Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1905-11-29
DESPERATE JAIL BREAK.
Missouri State Prison Scene Of Ter.
a rifle Battle.

Jefferson City, Mo-, Nov. 25.-A
desperate attempt to escape from the
state prison was made by four con-
victs at 3:i5 o'clock Friday afternoon,
resulting in a terrific battle with weap-
ons and nitro-glycerine at the prison
gate, running fight through the
streets of Jefferson city, and the final
capture of the four convicts, two of
whom were shot and wounded. Two
prison officials were shot dead and a
third seriously wounded.
The dead: John Clay, gatekeeper; ;
T.. Allison, officer OF the commissary
department; Hiram Blake, burglar.
Warden Matt w. Hall, Yardmaster
Porter Gilvin and five prison guards
had departed for Fort Leavenworth,
Kan. on a. special train conveying II
federal prisoners, who are being trans
ferred from the Missouri state peni.
tentiary to the federal prison at Fort
Leavenworth.
There was not the slightest pre-
monition of any trouble within the
WdIlo. EuuuCuiy SohNlSto IAoii
Vaughn. Charles Raymond, Hiram
Blake. George Ryan and Eli Zeigler.
VINO were working in close proximity
10 the prison gates, inside the inclos-
ure, as ifby given signals, made rush
for the gate. From their pockets they
drew pistols, and it is presumed that
at least one Of them carried a bottle
OF nitro glycerine.. Where these weap.
ons and the explosive were obtained
has NIT yet been discovered. Rushing
past the gate they entered Deputy
Warden SGes office and shot him as he
sat in his chair. He sank back and
was unable to resist them. Instantly
they returned to the gate and met
Gaterian John Clay, who had been
alarmed by the shots. Before he could
raise his weapon he was shot dead.
Then, as ii to signal the convicts
generally that. the attempt to escape
had been started, the cOnvicts seized
the bell rope hanging by the gate and
momentarily rang the bell.
Gateman Clay had left the wagon
gate ajar when he appeared and was
shot dead" The convicts rushed
through, dragging his body with them,
slammed the gate shut and fastened
it on the inside. They were then in
the wagon entrance to the peniten-
tiary, this entrance being about 40 feet
long by Is feet wide, and leading to
the public street through another
double gate Of steel. This outside gate
was locked, but the desperadoes were
deferred but for a moment. Placing
their nitro-glycerine under the outside
gate they blew an opening through the
massive steel doors, and before the
smoke had cleared from the opening
they had dashed through past num-
ber. Of "trusty" convicts working in
the street and made their way for IL
blocks. ~
Charles Blake, the convict who was
shot during the mutiny. died during
the night. Writhing on his deathbed,
Blake would only moan, you don't
know us; III never tell" and that is
all the authorities have learned so far
in their efforts to fix the responsible
ity for the outbreak.
Governor Folk sat at the side Of the
dying convict and endeavored to per-
suade him to make confession. He
was followed by officials Of the peni-
tentiary and for several hours they
pleaded, threatened or offered immun-
ity for a confession Of the details OF
the desperate plot to escape. but Blake
fatty refused TO divulge any informa-
tion and finally death sealed his lips.
His death made the third resulting
from the mutiny. The wounded men,
Deputy Warden See,. Guard ]. X.
Young, Convicts Harry Vaughn and
Charles Raymond alt will recover.
This much has been discovered. that
four As caliber reyolvers and 100 cart
ridges and two half pint bottles OF
nitro-glycerine- were secured by the
leaders OF the mutiny.
The prison authorities are inclined
to believe that the mutiny had been
for q much larger scale and
that it was to have been a general up
rising, but for some reason the plans
did not fully carry.