The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-11-30
Two Officers and One Con.
vict Killed at Jefferson
City.
a BREAK FOR LIBERTY
-Four conyists, We'll Armed, Shot Down
Guards and Made for Gates and
Fight Ensued Through
Streets Of Town.

~ AHNAfiAhAtANe NaH llsHANA' 10 ANNA ANhs
last Friday. resulting Ia a ter
rife battle with weapons n nitro
glyc.rin At the prison gate, "A running
IEht through he streets OF Jefferson
city and the ina capture OF the four
CuuyiCts. two of whom were shot, one
being killed. Two prison officers were
shot dead and a third was severely
wounded.
The dead:
JOHN CLAY. a g~atckccpcr.
\. ALLISON. officer OF the commits
gary department.
CONVICT HIRAM BLAKE.
The wounded:
Deputy Warden Il. T.. See. shot In he
arm and hip.
Harry Vaughn. convict. 81. Louis,
shot In arm.
Mutinecrs captured unhurt:
George Ryan, from 81. Louis
Charles Raymond.
Warden Matt Hall. Yardmaster Por-
ter Gilvin aud five prison guards de-
parted his morning for Fort LcaVen
worth. Kan, on "a special train convey
ing scvcnty-onc federal prisoners. who
arc being transferred from the Mis-
souri, state pcnitcntiary TO the govern
mont prison ut Fort ~L.cavcnwoTth. IL
Il IL believed that this fact had much
TO 10 with the outbreak yesterday, as
IL is asserted that the ConNicts had
counted on Warden Halls absence In
their prcmcdiatcd attempt To escape.
Were Well Armed.
There was not the slightest Fremont
tlon OF any trouble within h prison
walls. Suddenly Convicts Harry
Vaughn. Charles Raymond, Hiram
Blake. George Ryan apd Eli Zeisier.
who were working ia close proximity
TO the prison gate. inside the Enclosure,
as II by a given signal, made a rush
for the gate. From their pockets they
drew pistols and II H. presumed that at
least one OF them carried 4 bottle OF
nitruglyCcriu. Where tRcyc weapons
and the explosive were obtained has
not yet been ascsTtatUcd. ~
Rushing past the gate they entered
Deputy Warden Sees Office and sUDt
him as he sat IN his chair. lie sank
back and was unable "a resist them.
Instantly they returned To tEr gate ana
met Gatcman John clay, wAn had been
alarmed by the shots. Before lac could
raise his weapon hv WAS shot dead.
Guard T.. \. Allison. who WAS At
tracted BY the shooting. was their next
victim. He was shot through the head
and died almost Instantly.
Then "a III To- signal the coUNiciS gen
orally that the attempt to escape utd
been started the conyiCts seized the bell
rope hanging by Tn" gate u muraU-
tarily rang the bell. Gaicugu clay had
left the wager gnt" ujar when hr "U-
tered and WAS shot dead.
The conyicts rushed through, drag
giEg his body with them. slammed the
gate shut and fastened a. on the inside.
They were In the wagon entrance 10 iLr
p~enitentiary. this entrance hv'.g nhrut
forty feet long by fftccn feet 1T" aud
leading To the public street through $40.
other double gate OF s,cct THIS nIi-
side gate was locked. hut IN" ar.pt "a
does were deferred but fnr a iru'uvul.
Blew Up the Wall.
Placing the uii~roglyccrin U..H"r ire
gate they blew an opening through
the massive door aud before tEu .r..Ac
cleared away they had dashed past 70
number OF 'trusty" CUuvicls WuINing De
the streets and RAJ nau!y lur tH,i."
blocks. Zciglcr. u was found l.al
failed To leave the p""nlirrtI,Ty wal.
Almost before the - escaped Duas..i"
had covered the GlstaEC" ct uWc n,n. B.
the prison officials, heavily armed. N'.'
IN pursuit. shooting as they ran. -
dcstrians Jumped behind Trees. r'u into
houses and CruuuIcd doNn behind u''y
obstacle that presented refuge.
Thos LIVING iu houses along iN" i.E"
Of flight. alarmed by the snuritn. f..
rushed out to ascertain the cause.
Women screamed and fed. while iAH
majority OF the men seized W .vaE3
and Joined the prison officials .u ia"
pursuit. \ desperate fear Es.NH paced
TO the Convlutg und they oulTtv tHr.r
pursucrs. Near the Missouri Pant!is
railway depot they came upon a wagon
being driven by OTyillc Lane. jump
ing Into this wagon they seized la,u"
and held him 20 act as a shield from
the bullets Of their ]pulsuCrs. ono 81
the Couvicts dashed the horse mao 81
run.
Fight in the Streets.
The wild ride was OF short Duration.
however. AZ another posse. consisting az
city police, augmented by citizens ap-
reared In front OF them. and seeing
that further riRht was cut on they
stnpped the horse and made q desperate
stand. Lane was thrown to IN" bot
tom OF the wagon ana. ~crouchtUg over
him and shielding themselves TO The
best possible advantage behind the side
OF the vehicle. they opened fire back on
their p~ursUcrs.
The prison officials shouted In th"U'
20 surrender or they would b" shot
dead. Their only reply was " No!trS
from thor rCyo!y"ra
Then followed one OF ~" most du7-
rcratc street battlc8 That ever took p'a""
In the annals ~ escaping couvic,s Goo ~.
fcrsan CITY. The policemen jumped bn-
Ind fFrCE and shot with i'tlluE "I'N',
spllntcrlnE the wagon and lnllly put;i'E
a bullet through Quo OF the Couyicis. who
fal 10 tho ground. T~hcrcup0u. seeing that
death was Inevitable and further resist
aur, useless. the conyicts surrendered.
with a rush the officers closed around tho
wagon. prepared 10 shoot 20 the death u
the surrender was a rasc, Eut no r"s'st-
aucc was offered. II wa found that Cog
yIcts Vaughn and nlak" were suffering
from bullet wounds. Driver OWN" Lane
and ConyiCts Ryan and Raymond were
un.njurcd.
Conviets Retaken.
The conNicis were Immediately taken
hack 20 the penitcntiary. where thu
Wounded were given medical attention.
while the uninjurci Were placed In soil
tary confinement In dungeon cells.
A rigid Investigation was Immediately
started 10 ascertain from what sourc. the
mutinecTs obtained their weapons and the
explosive.
Convict Harry Vaughn. from 81. Louis.
was sentenced for t~hirty-nye years for
first degree robbery. Vaughn IL the man
who was n member OF the Morris oscnau
gang, with which three detectives Tough;
a terrific battle on Chestnut street In -.
Louis. One detective was shot dead and
the other two detectives died later In the
city hospital from wounds. Rosenau. ono