The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-08-12
DARING DASH FOR LIBERTY
Convicts 0yerpower Prison Officials
Alter a Desperate Battle.
MILITIAMEN SENT IN PURSUIT

Warden and Guards Of a California PEN
ftentiary Used as Shields From Bull
lets - Two Officials Killed and One
Wounded - Others Held as Hostages
Reported Fight With Posse.
Folsom, CAL - Thirteen desperate
prisoners confined in the Folsom Peni-
tentiary made successful break for
liberty at the breakfast hour. After
fierce fight in the Captains office. dur
ing which William L. Cotter. a guard,
was killed; C. J. Cochrane. turnkey.
was fatally stabbed, and w. c. Palm
ers, another prison officer, was wound
ed, the convicts seized arms and am
munition, and, using the Warden and
other officers as shields. escaped. 1t
was believed they intended making for
the Bald Mountains. State troops or
dered out by Governor Pardee proceed
ed to the scene.
The convicts made their break for
liberty about a. m. They went to the
office of R. J. Murphy. Captain of the
guard, and seized Warden Wilkinson,
his grandson, Harry Wilkinson; Cap
tain Murphy, and several other officers
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 razor. but the blade
did not touch the flesh. Turnkey
Cochrane fought the convicts with
chair, raining blows upon them right
and left. Finally he was felled by
knife thrust in the back. Guard Cot
ter was disemboweled by a cut IN the
abdomen. PalmerS was severely cut
In the head. The floor of the office was
covered with blood.
The officers were easily outnumbered
and were soon relieved of their arms.
Then. using the officers as shields, the
convicts started for the armory on the
outskirts of the penitentiary grounds.
They passed Gatling gun on one OF
the walls, but the guards were afraid
to shoot at the convicts for fear OF Kill
ing the prison officials.
When the armory was reached ot1-
GERS there attempted to interfere. but
were quickly overpowered, and the con-
victs, after fortifying themselves fur
ther with rifles, knives, pistols and am
munition, made dash for The country.
The convicts, each armed with rifles,
marched one on either side Of Warden
Wilkinson, who was threatened with
death if he made an attempt to escape.
The officers were told that if any Of the
pursuers took the life of one Of their
number they would retaliate, life for
life. At Mormon Bridge, about a 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 driver. and
headed for Bald Mountain. Evidently
it is their intention to reach Alabaster
Cave, situated near this mountain.
Among the officers carried of is Gen.
eral Overseer McDonough. Some fears
especial ill-will Of the convicts.
Later in the day Governor Pardee Or
dered Company H, Of Placerville, to
the scene, and Company G. Second In
fantry, Of Nevada City, was ordered
to be ia readiness.
The several hundred remaining prls-
oners made no attempt to get away,
and were quietly returned to their cells
and locked up.
The following is list Of the convlcts
who escaped:
Fred Howard. San Francisco, fifteen
years; robbery.
Mike Muller, Fresno, twelve years;
burglary.
H. Ehredge. Alameda County, thirty
years; burglary.
]. Theron. San Francisco, fifteen
years; robbery.
]. H. Wood, San Francisco, life; rob-
berry.
- Davis. San Francisco, thirty
three years; robbery.
J.. J. Allison, San Joaquin, four years;
robbery.
J. Murphy, Contra Costa, four years;
bigamy.
A. Seabis, Sacramento. twenty-five
years: bigamy.
J. Roberts, San Francisco, twenty
years; robbery.
R. H. Gordon, Sacramento, forty-fve
years; robbery.
Ray Fahey, Sacramento, life; rob.
berry.
S. J. Case, Los Angeles, life; rob-
berry.
Folsom Penltentiary is prison with
out walls. It is situated in a rocky
amphitheatre close to the American
River, about twenty miles from Sacra-
mento. The prisoners are locked up at
night in the cell house. but during the
day they labor in the stone quarries
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 the hills.
Placerville, Collaborating to re-
port received here, fight between the
escaped convicts from Folsom and a
posse took place near Pilot HILL. IN
which Fred Howard was killed and A.
Seabis wounded. Both men are con-
victs. Before the fight took place the
convicts, who had picked up number
of citizens en- route and had compelled
them to join their party, had plundered
general merchandise store at Pilot
Hill.
Midshipmau Clark Dies at Annapolis.
Midshipman Lawrence T. Clark. of
New York City, died at Annapolis, Md.