Evening star., 1903-07-28
CLOSE ON THEIR TRAIL
Posses Pursuing Escaped CAL
ifornia ConViCts.
THREE SHOT IN CHASE
OUTLAWS EXCHANGE CLOTHES
WITH PRISONERS.
Farmers Pressed Into Service to Guide
Bandits and Shield Them
From Fire.

SAN FRANCISCO, July 2s.-At latest ac-
counts the troops and posses organized by
the sheriffs of the different counties are
keeping in close touch with the convicts
who broke out of state prison at Foisofh
and their prisoners. the guards ana Jail
officials whom they have taken with them
in self protection. The party is moving
toward Columa, where the citizens have
armed themselves and are preparing to re-
sist any attack. They have been warned
of the advance of the convicts and will
unite with the authorities in an effort to
put an end to their existence. 1t is report
ed by the driver of a stage winch passed
between Pilot Hill and Coloma that he saw
the convicts walking close together. They
all wore citizens clothes and We're accom-
panied by men who Were evidently residents
of the vicinity, whom they had apparently
forced to go with them as guides. A posse
from Placervlle. under Sheriff Bostwick,
was reported not far behind them, following
their trail
The Fight at Pilot Hill.
The result of the fight between the con-
victs and the officers at I o'clock last night
near Pilot Hill, in Eldorado county. was
lllt uttln Oh fleu I1o"dIu SOHNACl, hiico
outright. and the wounding of another con-
Wet. a negro named Seavis. The coroner
of T'laCcrvile at the request of prison Off
Cials, will hold an Inquest on the dead con-
viCt When last seen the convicts were in
citizens clothing. while the prisoners wore
the stripes. The latter appeared to be hav-
ing hard time of IT, as they We're heavily
laden with bundles and ammunition.
The latest Information is to the effect
that another encounter has taken place
iptS heir IIarS
resulting in the death of John Allison, q
convict. and of another. whose name is un-
known. The posses and militia are closing
III on the desperadoeS and 1t is likely that
within few hours they Will be surrounded
on all sides. The capture or destruction
OF the complete band is only a matter of
very short time. as the authorities have
Row got them thoroughly in hand.
Details of the Escape.
Warden Wilkinson was the first OF the
prisoners taken by the convicts to return
to the penitentiary. The convicts had
taken his hat. Capt Murphy appeared aft
erward minus part of his clothing, and
later Young Wilkinson came IN. Warden
Wilkinson gives this statement of the af-
fair:
Il went up to the prison, as is my Gus
tom. to the Convicts eat their break
fast. l stopped at the captains Office to
wait for the prisoners to walk out from
breakfast. We We're sitting in the office
when the line made its appearance from
the breakfast room and started for the
grounds. suddenly seven or eight of the
prisoners made rush from the line
with razors and knives drawn, and came
directly for us
They were Joined by others I Judge
there were about fifteen in all Blood be-
gan To flow. ] that it was hopeless
TO put up fight against such odds One
OF the convicts came up behind my back.
reached over with razor. and tried to
cut open my abdomen. You can see how
my belt is split from end 10 end and how
my coat is hanging in shreds. The con-
victs got me and Murphy and five or six
other officers. whom they disarmed They
kept us and proceeded to the ward and out
OF 1t by the front gate toward the armory
The gatling guns stationed on the hilltops
ana along the prison walls would have
been nred by the guards, but had they
done SO the officers as well as the pris-
oners would have been killed
The guards were unable to rescue us or
prevent the escape of the convtcts.
Took Keys From Guard.
AS we neared the armory guard came
out and they seized him. They took the
keys away from him. entered the armory
and equipped themselves with all manner
OF weapons. They then started along the
road toward the Mormon Island bridge
After l had gone about mile they let
me go. hey also released Capt. Murphy
and my grandson. Harry Wilkinson. The
rest of the men they have taken along with
them include General Overseer McDonough
Guard John klensendorf. Guy letter fore
man of the rock quarry; Tony Brown stage
driver; Guard l.. S. Vertres and two or
three others whose names l have not at
hand"
The following is Il list of the convicts who
escaped and the terms for which they were
imprsoned
Fred Howard, San Francisco. fifteen
years, robbery.
Mike Muller, Fresno, twelve years; burg
larry.
H. Eldredge, Alameda county. thirty
years; burglary.
J. Theron, San Francisco. fifteen years:
robbery.
J. II. Wood, San Francisco. life: robbery.
Davis. San Francisco, thirty-th years:
robbery.
J., ]. Allison, San Joaquin. four years;
robbery.
J. Murphy. Contra Costa, four years.
bigamy
a. seavis, Sacramento, twenty-five years:
bigamy
J. Roberts. San Francisco, twenty years.
robbery.
h. NJ. Gordon, Sacramento, forty-eve
years; robbery
Ray Fahy. Sacramento. life: robbery
s. J. Case, Los Angeles. life; robbery