The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-28
CONV|CTSLOPE WITH
HUMAN SHIELDS
Escape From California Peni.
Tertiary After Killing or
Wounding Three Men.

FOLSOM. Cal. July 27.-Thirteen
desperate prisoners confined in the
Folsom penitentiary made a successful
break for liberty at the breakfast hour
this morning. After a fierce fight in the
captains office, during which a turn
key was fatally stabbed, a guard killed
and another officer wounded, the con-
Vlcts seized arms and ammunition, and,
using the warden and other officers for
shield from their purSuerS, escaped.
Tonight it is believed they are making
for the Bald mountain. The state mil
tia, ordered out by Gov Pardee, have
gone to the scene. The wounded are:
c. j. Cochrane. turnkey stabbed III
the back; may die.
William L. Cotter, guard cut in the
abdomen. and died after five hours
w. {. Planners, cut in the head
When the break occurred the con-
V1ctS made for the office of the captain
OF the guard R: ]. Murphy. There they
seized Warden Wilkinson, his grand
son. Harry Wilkinson; Capt. Murphy,
and several other of the guards.
desperate fight took place. The con-
victs were armed with knives and
razors. Warden Wilkinson's clothing
was SlaShed into shredS with a razor
but the blaze did not touch the flesh
Turnkey Cochrane fought the convicts
with chair. Finally he was felled by
knife thrust in the back. Guard Cot
ter was cut in the abdomen and died
this afternoon. while Planners was Sc
Verely cut in the head.
The officers We're relieved of their
arms. Then. using the officers as a
shield. the conVicts started for the
armory post, on the outskirts of he
penitentfary grounds. They passed
gatling gun on enc of the walls, but
the guards were afraid to turn it on
was reached officers attempted TO in
terfere, but were overpowered.
Tten, after further fortifying them
selves with rifles, knives, pistols and
ammunition, a dash for liberty was
made. Convicts, each armed with rifles
marched one on either side of Warden
Wilkinson. who was threatened with
death if he made en- attempt to escape,
and the officers We're told that il any
of the pursuers tCCk the life of one of
their number they would retaliate life
for life. AT Mormon Bridge, about
mile from the penitentiary, the warden,
his son and Capt. Murphy, were re-
leased and sent back. The others were
marched along with the convictS. Fur
Their on the convictS went to a farmers
house, seized his four-horse team and
wagon, looted the house, took the far
mer with them as a driver. and headed
for Bald mountain. Evidently it is their
intention to reach Alabaster cave, sit
uated near this mountain.
All the convicts are still at large.
Among the officers carried off by them
is General Overseer McDonough. Fears
are felt for his safety, as he bears the
especial i'll will of the convicts.
Later in the day Gov. Pardee ordered
Company II, of PlacerVille, to the
scene. The several hundred remaining
prisoners made no attempt to get
away. The following is a list of the
convicts who escaped:
Fred Howard, San Francisco: Mike
Muller Fresno; H. Eldredge, Alameda
county; ]. Theron, ]. H. Wood. Davis,
San Francisco; ]. j. Allison, San
Joaquin; ]. Murphy, Contra Costa; A.
Seabir, Sacramento; j. Roberts. San
Francisco; r. Nj. Gordon. Ray Fahey,
Sacramento; S. ]. Case, Los Angeles.
All are burglars and robbers except
Murphy and Seabir. who are bigamists.