress we will be allowed
more. We should have nearly twice as
many as we have"
A CRIPPLE FOR LIFE.
Kansas City, Nov S.-A special to the
Star from Leavenworth, Kan, says:
Advices received at the prison early
today indicate that the convicts are
making for the Indian Territory, a
hundred miles south, at breakneck
speed. Warden McClaughrey is making
every effort to head them off before
they reach the Kansas river. He
started telegraphing last night to get
sheriffs and other officers to guard the
bridges. Answering kilograms received
today from the neighborhood of Lin
wood, kas., and several other points
say farmers well armed are watching
the bridges The reports show that the
convicts are seizing farmers horses and
running them at high speed until the
animals give out and then pressing in
fresh ones whenever found. BY making
these relays they are trying to outride
the officers to the Territory.
Nothing but guards and civil officers
out for the $50 rewards are now in the
chase The soldiers are keping a
watch over the reservation No pris-
oners were sent out to the new Deni-
tentiary site today, and all work is sus-
pended and the cOnvictS held in cells
that the guards can take up the
hunt. VIII McClaughrey. with a force
of TRUSTEES, is hard at work running off
pictures of the convicts at large. Two
hundred sets will be mailed out by to-
night to different chiefs of police.
Guard Waldrupe, who was shot in
the head, is still alive, but the surgeons
have no hope of his recovery Leonard,
whose leg was broken, will be a cripple
for life The other guards are doing
we'll.
MANY DEPREDATIONS REPORTED
Kansas City, Nov. S.-The local police
have kept a sharp lookout for fleeing
convicts from Fort Leavenworth, but
up to noon today no arrest had been
made. and Chief Hayes believes that
none of the men are headed this way.
Reports were received at police head
quarters of numerous depredationS
committed by the convicts at surround
ing towns during the night At Mis-
souri, City, Mo-, a store was broken
into and a quantity of clothing and
shoes We're stolen; at Weston, Mo-, two
or three horses were taken, and at
TOnganoxie, Kas., couple of horses
and some clothing were stolen.
TRYING TO CROSS THE RIVER.
Kansas City, Nov. S.-A Star special
from Leavenworth. Kas., says: Mes
sages received from Tonganoxie, Kas.,
at noon indicate that a number of the
convicts are trying to cross the Kan
sas river near Linwood, which is twenty
miles southwest from Leavenworth.
Warden McC1aughry is centering his
force in the Linwood neighborhood. Up
to 1890 o'clock today not one of the
twenty-six convicts had been captured.
THE ESCAPE
Leavenworth, Kan, Nov. s.-One man
was killed, five others dangerously
wounded and &c desperate convicts are
at large as the result of mutiny late
yesterday afternoon at the site of the
new United States prison, two miles