The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-11-25

FIGHT WITH
CONvICTS

Jefferson City, Mo, Nov. 20.-ln a des-
perate attempt 70 escape from the state
penitentiary yesterday afternoon FIVE con-
victs fought for freedom with weapons
and nltro-glycerine at the prison gate.
Deputy Warden See.
-Four OF the men then made a dash
through the streets OF Jefferson City UNI
der fire, only to be captured after two OF
them had been wounded.
Five prisoners, taking advantage Of the
absence of Warden Hall and six guards,
who left yesterday with Il Federal prison.
ers for Fort Leavenworth. attempted to
escape. but only four left the prison after
wrecking the gate.
Convicts Harry Vaughn, Charles Ray
mond. Hiram Blake, George Ryan and Ell
Ziegler, who were working close inside
the prison gate. having secured pistols
and a bottle Of nitro-glycerine. entered
Deputy. Warden Sees office and shot him
in the arm and hip as he sat in the chair.
He sank back helpless and the convicts
rushed to the gate, where they met Gate
man John Clay, who, being alarmed by
the shot fred at See opened the gate to
look inside. Before Clay could raise his
weapon he was shot dead. r. Allison.
commlssary officer. ran TO Clay's assist
ance and he was shot dead.
BLEW UP THE GATE.
Then as If to signal the c%onvicts gem
orally that ar attempt 10 escape had been
started. the convicts rang the gate bell
and rushed through. dragging C1ay's body
with them. They slammed the gate and
fastened II.
While Ziegler was ringing the bell he
was left inside. The four convicts then
were IN the wagon entrance 20 the peni-
tertiary. This entrance Is 10 feet long and
Is feet wide. 1t cad to the public street
through a second double gate or steel,
which was locked.
The ~convicts placed nitru-glycerine UNI
der the outside gate and blew an opening
through the steel doors. The four men
crawled through this rapture and dashed
past a number Of "trusty" %conVicts who
were working In tho street.
Almost before the four escaped convicts
had covered a block prison officers were
in pursuit. shooting as they ran. Pedes-
TRANS Jumped behind trees. ran into
houses and crouchcd down behind any OBJ
stacle that presented refuge from the
bullets.
Several men seized weapons and Joined
the prison officers in the pursuit. The
chase kept on for a dozen blocks, the con-
victs outrunning their pursuers.
USED HIM AS SHIELD.
Near the Missouri Pacific railway depot
the convicts came Up with a wagon driven
by Orville Lane. Jumping into this wagon,
the desperadoes seized Lane and used him
as a shield from the bullets OF their pur-
suers.
one convict dashed the horse into a run
and escape seemed sure. when suddenly
p squad OF city policemen and armed citi-
zens appeared in front OF the fleeing men,
who stopped the horse and made a des-
perate stand.
Lane was thrown 10 the bottom OF the
wagon. and, crouching over him. shielding
themselves as we'll ss possible behlnd the
sides OF the vehicle. the four convicts
fou sht the policemen.
Volley after volley was fired IN the
street by both sides. while residents and
pedestrians we're panic-stricken. The po-
lice sheltering themselves behind trees.
splintered the wagon and plowed UP tho
mud. finally putting a bullet through
Vaughn and Blake. the latter falling TO
the ground and dying later.
Then the convicts surrendered, much to
the relief OF Lane. who said that bullets
had blown splinters all, about him. Lane
and his horse and convicts Ryan and Ray
mond were uninjured. The convicts we're
Immediately taken back 70 the peniten-
tiary.
for a5 years for ROBBERY, after a street
fEht, In which he and n companion shot
three detectives To death.
Raymond and Blake are serving three
years each for burglary. Ryan is serving
eight years for robbery. while Ziegler is
under sentence OF three years for robbine
bodies NJ a railroad wreck.