The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-28
Later Release Warden Wilkinson and
Two or Three Others. but Hold Five
or Six Guards as Hostages.
POSSES ARE IN PURSUIT
AND A FIGHT Is SAID TO HAVE
TAKEN PLACE AT PILOT HILL.
One Convict Is Reported Dead and
Another rWounded-MiIitia ON the
Trail of the Fugitives.

notorious criminals to-day escaped from
Folsom prison by using the overpowered
head officers of the prison shields to pro-
tect them from bullets until they had fled
into the mountains. During the struggle in
the prison William l.. Cotter. a guard, was
stabbed to death by the convicts, e. j.
Cochrane was probably fatally stabbed in
the back and w. c. Palmers was severely
hacked about the head. When the escaped
desperadoes were well away from the
prison they released Warden Wilkinson.
Capt. Murphy and one or two other men
who had been used as shields. General
Overseer McDonough and five or six guards
are still in the hands of the fugitives who
say they will kill the prison officers if the
militia attempts to retake the convicts.
Tonight 1t Is believed the convicts and
their captives making for the Bald
mountains. Governor Pardee has ordered
out several companies of militia and SOL
diers are on the trail OF the fugitives All
the escaped men are desperate characters,
and blood is likely to flow before they are
retaken.
The thirteen convicts had been acting
strangely of late. and when they were seen
talking among themselves this morning
Captain Murphy called Warden Wilkinson
and four guards into his office to consider
what was best to do with the men. The
prisoners seized this moment for escape.
They made straight for the captains Office
and rushed in on the very men whom pris-
oners wishing to escape usually elude.
DESPERATE FIGHT.
desperate tight followed. The convicts
were armed with knives and razors and
with these they assaulted Warden Wilkin-
~
his officers. The wardens clothing was
slashed into shreds with razor, but the
blade did not touch the flesh. Turnkey
Cochrane fought the convicts with chair,
raining blows on them right and left
Finally he was felled with a knife thrust
in the back. Guard Cotter's abdomen was
ripped wide open and he died this after
noon. while Palmer was nearly scalped The
floor OF the office was covered with blood
The officers were outnumbered and soon
had been relieved of their arms. Then
using the officers a shield the convicts
started for the armory post on the out
skirts of the penitentiary grounds They
passed Gatling gun on one of the walls
but the guards were afraid to turn 1t on
the convicts- When the armory post was
reached officers there attempted to inter-
fere. but were quickly overpowered. Then.
after further arming themselves with rifles.
knives. pistols and ammunition. they made
dash for the country with several guards
the warden and the captain in tow.
Convfcts, armed with rifles, marched one
on either side of Warden Wilkinson. who
was threatened with death IL he made an
attempt 10 escape. The officers were told
that If any of the pursuers took the life
OF one of the convicts the conyicts would
retaliate, life for life. At Mormon bridge
about a mile from the penitentiary, the
warden, ms sranoSon and Captain Murphy
along with the convicts. Further on the
conTicts went TO a farmers house, seized
his four-horse team and wagon. robbed the
house or everything of value, took the
farmer with them as driver and headed
for Bald mountain. Evidently it is their in
tention TO reach Alabaster Cave.
OvERSEER CARRIED OFF.
Among the officers carried of by them is
General Overseer McDonough. Some fears
are felt for his safety. as he bears the es-
pecial Ill will of the convicts The several
hundred remaining prisoners made no at
tempt to get away and were quietly re-
turned TO their cells and locked up.
AS soon as Governor Pardee heard of
the delivery he ordered out the militia.
Warden Wilkinson was the first To re-
turn to the penitentiary. The convicts had
taken his hat Captain Murphy appeared
afterwsrd minus part of his clothing. and
later Harry Wilkinson came in. Warden
Wilkinson tells his experience as follows
81 went UP TO the prison. as is nv clIstom
20 see the convicts eat their breakfast
The captain OF the guard called me into
his Office 10 wait for the prisoners 10 wall
out from breakfast. We were sitting in ths
Office looking out of a window when the
line made It's appearance from the break
fast room and started for the grounJs
Suddenly several OF the prisoners made a
rush from the line with razors and knives
a md int
Office. They were joined by Others / i,,dys
there were about fifteen i'm all Blood he
gan To flow. 1 saw that il was homeless IN
put up nsnr nsainSt ms smeh such odds One OF
reached over with razor and tried To S,1,
open my abdomen. You can see how NV
belt Is split from end To end and how ,,,,,
coat is hanging i'm shreds. ny
STOLE WEAPONS.
..'The convicts secured me and Nurnh,.
and nve or six other officers. whom thev
disarmed. They kept US and proceeded IN
the yard and out OF 1t by the front gaze
toward the arrnory post. The GatIing guns
I'm the station hilltops and along the prison
walls might have been fred by the guards
but had they done so the officers as well
az the prisoners would have been killed
The guards were unable either to rescue us
or 10 prevent the escape. As we neare5
the armory a guard came out and they
seized him. They took the keys away from
him. entered the armory and equipped
themsclves with all manner OF weapons
Then they started along the dusty road
and crossed the prison ranch toward the
Mormon bridge After l mad gone about a
mile they let me go. They also released
Captain Murphy and my. grandson. Harry
wilkinson. The rest Of the mefi they have
taken along with them include General
ovssseer 4cDonough, Guard John Klens-