The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-07-29
BREAKING OUT OF PRISON.
Desperate convicts in CaIifor-
nla---Thirteen Prisoners At
tack Officers of Folsom
Penitentiary.

Sacramento, July 27.-A special
from Folsom, says: Thirteen desperate
prisoners confined in the Folsom peni-
Tertiary made their escape at the
breakfast hour this morning. After a
fierce fight in the captains Office, dur
ing which "A turnkey was fatally stab
bed, a guard was killed and another
officer was wounded, the convicts seiz-
ed arms and ammunition, and, using
the warden and other officers as
shields, escaped. Tonight it is believ-
ed they are making for the Bald
Mountains. State troops ordered out
by Governor Padee have gone to the
scene.
The conyicts made their escape about
7 a. m They went to the Office Of R.
J. Murphy, captain of the guard, and
seized Warden Wilkinson, his grand
son, Harry Wilkinson; Capt. Murphy
and several other officers and guards.
A desperate fight took place. The con-
victs were armed with knives and raz-
ors, and with these they assaulted
Warden Wilkinson and his officers.
The warden's clothing was slashed in
to shreds with razor, but the blade
did not touch the flesh. Turnkey
Cochrane fought the convicts with a
chair, raining blows upon them right
and left. Finally he was felled by
knife thrust in the back. Guard Got
ter was disembowelled by cut in the
abdomen and he died about noon.
Palmer 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 a Gatling gun on one of
the walls, but the guards were afraid
to shoot at the convicts for fear of
killing the prison officials.
When the armory was reached oftc-
ers there attempted to interfere, but
we're quickly overpowered and the
convicts after arming themselves
further.with rifles, knives, pistols and
ammunition, made dash for the
country.
Convicts, each armed with rifle,
marched one on either side of Warden
Wilkinson, who was threatened with
death if he made an attempt to escape
and 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 Capt.
Murphy were released and sent back.
The others were marched along with
the convicts.
Further on the convicts went to a
farmers house, seized his four-horse
team and wagon, stripped the house of
all it's portable valuables, took the
farmer with them as a driver, and
headed fer Bald Mountain. Evidently,
it 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 Gen
eral Overseer McDonough. Some fears
are felt for his sfety, as he bears the
especial ill-will Of the convicts.
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 penitentiary. The con-
victs had taken his hat. Capt. Muir
ply appeared afteward, minus part Of
his clothing, and later young Wilkin-
son came in.
Folsom penitentiary is the prison
without walls. It is situated in &
rocky amphitheatre, close to the
American River, about twenty miles
from Sacramento. Nearly 1,5O0 men
are confined there, where it has been
the practice to send the most desper
ate prisoners.