The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-07-29
MAKE BREAK FOR liberty
Thirteen Convicts Escape from
California Penitentiary.
ATTACK GUARDS WITH KNIVES,
One of Them is Killed and Another
MortalIy stabbed-Take Officers o.
Prison Along as Shield and Safely
Pass GatIne Sun.

{ Folsom, ~. 1u:y 2S.-Thirteen des
perate prisoners confined in the Fol
som penitentlary made a successful
break for liberty at the breakfast
hour After fierce fight in the cap
tain's office. during which turnkey
was fatally stabbed a guard killed and
another officer badly wounded, the
convicts seized a quantity OF arms and
ammunition, and using the warden
and other officers for a shield from
their pursuers, made good their es-
cape. 1t is believed they are max
ing for the Bald mountain State mi.
litia, ordered out by Governor Pardee.
have gone to the scene.
The wounded: c. ]. Cochrane.
turnkey, stabbed in the back, may
die; William l.. Cotter, a guard, cut
in the abdomen and died after five
hours, w C. Palmer, cut in the head.
The break occurred about Z a. NJ.
The convicts made Immediately for
the office of the captain of the guard,
r. j. Murphy. There they seized War
! den Wilkinson, his grandson, Har15
Wilkinson Captain Murphy and sew
eral other officers and guards. A des-
perate fight took place. The convicts
were armed with knives and raZors
and with these they assaulted Warden
/ Wilkinson and his officers. The war
| den's clothing was slashed into shreds
with a razor, but the blade did not
| touch the flesh. Turnkey Cochrane
! fought the convicts with chair, rain
ing blows upon them right and left.
Finally he was felled by knife
4 thrust in the back Guard Cotter was
cut in the abdomen so that his entrails
4 protruded, while Palmer was severely
cut in the head The floo1 of the Of
fee was covered with blood.
The officers were easily outnam.
bered and soon relieved OF their arms
Then using the officers as a shield
the convicts started for the armory
post on the outskirts of the peniten
tiary grounds. They passed Gatling
4 gun on one of the walls, but the
guards were afraid to turn 1T on the
/ convicts. When the armory post was
reached officers there attempted tc
interfere, but were quickly oyerpow
cred. Then, after further fortifyine
themselves with rifles, knives, pistols
and ammunition, a dash for the coun
try was made Saz@- -.;s.sssss {. = !.
convicts, each armed with rifles
marched on either side of Warder
Wilkinson, who was threatened will
death if he made an attempt to es
cape, and the officers were told that 1
any OF the puSfsueTs took the life Q
one of their number that they Woull
retaliate, life for life. At Mormon
bridge, about mile from the peniten
tiary, the warden, his son and Cap
tain Murphy were released and sen
back. The others were carried alon!
with the conyicts.
Further on the convicts went to 4
farmers house, seized his four hors
team and wagon, gutted the house o
everything Of value, took the farme
: with them as driver and headed fo
Bald mountain. Evidently it is thel
: intention to reach Alabaster cave. sit
uated near this mountain.
All the convicts are still at large
Among the officers carried off by ther
4 is General Overseer McDonougl
I Some fears are felt for his safety, a
n he bears the especial ill-will Of tn
Il convicts.
/ Governor Pardee ordered compan
/ H of Placerville to the scene.
: The several hundred remaining pri
e oners made no attempt to get ava.