The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-08-05
Thirteen Daring Prisoners Escape
from Folsom Penitentiary.
GUARD CARTER CUT TO DEATH.
A Sensuinary Battle Was Fought
Before the Officials We're Over
powered, Some Officers Taken
sxvar aS Prisoners.
Away as Prisoners

ful break for liberty at the breakfast
hour Tuesday morning.
After fierce fight in the captains
office during which a turnkey was IA
tally stabbed, a guard was killed and
another officer was wounded, the con-
victs seized arms and ammunition
and, using the warden aad other
officers as shields escaped. Tuesday
night it is believed they are making
for the Bald mountain. State troops
ordered out by Gov. Pardee have gone
to the scene.
The dead:
VIM. L. Golfer, 4 guard, cut in
abdomen, died five hours later.
Wounded:
c. J. Cochran, turnkey, stabbed in
back; will probably die.
w. C. Palmer, cnt in the head.
The convictS made their break for
liberty about a. m. They went to
the office of r. J. Murphy, captain OF
the guard, and seized Warden Wilkin-
son, Capt. Murphy and several other
officers and guards. a desperate fsht
took place The convicts were armed
with knives and raZors, and with these
they assaulted Warden Wilkinson and
his officers. The waroen'S clothing
was slashed into shreds with a razor,
but the blade did not touch the flesh.
Turnkey Cochrane fought the convlcts
with a chair. raining blows upon them
right and left. Finally he was feued
by a knife thrust in the back. Guard
Carter was disemboweled 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
blood.
The officers were easily out-number-
ed and were soon relieved Of their
arms Then, using the officers as
shields, the convicts started for the
armory on the outskirts Of the penl-
tentiary grounds. They passed Cat
ling gun on one Of the walls, but the
guards were afraid to shoot at the
couricts for fear OF killing the prison
officials.
When the armory was reached ot1i-
GERS there attempted TO interfere but
were quickly oyerpowered and the
convicts after fortifying themselves
further with rifles, knives. pistols and
ammunition mace dash for the coun-
try
Conyicts, each armed with rifles,
marched on either side Of Warden
Wilkinson, who was threatened with
death if be attempted to escape, ana
the officers were told that il any OF
the pursuers took the life OF one OF
their number they would retallate,
life for life.
At Mormon bridge, about a mile
from the penitentiary, the warden, his
grandson and Capt Murphy were re-
leased and sent back. The others
were marched along with the conVlcts.
Further on the convicts went to
farmers house, seized his four-horSe
team and wagon, stripped the house
of all it's portable valuables, took the
farmer with them as driver ana
: headed for Bald mountain. EVIDENT
" it is their intention to reach
Alabaster cave, situated near THIS
mountain. All the convicts are still
at large. Among the officers carried
off by them is General Overseer NC
Donough. Some fears are felt tor bis
safety as be bears the especial Ill Will
OF the convlctS.
The several hundred remaining prls-
oners made no attempt to get away
and were quietly returned TO their
cells and locked up.
Warden Wilkinson was the trSt TO
return to the penitentiary. The con-
Yicts had taken his hat. Capt. Mur-
phy appeared afterward. minus part
Of his clothing, and later young Wal
kinson camein
Folsom penitentiary is the prison
without walls. 1t is situated in rocky
amphitheatre close to the American
river, about 20 miles from Sacramen,
to. Nearly l,5G0 men are confined
there where it has been the practice
to send the most desperate prisoners.
ONE CGNyICT KILLED.
The result Of the fight between the
e,enyicts and the two officers at :
O'Clock Wednesday night in Eldoraoo
county was the death of Fred Howard,
convict killed outright. and the
sounding of another convict, a negro
named Seavis. The coroner at Placer-
Vile at the request OF the PRISON
officials will hold an inquest on the
dead convict. When last seen the
conyicts were in citizens clothing,
while their prisoners wore stripes.
The latter appeared to be having a
hard time of it, as they were heaFily
laden with bundles and ammunition.
The latest information is to the effect
that another encounter has taken
place between the fleeing convlctS ana
their pursuers, resulting in the death
of John Addison. convict and or an
other whose name is unknown. Ihe
nosse and militia are closing in on the
desperadoes. The capture or destruc-
tion of the complete band is only a
matter OF a short time.
At 10 o'clock Wednesday night the
convicts turned Bernard Schlottman,
Zoe Foster and the following prison
ntf,cias Loose: J. c. McDonough, j.
f. Je!ter, J. W. Dolan: W: }. hop
fona and Thos. Seavy. They were
released in the brush about four miles
sonth of Diels place and came INTO
Diels about 6 O'Clock THURSDAY morn
ing John klendortT, one OF Uhe
rnards. tumbled out Of the wagon
during the firing at Pilot Hill anu
escaped unhurt. This makes al tne
free men accounted for and safe.
,rhe copvicUs are somewhat short Of
ammunition and are without SuppLeS,
having lost them in the tight az PlloO
Mn All of them had lunches IN
- ShO01ll1tr