Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-08-03
POSSE FIGHTS
CONVICT GANG
TWO FUeITVEs REPORTED
KILLED IN BATTLE.
BOLD ESCAPE FROM PRISON
Thirteen lncarcerated Prisoners Make
Break for Freedom from California
Penitentiary, Taking Lives OF Two
Officials and Causing Much Blood to
FIow-Soldiers in Purusit.

Placerville, Cal, July 2S.-According
to a report received here a fight be-
tween the escaped convicts from Fol
som and the posse has taken place near
Pilot hill in which two conyicts were
killed. The convicts and said to have
scattered and to be making for the
woods.
Before the fight too the place the
convicts, who had piced up a number
Of citizens en- route, compelled them
to join their party, plundered a gener-
al merchandise store at Pilot Hill.
Bold Break for Liberty
Folsom, Cal, July 2S.-Thirteen pris-
.oners confined in the Folsom peniten-
tiary made a successful break for lib
erty at the breakfast hour yesterday.
After a fierce fight in the captains or
fee during which Turnkey Cochran
was seriously stabbed. Guard Cotter
killed and other officers 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 escape.
Last night it was believed they were
making for Bald Mountain. The state
militia was ordered out by Governor
Pardee and have gone to the scene.
The break occurred about Z o'clock
in the morning. The convicts made
Immediately for the Office of Captain
Murphy. There they seized Warden
Wilkinson, his grandson, Harry Will
kinson, Capt. Murphy and several
other officers and guards. A desper-
ate fight took place. The convicts
were armed with knives and razors
and with these assaulted the warden
and his officers. The warden's cloth
ing was slashed into shreds with a "a
zor. but the blade did not touch the
flesh. Turnkey Cochran fought the
convicts with chair, but he was felled
by knife thrust in the back. Guard
Cotter was cut in the abdomen so that
his entrails protruded and he died yes
terday afternoon, while Guard Palmers
was severely cut in the head. The
floor OF the office was covered with
blood.
The officers were easily outnum
bered. Then using the officers as a
shield the convicts started for the
armory post on the outskirts of the
penitentiaTy grounds. They passed
a gatling gun on one side of the walls.
but the guards were afraid to turn Il
on the convicts for fear OF killing
their captives. When the arnCry post
was reached the o1cers attempted 20
interfere but were quickly ove.-
powered. Then after supplying them
selves with rifles, knives, pistols and
ammunition, z dash tor the country
was made. The Convicts, each armed
with rifles. marched one on each side
of Warden Wilkinson. who was
threatened with death if he made any
attempt TO escape and the officers
were told that If any OF the pursuers
took q life one of their number would
retaliate, life for life. At Mormon
bridge, a mile from the penitentiary
the warden, his grandson and Murphy
were released. The others were
marched along with the conviets. Fur
Their on the convicts went to a farm
ers house. seized his four-hcrse team
and wagon. robbed the house Of
everything OF value, took the farmer
with them as driver and headed for
Bald Mountain.
On his return Warden Wilkinson
made a statement of the affair sub
stantially as told above. He exhonor-
ated the guards on the walls for not
interfering as such interference would
| have resulted in further loss of life.