Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-07-31
ESCAPE FROM PRISON
At Folsom, Cal, Convicts Took
Hazardous Chances for Freedom.
Fourteen Desperate Men Fought the
Guards and Officers and Finally
Got Away, Taking the
Warden With Them.

Sacramento, Cal, July ga spe-
clal to the Bee from Folsom saws:
Fourteen desperate prisoners confined
In the Folsom penitentiary made q
break at the breakfast hour yesterday
morning. They seized Warden Wilkin-
son, his grandson, Harry Wilkinson;
Captain of the Guard Murphy and sew
eral other officers and guards, and,
using them as shields against the fire
of the Calling gun, proceeded to the
armory post, overcame a guard who
sought to stay them, armed themselves
with rifles and pistols and escaped
across the prison ranch into Eldorado
county
A desperate fight took place in the
captains Office, where the prisoners
made their break 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.
c. j. Cochrane, turnkey of the peni-
Tertiary, entered the Office during the
assault and seized a chair, with which
he made for the assailants of the Off
GERS. He rained blows upon them right
and left, but he was feIled by knife
thrust in the back. 1t is thought he
may die. William L. Cotter, guard,
was cut in the abdomen so that his
entrails protruded. He died in the aft
ernoon w. c. Calmers was severely
cut in the head with the razors in the
hands of the eonvicts. The floor of the
Office was covered with blood.
The several hundred remaining pris-
oners made no show of resistance and
they were quietly returned to their
cells and locked up. The convicts
seized weapons in the possession of
the officers and, with Warden Will1in
son, Capt. Murphy and others in the
Office proceeded to the armory post,
where they fortified themselves with
rifles, knives, pistols and ammunition.
The warden was taken about mile
toward Mormon Island bridge and
convict, armed with a rifle, marched
on either side of him. He was told
that they would not harm him, but if
any of the pursuers took the life of
one of the escaping convicts they
would retaliate, life for life. The
warden was the first to return to the
prison. He wore no hat, the prisoners
having seized this from him. Capt.
Murphy appeared soon afterwards
minus his trousers.
The convicts went to farmers
house, seized his four-horse team and
wagon. Quilted the house of every
thing of value it contained took the
farmer with them as a driver and are
now headed for Bald mountain. The
alabaster cave is situated near this
mountain and it is believed that the
convicts will take refuge therein.
Folsom penitentiary is the prison
without walls. 1t is situated in a
rocky amphitheatre close to the Amerf-
can river, about 20 miles from Sacra-
mento The prisoners are locked up
at night in the dollhouse 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. Mounted guards
are also stationed about the hills.
Nearly 1,50O men are confined at sol
som 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 banks land an escaping
prisoner stands but little chance at
crossing.