The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-25
Shoot Guards and Escape from
 Prison Walls
RUN FOR TWELVE BLOCKS
Two Are Dead and Three Are Injured as Result of Terrific Battle On
 Streets of Jeffer- t-j son City.

Jefferson City. Mo-. november s4.-A desperate attempt to escape from the state prison was made by four convicts at 3:15 D. m. this afternoon, resulting In a ter rific 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 convicts, two of whom were shot and wounded. Two prison officers were shot dead and third seriously wounded. The dead:
 John Clay, gatekeeper. E. Allison. officer of the commissary department.
 Hiram Blake. convict. from Grundy county.
 The wounded:
 Deputy Warden R. E. See, shot in arm and hip.
 Harry Vaughan, convict. St. Louis. shot in arm-
 Mutineers captured unhurt: Joe Ryan. St. Louis; Charles M. Raymond.
 Took Advantage of Absence. Warden Hall, Yardmaster Gilman and five prison guards departed this morning for Leavenworth, Kan. on a special train conveying seventy-one federal prisoners, who are being transferred from the Mis- souri state penitentiary to the govern ment prison at Fort Leavenworth. It is believed that this fact had much to do with the outbreak as it is surmised the convicts had counted largely upon War den Halls absence in their premeditated .l otfa,,,vt to aenapa
 There was not the slightest premonition of any trouble within the prison walls. Suddenly Convicts Vaughan, Raymond, Blake, Ryan and zeigler, who were work ing in close proximity to the prison gate inside the inclosure. as if by given sig nals, made rush for the gate From their pockets they drew pistols and it is presumed that at least one of them car ried 8 bottle of nitro -glycerine. Where these weapons and the explosive were ob- taned has not yet been determined. Rush. ing past thei 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 re- turned to the gate and met Gateman John Clay, who had been attracted by the shot. Before he could raise his weapon he was shot dead
 Guard E.. Allison, who was attracted by the shooting, was their next victim. He was shot through the head and died al- most instantly.
 Seized Bell and Gave Signal.
 Then as if to signal the convicts that the attempt to escape had been started the convicts seized the bell rope hang ing by the gate and momentarily rang the bell.
 Gateman Clay had left the wagon gate ajar when he appeared. and he was shot dead. The convicts rushed through drag ging his body with them, slammed the gate shut and fastened it in the inside They were then in the wagon entrance to the penitentiary, this entrance being about forty feet long by fifteen feet wide and leading to the public street through an- other gate of double steel This was locked but the convicts were deterred but for a moment. Placing their nitro -glycerine un der the outside gate, they blew a hole through the massive steel doors and be- fore the smoke had cleared from the op- ening. they had dashed through a number of trusty convicts working in the street and ran for nearly twelve blocks. Zeigler. it was found. had failed to leave the pen itentiary walls
 Shooting as They Ran. Almost before the convicts had covered the distance of one block the prison off cials, heavily armed. were in pursuit, shooting as they ran Pedestrians jumped behind these, ran into houses and crouch ed down behind any obstacle that pre- sented refuge. The occupants in the houses along the line of fight, alarmed by the shooting, rushed out to ascertain the cause. The women of the neghbor- hood grasped weapons and joined the men in the pursuit. The chase gave speed to the convicts and they outran their pur- suers.
 Near the Missouri Pacific railroad de- pot they came upon a wagon being driven by Orvile Lane. Jumping into this wagon theiy seized Lane and held him to act as shield from the bullets of their pur- suers. One convict lashed the horse into a run. The wild ride was of short dura- tion. however, as another posse, composed of the city police. augmented by the citi- zens, appeared in front of them, and seeing that further flight was cut off, they stopped the horse and made des- perate stand. Lane was thrown to the bottom of the wagon and crouching over him, shielding themselves to the best pos sble advantage behind the sides of the vehicle they opened fire, back to back on their pursuers. The prison officials shout ed to them to surrender or they would be shot dead They only replied with a. volley from their revolvers. Desperate Street Battle. Then followed one of the most desperate street battles that ever took place in the annals of escaping convicts in Jefferson City. The possemen jumped behind trees and shot with telling effect. splintering the wagon and finally putting a bullet through one of the convicts, who fell to the ground
 Thereupon seeing that death was inevit- able and further resistance useless. the convicts surrendered. With a rush the of fcers closed around the wagon prepared to shoot to death If the surrender was ruse But no resistance was offered. It was found that convicts Vaughan and Blake were suffering from bullet wounds. Driver Lane and Convicts Ryan and Ray mond were uniniured. The convicts were immediately taken to the penitentiary. where the wounded were given medical attention, while the uninjured were placed in solitary confinement in dungeon cells rigid investigation was immediately held to ascertain from what source the mutineers obtained their weapons and ex- plosives.
 Member of Famous Gang. Oonvick Vaunhna from St. JOuiH Waa