Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-11-16

Thomaston, Me, Nov 1J.-Shcrtly be-
fore midnight Warden Norton, who went
to Rockport earlier in the evening to III
vestigate the report that Francis had
been seen there. telephOned to the prison
and ordered some OF his men to follow
Warden Norton said that n negro an
swering the description of Francis had
been seen several times in the neighbor-
hood of Beauchamp Park in Rockport
felt quite sure that Francis was hiding in
the park. and that if n sufficient force
We're gathered his escape under cover OF
the darkness could be prelented.
Beauchamp park occupies a narrow
point of land extending into Rockport
harbor. There are several cottages along
the shore of the point and a small grove
at the inshore end
Warden Norton had 40 men assisting
him in guarding the park tonight and
he was confident that If Francis was in
the park he could not escape, though it
might not be possible to capture him be-
fore morning.
Several times the guards felt that the
fugitive was within Il ftw rods Of them
in the darkness, but they wera unable
to take any aim at him with their guns
and rifles.
The man believed to be Francis was
seen about { o'clock when he approached
a young woman named Lolita Hunt on
the highway just outside Rockport vii
Iagc and asked hor what town h" was in.
She told him he was in Rockport ana
without asking any more questions he
started in the direction Of Bcauchamp
park.
The girl said the mar looked tired and
somewhat nmi,ciatcd rs if from exposure
lie wore Il black SLOUGH hat and long
oycrcoat. His feet were apparently wrap
ned in rage While he spoke to the young
woman he kept his night hand in IN"
pockct of his long coat as if holding Il
weapon concealed. I'rder his left arr'
he carried bundle.
| 'Thomastun, Me. NOV. 15.--Many re-
ports of the appearance in various To-
caiities Of the negro desperate. Mlnot
st. Clair Francis. who escaped from
the Maine State prison here last Mon
day, continued to be received today by
Warden Norton, hut most of them
proved upon investigation to be ground
less. At the same time that Bath mill
tiamen were patrollng both shores or
the kenncbec river in the belief mat
the fugitive was endeavoring to reach
tina, seaport men and officers from
Rockland were searching Camden. on
tho snorc Of the PenObScot i'll response
| to n report that the negro was conceal
cd in an abandoned cottage there.
In both the cases the clues proved to
no rnimIortant. The Bath miIitiamtn
| learned that the man seen in TIL" viCin-
ity of the Eennebec was colored sail
| or and not the elusive Francis. While
| tho searching marty in Camden discoT-
| ered chat the report that the negro vas
| hiding there was baseless
| word was received late tonight that
, man answering the description OF
Francis had been seen just before dark
| ~ tho edge of the town of Rockport
| ,,d officers were sent from Rockland
| ~ take I'D the chase of the suspect.
| cnow hogan to fall about 6 o'clock to-
nirht and for a time there was a hope
.hot tic fall might be sufficient to help
tho officers in getting on the trail Of
the missing prisoner. but the snow was
succeeded by rain after half an hour.
and rain was still falling heavily late
tonight.
| Thomaston, Me-. Nov. 15.-1n the
l search for Francis. the much-wanted
negro criminal who escaped from the
State prison, both sides of the kenne-
bec river at Bath and Woolwich We're
guarded today by the Co. c. ID Reg.
N. G. s. NJ, of Bath, which was called
out shortly after l A. NJ. No trace of
him had been found at O'Clock. The
militiamen were armed with rifles and
bayonets and the order was to cap
ture Francis. dead or alive.
While the reports that located Fran
els in Woolwich, Wiscasset and near
Bath yesterday seemed conclusive and