The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-07-28
DESPERATE FIGHT.
IN A PRISON
By Using Warden for ShisId
Is ConvIcts Secured Weapons.
ALL GOT AWAY IN SAFETY
y the Struggle Guard Was Killed, and
Men Took to tae Mountains In
Stolen Wagon.
ALL GOT AWAY IN SAFETY

Sacramento, Cal, July 2s-A SPECIAL
from Folsom says: Thirteen desperate
prisoners confined I'm the Folsom peni-
tentiary made a successful break for lib
Arty AT the breakfast hour yesterday.
After a fierce night in the captains office,
during which n turnkey was fatally stap-
bed, a guard killed and another officer
seriously injured. the convicts seized
arms and ammunition and. using the
warden and otner Officers as smelds, es-
capped. Last night IL was believed they
are making for the Bald mountains,
state troops, ordered out by Gov. Pardee
have gone to the scene.
The dead man Is William l.. Cotter. a
guard He was cut in the abdomen and
died five hours later.
c. j. Cochrane. turnkey, wac stabbed
IN back; will probably die. w c. Pal
uer was cut in the head
The convicts made Their break for
hberty about I A. m. They went to the
office OF X. j. Murphy, captain of the
guard. and seized Warden Wilkinson. his
grandson Harry W nkinson: Capt.
Murphy and several other officers and
guards.
HAD KNIVES AND RAzoRs.
A desperate fight took place The con-
and with these they assaulted Warden
Wilkinson and his Off GERS. The war
den's clothing was siashed into shreds
with a razor but the blade did not touch
the flesh.
Turnkey Cochrane fought the convicts
with chair. but was felled by a knife
thrust In the back. Guard Cotter was
|disemboweled by n cut I'm the abdomen
and he died about noon. Palmer was
severely cut in the head The fioor OF
the office was covered with blood.
The officers were easily out numbered
and soon relieved OF their arms And
then, using the officers as shields. the
convicts started for the armory on the
outskirts OF the penitentiary grounds
They passed gatling gun on one Of the
walls, but the guards were afraid TO
shoot at the convlcts for fear of killing
the prison officials.
When the armory was reached officers
there attempted To interfere. but were
quickly overpowere1. and the convicts
after fortifying themselves further with
rifles, knives pistols and ammunition,
made n dash for the country.
LOOTED FARM HOUSE.
Convicts, each armed with rife.
marched either side of Warden Wilkin-
son, who was threatened with death IL he
made any attempt to escape. and the Of
fcers were told that f any or the pur-
suers took the life of one OF their number
they would rctaliate life for life. At Nor
mon bridge. about mile from the peni-
tentiary. the warden, his grandson and
Capt Murphy were released and sent
back The others were marched along
with the convicts. Further on the con-
victs went TO farmers house, seized his
four-horse wagon. stripped the house OF
all it's portable valuables. took the farm
er with them as a driver and headed for
Bald mountain.
4 All the convicts are still at large.
Among the officers carried OF by them Is
sGeneral Overseer McDonough Some fears
are felt for his safety. as he fears the
special ill-win or the convicts
TWO KILLED BY POSSE.
\ Placerviile, Cal. July E.-According 10
q report received here fight between the
escaped convicts from Folsom and posse
\ has taken place near Pilot hill. I'm which
two convicts were killed The convicts
are said IN have scattered and TO be maxi
ting for the surrounding woods. company
OF militia Is enroute for Pilot Hill.
Before the fight took place the convicts,
who had picked up n number or citizens
enroute and had compelled them TO Join
their party had plundered a general mer-
chandise store at Pilot Hill