Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-11-17
Secures Rest, Clothes and Food In
Hastily Abandoned Rockport House.
Warden Norton Orders His Men to Shoot to Kill
If Francis Makes Any Resistance.

fugitive secured a few hours rest in an
unoccupied cottage in Beauchamp
Point at Roclport while half hun
dred armed men We're searching for him
in the immediate vicinity This morn
ing. refreshed by his sleep and by the
food which he found in the house,
Francis went forth once more clad in
fresh clothing which he found in the
house. His face was made to look pale
and somewhat like the color Of a white
man ana he carried with him a suit
case containing food.
With his appearance thus changed
TIE convict was seen by two deputies,
but he was permitted TO continue on
his way unmolested. Half an hour later
when a visit to the cottage revealed the
caSt-of clothing of Francis, the officers
realized that they had again been
fooled. but when they attempted to
pick Up the trail Of the man they had
permitted to pass without question. he
had secured a good start and was lost
to view.
Five roads leading out Of Rockport
are ricl:eted by armed men and with
n cordCH of men thrown around the
800 acres Of woodland in which Francis
passed the night it is hoped to bring
him To bay soon.
Thomaston. Me. Nov. 16.--Francis.
the escaped state prison convict, had
not been captured early today. 1t was
uncertain whether he had escaped from
Bcauchamp Point at Rockport. where
I il seemed certain he was surrounded at
midnight by half hundred armed men,
or was in hiding in some one of the %
/ unoccupicd cottages and camps in the
/ park.
/ Postotlce Inspector W. +. Robinson.
/ who has a personal knowledge of
| Francis description and characteristics.
/ was positive from the description of the
/ negro seen at Rockport and chased to
/ BCauchamp Point that he was Francis.
/ At ono time in the night the inspector
! ard others were within 30 feet Of the
/ dCSncrado, hut in til" darkness and rain
/ were unable to shoot with any degre
/ of accuracy ard he cvaIed them.
! When the storm reached its height
! search was abandoned and the small
/ don in front Of the park. which con-
4 tainS 500 acres of wooded land forming
/ q point into Rockport harbor and Pc
nobscot bay. Two men also were picket
/ ed on each of five roads leading to the
park.
/ There was 2 wide range Of territory
I and. even with the arrangements it
/ was not impossible for the negro t.
have skipped through. The men were
! under the personal command of War
| den r. o. Norton of the State prison
! and were fully aware that at any no.
/ ment they might be in conflict with q
| desperate and dangerous ard probably
| armed criminal in whose capture the
( federal and State officials and thou
sands of people are interested.
A couple of hours after search was
! resumed in the park today, the officers
were Informed that the negro, now pos
| itively believed to be Francis. slept for
! a few hours this morning in the cot
! taEe of Vincent Daucett. VINO. with his
| family. was away for the night because
of fear of the hunted man.
When he left, the intruder discarded
his clothing. also some squirrel skins
which had been wrapped around his
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