Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1904-02-22
Seven convicts at Penitentiary
Make Unsuccessful Break
For Liberty.
TRUSTY CAVE ALARM
Assistant Superintendent Garrett Over.
powered...Tied in His Office.
Guards Act Promptly and
Properly.


cipline and we'll arranged condition o
affairs existing at the territorial peni
tentiary, great exodus of convict!
and loss of life might have been tht
result at that institution this morn
ing. About $3.50 combination of sew
ring leaders, attempted to escape ir
the following manner: There is 9
tunnel Under the main building
through which pass number Of pipes
in heating the cell house and other
portions of the structure There is an
entrance to this tunnel from the kit
chen closed by an iron door and there
is also an iron door leading from it to
the main corridor. These doors are
habitually kept locked. Alpheus Ham.
tiary for life, the murderer of Epita-
clio Gallegos, life convict Wooley by
name, and two other convicts, Bran
don and Quick, each in for four years
for burglary, succeeded in breaking
the kitchen door into the tunnel, slip
ping into it and then with crow bars
broke open the lock of the iron door
leading into the corridor of the main
building; then ascending, the four men
with drawn knives rushed into the Of
flee where Assistant Superintendent R.
c. Garrett was at work at his desk as
usual, overpowered him and demanded
that he give them the key to the arse
nal Hampe cut Garrett during the
colloquy with his knife on the hand,
but the injury is slight. Garrett in
sisted that he did not have the key
and that he did not know the combi-
nation to the lock of the armory. The
convicts then seized and tied him.
They then rushed to the .armory, sue
ceeded in smashing the lock, but new
ertheless did not manage to open it's
door to get at the ammunition and
guns therein kept They intended as
soon as they had the guns to rush up
stairs, seize the women, bring them
down and with Garrett use them as
shields against the firing of the guards
and thereafter make their escape.
This was frustrated, however, by an
alarm given to the guards by Walter
Hoffman, a United States convict in
carcerated for completely in the rob-
berry OF the postoffice at Separ, Grant
County, some time ago. After giving
the alarm Hoffman, who is trusty,
took a penitentiary horse and
rushed to the city for aid, the tele-
phone wires having been cut by the
convicts as soon as they entered the
Office where they secured Assistant
Superintendent Garrett, the latter be.
ing unarmed at the time in accordance
with the regulations.
The guards upon receiving the alarm
from Hoffman Immediately placed
themselves in front of the building
and in the main corridor, commanding |
the door of the Office wherein the con-
victs were with Garrett. Upon reach.
ing town. Hoffman gave the alarm and
quickly about 80 men armed them
selves and started for the penitentiary |
several of them returning with Hoff-
man, the latter whipping up the horse
and making the run in three minutes |
When they got there, the convicts had
seeing themselves over
powered and had again been placed In
their cells. AS soon as he heard of
The affair Governor Otero, Mr. Bur-
sum being absent, repaired to the pen
itentiary, made cursory inquiry,
which will be followed by a thorough t
as time progresses. The
Governor also ordered the four men to
be chained and to be placed in their
cells for the time being, pending an
examination of the affair which will be
made.
''Alls we'll that ends WELL" Very
serious consequences and sure loss of
life were only averted by the bravery
and loyalty of Hoffman. Had this
rusty not given the alarm, the con-
victs in all likelihood would have sue
ceeded in escaping as the guards were
all busy within the grounds and out
side in charge of different detach-
ments of prisoners at their daily work.
t is but justice to say that the con-
luct of the prisoners in general. that
S of those who were not In the con-
;piracy, was exemplary and when or
Tered to go to their cells or to keep at
work, they did SO without hurmur
md without the slightest opposition. II
n fact the sympathy Of the prisoners
vas not in any manner with the gang II
hat made the attempt. at escape and
he convicts by their good conduct
md submissiveness aided the guards Il
in preventing the break ~
hose who assaulted and tied Mr. II
Jarrett. The universal opinion here Is /
hat Hoffman as reward fqf Ais time
Y and courageous action II Gtttng the
larm, galloping to the city. ana sum-
ncuing help, Is certainly 6ltitled to Z