The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-07-29
ONE OFFICER Is KILLED.
Another is So Desperately Wounded
That BE Will Probably DIE
The Conviets Escape Heav-
lily Armed---Troops Or
dered in Pursuit.
dered in Pursuit.
(By the Associated Press.)


Sacramento, CAL, July ia special
from Folsom says:
Thirteen desperate prisoners confined in
the Folsom penitentiary made a success
full break for liberty at the breakfast hour
this morning. After fierce fight in the
captains office, during which a turnkey
was fatally stabbed. guard was killed
and another officer was wounded, the con-
victs secured arms and ammunition and.
using the warden and other officers as
shields. escaped. Tonight it is believed
they are making for the Bald Mountain.
State troops ordered out by Governor
Pardee have gone to the scene. Tie
dead:
WILLIAM L. COTTER, a guard, cut in
abdomen. died five hours later.
Wounded.-C. j. Cochrane, turnkey.
stabbed In back; will probably die. w. c.
Palmer, cut in the head.
The conyicts made their break for lib
erty about a. m. They went to the
Office of r. j. Murphy, captain of the
guard and attacked Warden Wilkinson.
his grandson Harry Wilkinson, Captain
Murphy and several other officers and
guards. desperate fight took place. The
convlcts were armed with knives and
razors, and with these they assaulted War
den Wilkinson and his officers The war
den's clothing was slashed into shreds
with razor. but the blade did not touch
the flesh. Turnkey Cochrane fought the
convicts with a chair, raining blows upon
them right and left Finally he was
felled by knife thrust in the back. Guard
Cotter was disembowled by cut in the
abdomen and he died about noon. Palmer
was severely cut in the head. The floor
< the office was covered with blood.
he officers were soon overpowered
ana relieved of their arms. Then
sonTcts ss e.ss5 sn,s,ds the 5ss
Ioutskids of the penitentiary grounds
They passed a Calling gun on one of the
walls, but the guards were afraid t,
shoot at the convicts for fear of killing
the prison officials.
When the armory was reached officers
there attempted to interfere, but were
quickly overpowered and the convicts.
rifles, knives, pistols and ammunition,
made dash for the country.
convicts, each armed with a rifle, march
ed one on either side of Warden Wiltin-
son, who was threatened with death if
he made an attempt to escape and the
officers were told that If any of the pur-
suers took the life of one Of their number
they would retalate, life for life. At
Mormon Bridge, about mile from the
penitentiary, the warden, his grandson
and Captain Murphy were released and
sent back. The others were marched along
with the convicts.
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 a driver and headed for Bald
Mountain. Evidently, 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 McDonough. Some fears
are felt for his safety as he bears the es-
pecial i'll will of the eonvicts.
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 re-
turn to the penitentiary. The convicts
had taken his hat. Captain Murphy APP
peared afterward, minus part of his cloth
ing and later young Wilkinson came in.
Folsom penitentiary is the prison with
out walls. It is situated in a rocky am
phitheatre, close to the American River,
about twenty miles from Sacramento.
Nearly 1900 men are confined there, where
it has been the practice to send the most
desperate prisoners.