Omaha daily bee., 1905-11-25

battle with a posse, died tonight.
JEFFERSON CITY. Mo. Nov. PA des-
perate attempt to escape from the state !
penitentiary was made by four convicts al |
815 O'Clock this afternoon, resulting in a /
terrific battle with weapons and nitrogly |
cerine at the prison gate. a running fight !
through the streets OF jefferson City and |
tho final capture of the four convicts, two |
Of whom were shot and wounded. Two !
prlson officers were shot dead and "A third |
severely wounded.
The dead
JOHN CLAY gatekeeper.
r. ALLISON. officer OF the commissary
department.
Wounded
Deputy Warden H. f. See, shot in arm
and hip.
Harry Vaughn. convict St. Louis shot in
Hlram Blake. convict from Grundy
county, shot and probably fatally hurt
Mutineers captured unhurt:
George Ryan from St Louis.
Charles Raymond.
Warden Mat w. Hall, Yardmaster Porter
iilvin and five prison guards departed this
corning for Fort Leavenworth, Kan, on
special train. conveying seventy-onc fed
pral prisoners, who are being transferred
from tho Missouri state penitentiary to the
government prison at Fort Leavenworth.
It is believed that this fact had much 10
do with the outbreak today, as It is sur
missed the convicts had counted largely
upon Warden Halls absence in their pre-
rneditated desperate attempt TO escape.
Outbreak without warning.
There was not the slightest premonition
Of any trouble within the prison walls
Suddenly convicts Harry Vaughn Charles
Raymond. Hiram Blake. George Ryan and
Eli zelgler who were working in close
proximity TO the prison gate, inside the
Enclosure. as II by given signal, made
rush for the gate. From their pockets
they drew pistols, and 1t is presumed that
at least one of them carried a bottle OF
nitro o1lycerine Where these weapons and
the explosive were obtained has not yet
been discovered Rushing past the gate
they entered Deputy Warden Sees 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 Gateman John Clay who had been
alarmed by the shots. Before he could
raise his weapon he was shot dead. Guard
=. A. Allison, who was attracted by the
shooting, was their next victim. He was
shot through the head and died almost in
stantly Then, as II TO signal the convicts
that the attempt 10 escape had been started,
the convicts, seized the bell rope hanging
by the gate andNmomentariy rang the bell
Gateman Clay had left the wagon gate
ajar when he appeared and was shot dead
The eonvicts rushed through, dragging his
body with them, slammed the gate shut
and fastened 1t on the inside. They were
then in the wagon entrance to the peni-
tentiary, this entrance being about forty
feet long by fifteen feet wide and leading
TO the public street through another double
gate of steel. This outside gate was locked,
but the desperate cOnvicts 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 the
opening they had dashed through past a
number of "trusty" convicts working in
the street and ran madly for twelve blocks.
zeigler, It was found. had failed to leave
the penitentiary walls. Almost before the
four escaping convicts had covered the dis
tance OF one block the prison officials,
heavily armed, We're in pursuit shooting
as they ran. Pedestrians jumped behind
trees, ran into houses and crouched down
behind any obstacle that presented refuge.
Those living in houses along the line OF
flight alarmed by the shooting rushed out
TO ascertain the cause. Women screamed
and fled precipitously, while the majority
OF the men seized weapons and joined the
battle from Wagon.
A desperate fear gave speed to the con.
victs and they outran their puTsuers. Near
the Missouri Pacific railway depot they
came upon wagon being driven by Or.
Vile Lane. Jumping into this wagon they
seized Lane and held him TO act as a shield
from the bullets OF their purspers One
convict lashed the horse into a run. Tn,
wild ride was OF short duration, however
as another posse consisting OF city polio,
augmented by citizens, appeared In from
OF them, and seeing that further figh
was cut of they stopped the horse anC
made desperate stand. Lane was throw
20 the bottom OF the wagon and crouchinI
over him. shielding themselves to the bes
possible advantage behind the sides of tn,
vehicle. they opened fire back TO back OF
their pursuers. The prisons oficial
shouted 10 them to surrender or they woul,
he shot dead. Their only reply was
volley from their revolvers. Then followe,
one OF the most desperate street battle
that ever took place in the annals OF es
Gaping eonvicts In Jefferson City Tn
possemen jumped behind trees and sho
with telling erfect, splintering the wago
and finally putting a bullet through on
of the convicts, who fell to the ground
Thereupon. seeing that death was inevitabl
and further resistance useless the convict
surrendered. With a rush the official
dos,d ar, md the wagon. prepared 70 shoe
~ TO the death II the surrender was A russ
But no resistance was offered II wa
found that Convicts Vaughn and Blak
were suffering from bullet wounds Drive
Orvilie Lane and Convicts Ryan and RAY
moud were uninjured. The convicts wer
Immediately taken back 10 the penItentiar
where the wounded were given medlca
attention. while the uninjured were place
In solitary confinement IN dungeon cells
4 rigid investigator was immediateI
started to ascertain from what source IN
mutineers obtained their Weapons and th
explosive,
Convict Harry Vaughn from ST. Lou
CONTINUED on second P.Sel