Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-11-14
MUTINY OF C0NVlC'lS
Twenty-six Desperate Men Break
Jail at Leavenworth, Kan.
DESPERATE FIGHT FOR LIBERTY

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DESPERATE FIGHT FOR LIBERTY
After a Fierce Struggle, Twenty-sI'
Prisoners Escape From Federal Jail
Trying to Evade Recapture, Several
Are kiIIed--Posse In Pursuit.
Leavenworth Kan, Nov. 8.--Ons man
was killed, five others dangerously
wounded and 26 desperate convicts are
at large, as q result Of a mutiny late
yesterday afternoon at the site OF the
new United States prison, two miles
southeast of here, where 400 prisoners
from the Federal prison, In charge OF
30 armed guards, were at work.
When the trouble began the rebel.
iious prisoners had only two revolvers
These had been secreted in one Of the
walls Of the building by some unknown
persons. Gus Parker, Of Ardmore. 1
r., one Of the ringleaders OF the mu-
tiny, under pretense Of a necessity
walked to the corner Of the stockade
where the revolvers we're concealed
under cover Of some weeds secured
them without being detected. He re-
turned to the gang and passed one OF
the revolvers to Frank Thompson, a
negro from South McAlester, 1. T., who
secreted it about his person. The
prisoners then attempted to rush
through an opening in the stock
ade. On the outside was an
met at the opening by c. E. Burrows,
a guard, who fought them back, but
who received two shots in the neck.
The convicts then rushed over to the
south wall to another opening, and
were met by Arthur Treelford, an
armed guard. who is in charge Of all
the convicts. Treelford resisted the
convicts, and was shot twice, but not
dangerously wounded.
Defeated in their attempt to escape at
this point, the men rushed to the guard
house. a temporary frame structure.
where the arms are kept. The guards
from the outside rushed In at this
point and drove the convicts away
from the guard house.
A guard shot and killed Ford Quinn,
from Ryan, 1. T. The prisoners then
made grand rush for the main en-
trance. and 26 of them succeeded in
escaping. Closely followed by the
guard, the men ran to nearby forest.
Rounding Them Up.
All the police, deputy sheriffs and
farmers in the county adjacent to
Ieavenworth were on the lookout
for the convicts, and as re-
suit three convicts have been killed,
another wounded and f1ve captured
unhurt. The casualties took place in
fight near Nortonville, Kan, and
resulted in the death or capture of
five men.
Two unarmed convicts were found
hiding in a ravine on farm near Jar
balo, Kan, and they surrendered with
out resistance. The sheriff of Doug
lass county has captured two convicts
at Lawrence, han.
Five convicts were discovered in the
barn of Fay Weishaar, near Norton
vile. Kan, about o'clock yesterday
afternoon. Weishaar went into the
barn, and was ordered out at the point
of guns. He rushed to Nortonville and
gathered posse Of men, who, with re-
volvers, shotguns and a few Winches-
ters fastened to the scene. The con-
victs saw the men coming and rushed
from the barn. They had two shot
guns and revolvers. The posse pursued
them, and running duel resulted.
The convicts were at disadvantage
and their shots had no effect, whtle at
every volley from the posse one of
the convicts fell. After two of them
had fallen, two of the others gave
themselves up, one being wounded, the
other unhurt. The fifth was fully 200
yards away, when a man with a Win
chester drew bead on him and fired.
He evidently had been hit, but tried to
go on; volley was fired at him and
he fell dead. None of the citizens were
hurt.