The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1902-12-13
MERRILL SHOT HIM
Iugram, Victim ofthe Famous Prison
Escape in Corval1is-His Errand.

| Escape IN CorVall1S-HlS Errand.
Marked for life by David Merrill,
the noted Oregon convict, and
making his way about on a pair of
crutches. F. S. Ingram, the convict
who lost leg in the famous escape
of Tracy and Merrill from tr,o z
gen penitentiary on the ninth of
last June, has been in Corvallis,
soliciting signers TO petition ask
ingthe state legislature to make a
small appropriation to enable him
to earn a livelihood. He has re-
ceived much encouragement in his
errand. He has only been in Eu-
gene and Albany with his petition
when he reached Corvallis, and had
already secured $50 signatures.
Nearly all of those whom the ex-
convict approaches read his peti-
ton, make quick survey of the
face and form before them, see the
two crutches on which he leans,
and then reach for pencil and afhx
their names to the paper, A kind
1y thank you in a pleasant voice
from the one living example OF
Merri1ps vicious character, and an
other interested glance by the sign
er at the MANNED man, and the
interview closes. But few persons
Ingram says, have refused to sign
his petition. About ten in Albany,
and an equal number in Eugene,
read the petition, asked a question
or two, and then with a remark that
theydid not believe ID petitions or
something of that sort, handed the
paper back, unsigned. Of a dozen
or more who had signed when In
gram was met by TIMES man in
Corvallis, only one had declined to
sign. rs it necessary to petition
the legislature for this?" he asked
of Ingram. 'My friends say it is
better to do so," the latter replied.
land am acting on their advice"
The petition is as follows:-"The
undersigned petitioners, citizens of
the state of Oregon, would most
respectfully represent that Mr.. F.
S. Ingram, who was serving term
in the penitentiary of said state at
the time of the escape of Tracy and
| Merrill, and who in a deadly
struggle and encounter with said
desperadoes at the time of their es-
cape, was shot by one of said con-
victs, from the effects of which one
of his legs had to be amputated in
order to save his life, thus leaving
him cripple for the remainder of
his days. He is without any
means of support. We would
therefore pray your honorable body
to made az suitable appropriation
in his behalf. to enable him to ens
gage in some business by which he
can makesa living for himself"
Among the signatures on the paper
are the names. of ex-senators, ex-
representatives, bankers, lawyers,
physicians, merchants, mechanics
and men in all walks of life. Ex-
Senator Dawson of Linn, ex-Sena-
tor Walton of Eugene, and ex-Re-
preventative McClung of the same
place are signers.
After day in Corvallis, Ingram
left yesterday for Salem, where he
is to continue his canvass. He
hopes for a small appropriation
from the legislature to. enable him
to invest in some business for which
he is fitted. He bases his claim on
the part he took in the escape. 1t
was his act in grabbing for Mer-
rin's famous Winchester that cost
Ingram his leg. The place was in
panic, and on all sides there was
the crack of Winchesters and con-
victs fleeing like rats for places of
safety. Tracy, at the moment
stood in the door of one of the
shops, shooting at guards on the
prison walls. The skull of one of
the latter had been creased by a
bullet and he had fallen to the
ground from the 18-foot wall. An
other guard, frightened beyond
reason, had deserted his post on
the wall where a four foot breast
work of brick afforded him perfect
shelter had he chosen to remain
there, and had jumped to the
ground on the outer side, where
he had hidden himself behind
brace. He was Tiffany whom, la
ter, the two escaping convicts des-
patched, after marching him at
the point of their Winchesters to
the race,
It was in the east end of the
shop, called the finishing room that
Ingram stood when the firing be-
gan. He was at the moment put
ting on his apron. Panic seized
all the convicts and they began
running here and there in the ef-
fort to escape. Some dashed