The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-07-31

O@t' o1IS -t.-EA SpCSIdI
from Folsom says:
Thirteen desperate prisoners confined
in the Folsom penitentiary made a sue
cessful break for liberty at the break
fast hour this morning. After a fierce
fight in the captains office during which.
a turnkey was fatally stabbed, a guard
was killed and another officer was
wounded, the convicts, seized arms and
ammunition and, using the warden and
other officers as shields escaped. To-
night it is believed they are making for
the mountain. State troop ordered
out by Governor Perdee have gone to
the scene. The dead are:
William L. Gotter, j guard, u in the
abdomen, died five hours later.
Wounded: c. J. Cochrane, turn key,
stabbed in back; will probably die.
w. c. Palmer, cut il the head.
The convicts made their break for
liberty about I a. m. They went to the
office of r. P. Murphy captain of the
guard and seized Warden Wilkinson,
his grandson Harry Wilkinson, Captain
Murphy and several other officers and
guards
A desperate fight took place. The
%convicts were armed with knives and
azors and with these they assaulted
Warden Wilkinson and his officers.
The wardens clothing was slashed into
shreds with a razor, but the blade did
80 -O,-oL H. d1-I l.
fought the convicts with chair raining
blows upon them right and left. Final
ly he was felled by a knife thrust in
the back. Guard Cotter was disembow-
eled by a cut in the abdomen and he
died about noon. Palmer was severely
cut in the head. The floor of the office
was covered with blood.
The officers were easily outnumbered
and were soon relieved of their arms.
Then, using the officer as shields, the
convictS started for the armory on the
outskirts of the p~enirentiary grounds.
They passed a Calling on n of the
walls, out the guards were afraid to
shoot at the convicts for fear of killing
the prison officials.
When the armory was reached Off
GERS there attempted to interfere but
were quickly overpowered and the con-
Yicts after f%ortifying themselves furth-
er with rifles, knives, pistols and am
munition, made a dash Cor the country.
Convicts, each armed with rifles,
marched one on either side of Warden
Wilkinson who was threatened with
death if he made an attempt TO escape
and the officers were told that if any
- a. t~0l- fho IT, ~ ma nf
their number they would ~retaliate, life
for life. At Mormon Bridge about a
mile from the penitentiary, the warden
his grand son and Captain Murphy
were released sent back. The 9TH
ers were marched a long with the con.
victS.
Further on the onvct went to {
farmers house, seized his fOur horse
team and wagon, stripped the house o.
all its portable valuables o tn
farmer with them as a driver and a
ed for Baltimo mountain. Evidently i
is their intention to reach AlabaSte.
cave. situated near this mountain. Al
the convicts are still at large.
Among the officers carried off by then
is General Overseer McDonough. Som,
fears are felt for his safety as he bear
the especial i'll will of the convicts.
The several hundred remaining pris
oners made no attempt to get away an,
and were quietly returned to their cell
and locked up.
Warden Wilkinson was the first t
return to the p~enitentiary. The con
victS had taken his hat. Captain Mur
ply appeared afterwari. minus part o
his clothing, and later young Wilkinso,
| came in.
Folsom penitentiary is the prise,
without Walls. II is situated in a rock
amphithreatre close TO the America
river about twenty miles from Sacra
mento. Nearly 1900 mea are confne
there. where it has been the practic
TO send the most desperate prisoners.
TWO CONVICTS KILLED.
Placerville, Cal. July 27.-Accordin
to a report received here a fight he