The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-07-29
ONE ESCAPE IS SHOT DOWN Other Twelve Still Are At
 Large. HOSTAGEs ARE RELEASED
 2 -s--- Fierce Bag 2 is Expected in
 S ft Time.
ccnvicts Are 1daking for the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and sheriffs of Three Counties With
 Posses are Pursuing.

PlacerviIie, Cal, July 2s.-Of thirteen convicts who escaped from the State pen itentiary at Folsom yesterday. twelve are at large.
 Joe Murphy. who was serving l4 years sentence for robbery. was shot dead last night at Pilot Hill.
 S. M. Gordon, the reported leader of the gang. who had been sentenced to 45 years for robbery. deserted his followers soon after they left the prison. He was heavily armed, and 1t is not known in which direction he sought safety. A ne- gro convict named Seavis, who was re- ported wounded in the first encounter with the officers, appears to have not been injured. The others who remain to- gether are making for the Sierra Nevada mountains. They are closely pursued by the sheriffs of Sacramento, El Dorado and Placer counties. each backed by numer- ous deputies and assisted by company of militia. About twenty guards from the Folsom prison are also engaged in the chase.
 Desperate Fight Expected.
 It is believed that the fugltives will soon be surrounded and a desperate battle is anticipated as all are heavily armed.
 The work of the pursuing posses has been rendered less difficult than was an- ticipated by the unexpected action of the convicts. who to-day released all of the free men they held as hostages. It is thought this course was prompted by lack of food and ammunition.
 The eleven are now believed to be near Placerville in Fl Dorado county. in a rough country and not far from the mountains which they evidently hope to make their refuge.
 The fight at Pilot Hill last night be- tween the convicts and their pursuers seems to have been a more serious affair than at first reported After they had footed provision store at Pilot Hiil they were practically surrounded by the sher- ifs of Sacramento and Placer counties, each commanding strong posse.
 Raised White Flag.
 All four horses in the convicts wagon we're shot and one of the criminals was killed outright Then the outlaws raised "a white flag and marched up the road with the guards and others whom they had captured on each side of them. general volley was not ordered, as it might have killed several innocent men. In this de- liberate manner the second escape was made.
 Now that the captives have been freed the pursuing officers have been instructed to shoot the convicts on sight and their death or capture in the near future is expected.
 |. Making Toward Greenwood.
 A report was received this evening to the effect that eight convicts were seen making their way northward along Greenwood Creek toward the town of Greenwood, where it is probable a raid will be made by the fugitives tonight as 1t is known they are very short of pro- visions.
 Guard Mcdonald, who Is in this vicin- ity, with eleven other guards from the penitentiary, is of the opinion that the escaped prisoners are trying to get into the country north of Greenwood, some sections of which are admirably suited for hiding and defence purposes. Posses are now in pursuit and the residents of Greenwood have been warned of the di- rection taken by the convicts and 1t is reported from there that defence party win be organized at once to protect the town.