The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-27
BREAK AT FOLSOM
Eighteen or 20 Prisoners Es.
cape from California Pen.
Took the Warden and Others
With Them.
ONE GUARD.
Secured Number of Rifles from
Prison Armory.
Report That They Have Killed
Two of Their Hostages.

Sacramento, Cal, July 27.-Eighteen
or twenty prisoners made a break at
FOLSOM between z and o'clock this
morning, taking with them Warden
Wilkinson, his grandson, Harry Wilkin-
son, Captain of the Guard Murphy and
two other officers. Guard Cotton was
mortally stabbed by one of the prison
ers. Nearly all the sheriffs force and
county constabularsy are searching for
the prisoners who secured a number of
rifles from the prison armory before
they left the prison.
Folsom penitentiary is the prison
without walls. It is situated in a rocky
amphitheater close to the American riv-
er, about 20 miles from Sacramento.
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 guards armed
with gatling guns and rifles are station
ed. Mounted guards are also stationed
about the hills. Nearly 1,5O0 men are
confined at Folsom and it has been the
practice to send the most desperate
criminals there.
The American river runs through the
prison grounds but its waters are rapid
and deep, with high, precipitous banks
and an escaping prisoner stands but lit
Tie chance at crossing.
Immediately after the sheriff's office
in this city was notified of the break
by the prison officials a posse left for
Folsom and will assist in the search for
the escaped convictS.
The prisoners took with them besides
Warden Wilkinson, his grandson
Harry Wilkinson and Captain Murphy,
six other officers of the prison. Shortly
after the break the two Wilkinsons and
Murphy returned to the prison, the con-
victs having released them.
The other prison officials are still be-
ing held by the convicts who have gone
in the direction of Mormon island, about
three miles east Of Folsom. They took
the clothes of Warden Wilkinson and
Captain Murphy. and compelled Harry
wilkinson to put on convicfs suit.
The convicts destroyed all the rifles and
guns theysdid not take with them.
Warden Wilkinson and the other Off
GERS were taken by surprise by the con-
Victs. The officers were consulting in
the warden's office when the convicts,
many of them having guns in their
hands, rushed into the room and made
the party prisoners.
1t is now said that but fourteen pris-
oners escaped and that one of them
gave up and returned to the prison.
Guard Keeting was killed and Turn
cut TO pieces by the convicts in the
fight between them and the prison Off
GERS
TWO CAPTURED GUARDS KILLED
Placerville, Cal. July N.-The 20 con-
victs who have broken out of Folsom
prison are reported as coming across El
Dorado county. and are nsvg~ssaid to be
in the neighborhood of Clarksville. or
the ten officials captured and taken 1t is
reported that Warden Wilkinson and
Captain Murphy have been released and
that two of the captured guards have
been killed by the escaped convicts-
Company H. of the National Guard,
which is the Placervilie company, COM
manded by Captain A. SwisleT5 has been
called out and is forming at the ar
morv to await such order as may be re-
ceiVed