The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1903-08-01

my hat and clothes away from me-
they were very kind to me, and
told me they would see no harm
come to me. They took with them
me and Murphy and five other 9th.
er officers, whom they disarmed
They took with them Captain oil
the Guard A. j. Murphy and four
Or five others including my grand
son, Harry Wilkinson. After they
bad gone a little ways again, they
took his clothes off and he had to
don convicts garb and return to the
prison in it. They took Murphy a
little farther along and made him
divest himself of his trousers. MUIR
ply was obliged to come home
without any outer garments.
''The convicts took the rest of the
officers with them go as to guard
themselves against capture. The
men they have taken along with
them include General Overseer J.
G. McDonough, Guard JohnssKlen-
.dorf, Guy Jeter, foreman of the
rock quarry, T. Brown, stage driver
and Guard L. S. Vertrees. Turn
key Joseph Cochran made brave
defence in the captains office, but I
thought it was unwise, for every
thing was the captors.' He tried
his best to overcome the convicts,
but he was cut in several places a.
bout the head and shoulders and
the side with a razor and was saved
from death by the knife coming in
contact with rib"
The convicts went to a farmer 3
house, seized his four-horse team
and wagon, Quilted the house and
everything of value it contained,
took the farmer with them as dri-
yer and are now headed for bald
mountain. The Alabaster cave is
situated near mountain and it is
believed that they will take refuge
therein.
The militia has been ordered to
aid in pursuit of the convicts.
~
Folsom, July 2S.-The greatest
excitement prevails in this vicinity
and throughout this section Of the
country. Probably $50 man huu-
ters are abroad this afternoon with
ina a defiance OF 90 miles ofthe state
prison..
A posse of $50 men, including
the Placerville National Guard,
have the convicts surrounded in
the Black Diamond canyon, near
Pilot Hill, Is miles from Folsom.
After leaving the prison the men
made their way with seven guards
in capture to a bridge crossing the
American River and thence to Eli
dorado county. After going short
way they came across two men who
were hauling wood in big wagons
with four horses. They took the
men, Ben Schlotman and Joseph
Foster, prisoners, and pressed the
wagon and horses into use. In this
way they travelled about Is miles to
Pilot Hill, plundering all farms on
their way. After reaching that
place they entered etore and took
complete possession of it, helping
themselves to groceries. They
spent about two hours there, taking
things very leisurely, as they had
done all day, stating that they
would have to fight some time and
that it might as we'll be there.
They left the store about 6 o.
clock in the evening and had not
gone far when the first encounter
with free men took place. A posse
Of about 80 men had taken positions
Of vantage on the upper side of the
road. When the convicts discov-
cred them they opened fire, which
was Immediately returned. The
sonvicts shielded themselves by
holding their, captives in front Of
Them.
The men in ambush kept up the
ire killing two Of the horses driven
ny the convicts and one of the con-
victs, Joe Murphy, he being shot in
he head and through the heart.
The range was about 200 yards
md about $50 shots were fired alto
yether, the convicts exhibiting very
poor skill in shooting, none of the
POSSE being injured. After the hors-
~ were shot down the convicts left
he wagon and made for
;he bills, 1t being too near dark to
rllow them. It is said that all of.
icers and guards held in captivity
,ave been released. IF this is SO,
capture of the men is almost GER
ain, as 1t will be almost impossible
or them. to escape the large posses
f members of the latter are free to
L L q u 4 l.