The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-28

Folsom. Cal. July 27.-Thirteen desperate
prisoners confined in the Folsom Peniteh-
tiary made successful break for liberty
At the breakfast hour this morning.
After fierce fight in the Guard Captain
office. i'll which a turnkey was fatally
stabbed. a guard killed and another officer
badly wounded, the convicts seized guam
tity of arms and ammunition and. using the
Warden and other officers for shield from
their pursuers. made their escape.
Tonight it is believed they are making for
the Bald Mountain.
State militia ordered out by Governor Par
dee have gone to the scene The wounded:
c. ]. Cochrane. turnkey. stabbed in the
be ok; may die
William l.. Cotter. a guard. cut in the alb
dcmen and died after five hours.
w. c. Palmers, cut in the head.
RUSH TO OFFICE
OF GUARD CAPTAIN.
The break took place about o'clock this
morning. The convicts made Immediately
for the office of the Captain Of the Guard,
II. J. Murphy.
There they seized Warden Wilkinson. his
grandson Harry Wilkinson. Captain Muir
ply and several other officers and guards.
A desperate fight took place.
The convicts were armed with knives and
razor, and with these they assaulted
Warden Wilkinson and his officers.
The Warden's clothing was slashed into
shreds with a razor, but the blade did not
touch the flesh.
Turnkey Cochran fought the convicts with
a chair. raining blows upon them right and
left Finally he was felled by a knife
thurst in the back.
n IN no oh and
he died this afternoon, while Palmers was
severely cut in the head. The floor OF the
office was covered with blood.
USED CAPTIVE
OFFICERS AS SHIELD.
The officers were easily outnumbered and
soon had been relieved Of their arms. Then.
using the officers as shield. the convicts
started for the armory post on the out
skirts Of the Penitentiary grounds.
They passed Calling gun on one Of the
walls but the guards were afraid to turn it
on the convicts.
When the armory post was reached
officers there attempted to interfere. but
were quickly overpowered. Then. after
further arming themselves with rifles,
knives. pistols and ammunition. dash for
the country was made.
Convicts, each armed with rifles. marched
on either side of Warden Wilkinson. who
was threatened with death IL he made an
attempt to escape, and the officers were told
that If any of the pursuers took the life of
one of their number. that they would retail
ate, life for life.
At Mormon bridge. about mile from tho
Penitentiary, the Warden. his son and Cap
tain Murphy were released and sent back.
Others were carried along with the con-
victs.
SEIZE WAGON:
START FOR CAVE
Further on the convlcts went to farm
er's house. seized his four-horse team and
wagon, robbed the house of everything Of
value, took the farmer with them as
driver and headed for Bald Mountain. Evi-
IDENTIFY it is their intention to reach Ala
baster Cave. situated near this mountain.
All the convicts are still at large.
Among the officers carried off by them is
General overseer McDonough. Some fears
are felt for his safety. as he bears the
especial Ill will of the convicts.
Later in the day Governor Pardee ordered
Company H OF Placerville to the scene, and
Company C. Second Infantry. of Nevada
City, was ordered to be in readiness in case
1t should be needed.
The several hundred remaining prisoners
made no attempt to get away and were
quietly returned to their cells and locked
up.
Warden Wilkinson was the first to return
to the Penitentiary. He was bareheaded,
the convicts having taken his hat. Captain
Murphy appeared afterwards. minus part
of his clothing. and later young Wilkinson
came in.
Warden Wilkinson gives the following
statement of the affair:
II went no to the prison. as Is my GUS
tomary duty, to see the convicts eat their
breakfast. I stopped at the Captains Of
flee to wait for the prisoners to walk out
from breakfast.
I'VE were sitting in the office when the
line made its appearance from the break
fast-room and started for the grounds.