Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-01-12

" the prisoners at the Oregon state
henitentiary, Tuesday, July 8, 1888.
Nhe story of this episode was revived
~ friend of The Journal, who is in
Fossession of copy of the Salem Daily
Talk, now The Daily Capital Journal,
Vas kindly consented to the reprinting
ef it. The Talk says
"At about half past nine O'Clock
Ibis morning the people of our quiet
eity were surprised by the appearance
of a messenger from the penitentiary
bringing the startling news that an
attempt had been made by the prison
ers at the state prison to overpower
the guards and officers and make their
Escape. The number that succeeded in
getting outside the enclosure OF stock
ade was IA, eight of whom succeeded
in gaining their liberty and are still
at large, the remainder either being
Killed or wounded by Guards Milford
saltwater and Allie Veatch. The fol-
loving are the particulars as we learned
Them:
GA plot had been perfected by the
prisoners at work in Goldsmith & Low
enberg's foundry to overpower some of
the officers, and at a certain signal
make a break for freedom. According
ly this morning at about half past
blight, as Warden George Collins was
eoming from the brickyard on the east
side of the penitentiary to his office,
Mr.. Fletcher, one of the overseers, told
him that trouble was brewing among
he prisoners. AS he spoke, and while
passing near the foundry, McKern and
Gid Bichamp, the ringleaders, rushed
but, followed by about 80 of their
striped accomplices, who Immediately
seized upon Collins and Fletcher and
marched them in front up to a small
gate on the northwest side of the pris-
on, where Milford Saltwater was stand
ing guard, and told the guard that if
he shot any of them they would kill
Collins and Fletcher. Notwithstanding
these threats Saltwater pulled the
trigger, but the gun missed fire. Run
ming to his stand he secured another
gun of Bridges and fred into the
crowd as they were passing through
the gate, instantly killing one of the
prisoners named Charles Brown. At
this time Fletcher succeeded in freeing
himself and, closing the gate, prevented
the rest of the prisoners from escaping.
ID the meantime the guard fred again,
wounding McKern, one of the leaders,
the ball taking effect in the lower part
Of the hip, just as they were entering
the office for the purpose of securing
firearms. Enraged at the good marks
manship and the inroads Mr.. Saltwater
was making in their ranks, Smith, one
of the gang, attempted to cut the
throat of Warden Collins, he having
before threatened to do so. Mr.. Co
bat, the turnkey, observing the act,
drew his pistol and attempted to fire,
but was overpowered by the convicts,
but not until he had fred one shot,
which entered the wall of the office.
Mr.. Gobat is an unerring marksman,
and would have killed his man had
not his arm been thrown aside by one
of the gang.
''The affray was now getting inter
esting. Smith, realizing the situation,
grabbed a tamping iron, which had
been taken from the foundry, from an
other prisoner, and attempted to strike
the turnkey on the head, but Mr.. Col
Inns, by an almost superhuman effort, |
managed to get between the two men
Just in time to receive the full weight |
of the blow, thereby saving the life of
Mr.. Gobat.
"The convicts now began their
search for arms, but found none, ex-
cept an unloaded rife belonging to
Stratton, and the turn
keys pistol, which had three loads in
it. The rife was secured by Brad |
shaw, the noted desperate, who was
one of Turner g robbers
"Stillwater was in the meantime
keeping up the good work, while in the
hall a convict named Ben Rivers
caught a shot in the back, and his soul
gently took its flight three hours later.
another of the Turner rob
bers, while in the hallway, was shot
by Saltwater in the foot, but the
wound was not severe enough to bring
him to terms They now left the build
ing by the south doorway, and there
Mr.. Veateh, one who has
a most honorable record as a guard
aud marksman, but his ability was Of
little use, for they kept Mr.. Collins be
tween him and themselves, but as they /