Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1903-07-28
BREAK FOR LIBERTY
Thirteen Convicts Escape from
California Penitentiary AT
ter Fierce Battle.
TWO PRISON GUARDS KILLED
Prisoners Use Captured Officers as
Shields and Successfully Get Away.
Believed They Are Making for the
Mountains--State Troops in Pursuit.

Folsom, Cal, July 2S.-Thirteen des-
perate prisoners confined in the peni-
tertiary made a successful break for
liberty at the breakfast hour. After q
fierce fight in the captains office, dur
ing which a turnkey was fatally
stabbed, a guard killed and another
officer wounded. the conyicts seized
arms and ammunition and, using the
warden and other officers as shields,
escaped. 1t is believed they are max
ing for the Bald mountain. States
troops ordered out by Governor Par
dee have gone to the scene.
The convicts made their break for
liberty about 7 a. m. They went to
the Office of R. ]. Murphy, captain of
the guards and seized Warden Wilkin-
son, his grandson, Harry Wilkinson,
Captain Murphy and several other Of
flcers and guards. A desperate fight
took place. The convicts were armed
with knives and razors 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 Cochrane fought the conviets
with chair, raining blows upon them
right and left. Finally he was felled
by knife thrust in the back. Guard
Cotter was disemboweled by a cut
in the abdomen and he died about
noon. Palmers was severely cut in
the head. The floor of the office was
covered with blood
Used Officers as Shield.
The officers were easily outnumber-
ed and were soon relieved of their
arms. Then, using the officers as a
shield, the convicts started for the
armory on the outskirts of the peni-
tentiary grounds. They passed a gat-
ling gun on one of the walls, but the
guards were afraid to shoot for feaf
OF killing the prison officials.
When the armory was reached Of
ficers there attempted to interfere but
were quickly overpowered and the
conviets, after fortifying themselves
further with rifles, knives, pistols and
ammunition, made a dash for the
country.
Convicts, each armed with rifles,
marched one on either side of Warden
Wilkinson, who was threatened with
death if he made an attempt to es-
cape and the officers were told that il
any of the pursuers took the life of
one Of their number that they would
retaliate, life for life. At Mormon
Bridge, about mile from the peniten-
tiary, the warden, his grandson and
Captain Murphy were released and
sent back. The others were marched
along with the convicts.
Made Use of Farmer and Team.
Further on the convicts went to
farmers house, seized his four-horss
team and wagon, stripped the house
OF all its portable valuables, took the
farmer with them as a driver and
headed for Bald mountain. Evidently
4; 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
bears the especial Ill will of the con-
victs
Later in the day Governor Pardee
ordered Company II, of Pracerville, to
the scene, and Company C, Second in
fantry, OF Nevada City, was ordered to
be In readiness.
The several hundred remaining pris.
oners 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 prison. The convicts
had taken his hat Captain Murphy
appeared afterward, minus part of his
clothing, and later young Wilkinson
came in.
Description of Prison.
Folsom penitentiary is prison
without walls 1t is situated in
rocky amphitheater close to the Amer
lean river, about 20 miles from Sacra-
mento. The prisoners are locked up
at night In the cell house, but during
the day they labor in the stone quar-
ries under the supervision of armed
guards. On the hills surrounding the
prison grounds are watch towers, in
which the guards, armed with gatling
guns and rifles, are stationed about
she hills Nearly 1900 men are con
fined at Folsom and it has been the
practice to send the most desperate
prisoners there The American river
runs through the prison grounds, but
ITS waters are rapid and deep, with
high precipitous bluffs, and an escap-
ing prisoner stood but little chance at
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