Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-11-30
Desperate Attempt to Escape From
Missouri Penitentiary.
TWO PRISON OFFICERS WERE KILLED
-Four COnvicts Blow mp the Gates
and Reach street but IRE Re-
captured After Two Have
Been Shot.

cOnvicts at 1915 o'clock FRIDAY AFTER
noon, resulting in a terrific battle
with weapons and nitro-glycerine at
the prison gate, a running fight
through the streets Of Jefferson City
and the final capture Of the four con-
yicts, two of whom were shot and
wounded. Two prison officers wero
shot dead and third seriously wound
| ed.
Warden Mat W. Hall. Yardmaster
Porter. Gilvih and five .prison guards
departed Friday morning for Fort
Leayenworth, Kan, ON a special train
conveying II federal prisoners, who
are being transferred from the Mis-
souri, state penitentiary to the gov
eminent prison at Fort Leavenworth.
1t is believed that this fact had much
to do with the outbreak, as 1t Is sur
missed the convlcts had counted largely
upon Warden Halls absence In their
premeditated attempt to escape.
There was not the slightest premo-
milton of any trouble within the pris-
on walls. Suddenly convicts Harry
Vaughn, Charles Raymond, sHiram
Blake, George Ryan and Ell Zeigler,
who were working in close proximity
to the prison gate, inside the Enclosure,
as IL 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 bottle
Of nltro-glycerine. Where these weap-
ons and the explosive were obtained
has not yet been discovered. Rush
ung 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. In
stantly they returned to the gate and
met Gateman John Clay, who had been
alarmed by the shots. Before be could
raise his weapon he was shot dead.
Then, as If to signal the convicts gen.
orally that the attempt to escape had
been started, the conyicts 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
1t on the inside. They were then In
the wagon entrance to the penitentiary
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 desperate convicts were
deferred but for moment. Placing
their nitroglycerine 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 number Of
"trusty" convicts working In the street
and ran madly for 10 blocks. zeigler,
1t was found, had failed to leave the
penitentiary walls. \
Almost before the four escaping con-
victs had covered the distance Of one
block, the prison officials heavily arm
ed, were in pursuit, shooting as they
ran.
= A desperate fear gave speed to the
convicts and they outran their pur-
suers. Near the Missouri Pacific depot
they came upon a wagon being driven
by orville Lane. Jumping into this
wagon they seized Lane and held him
10 act as a shield from the bullets of
their pursuers. One convict dashed the
horses into a run. The wild ride was
of short duration, however, as another
posse consisting Of city police augu-
mented by citizens appeared in front of
them and seeing that further flight
was cut of they stopped the horses and
made q ldesDarate stands Lane was
thrown to the bottom Of the wagon and
crouching over him, shielding them
selves to the best possible advantage
behind the sides Of the vehicle, they
opened fire, back to back, on their
pursuers. The prison offlcials shouted
to them to surrender or they would
be shot dead. Their only reply was
a volley from their reFolvers.. Then
followed .on the most desperate street
battles that ever took place In the an
mails OF escaping convicts In Jefferson
City. The posse men jumped behind
trees and shot with telling effect, spIin-
tering the wagon and finally putting
a bullet through one Of the convicts
who fell to the ground. There upon,
seeing that death was inevitable and
further resistance useless the convicts
surrendered. With a rush the ofIicials
closed around the wagon prepared TOT
shoot TO the death II the surrender
was a ruse, But no resistance was
offered. It was found that Convicts
Vaughn and Blake were suffering
from bullet wounds. Driver Orville
Lane and Convicts Ryan and Raymond
were uniniured The convicts were i'm
mediately taken back to the penitenti-
ary where the wounded were given
medical attention. while the unlnjured
were placed in solitary confinement in
dungeon cells,
A rigid Investigation was Immediate,
" started to ascertain from what