Cañon City record., 1907-09-05

tiary had not the alarm been given so
quickly.
The four cons mentioned were en-
ployed that night in the boiler room.
At ten O'Clock they were given their
lunch in the guards dining room AZ
ter eating, as Night Captain Rooney
was letting them out of the dining
room, he was grabbed by one about
the arms. A scuffle ensued, but Cap
tain Rooney fell, pierced through the
heart by a keen knife. The Assistant
Night Captain C. F. Maloney and En-
gineer Humphrey were captured and
securely tied in the barber shop. Go
ing to the boiler room, one of the
cons applied bucket of soap to the
betting which runs the electric light
ing dynamo. This threw the belt and
left the place in entire darkness. 1t
was then the desperate four escaped
over the back wall by means of gas
pipe hooked over the top o. the wall.
Much confusion resulted about the
pen. The warden and various officers
had heard the alarm and were soon on
the ground. But the dead night cap
tain had all the keys on his person on
get in to find out the facts as hereto
fore stated. 1t was thought for a while
that all the cell houses had been open
ed and the yard full of cons were wait
ing to break for liberty. The alarm
had been given by the ringing of the
fire bell and blowing of the pen whis-
tie and several we'll armed citizens
soon gathered at the pen.
They were stationed on the walls
and at several good places to prevent
an outbreak.
General excitement prevailed throu-
ghout the town. Many exaggerated rum
ors were afloat. 1t was said that the
entire penitentiary had broken out
and was coming up Main street in a
body Both men and women about
town were scared beyond reason. A
dance in Shaeffer's hall, one of the
swell affairs, was broken up by the
night marshal, and all hurried home
for their safety, the men no doubt fear
Ag the cons might make raid and
disposess them of their dress suits.
Many brave CD men stood on Beech
er's corner, doing duty as guards and
keeping people without arms from go
ing nearer the scene Of the supposed
battle. Some others, . little more
brave, got N near the pen a Capt
Rockafellow's home. 1t seemed the fur
ther away from the pen the greater
the excitement.
A later edition of The Weekly Rec
ord tells graphically of the greusome
aftermath OF the escape. Feeling over
the killing OF Night Captain Rooney
ran high. Threats of violence If he
was captured were rumored. The fol-
lowing Friday night, four days after
the escape, the city fire alarm was
sounded. People ran out, expecting a
IRE, but could find none. Then 1t was
whispered that Reynolds had been run
down near Florence and that q car
riage was bringing him back to the
pen. Guards were stationed at the
several approaches to town and a de-
termined mob quietly gathered at
Main and First streets. As the rig
crossed the First street bridge, two
shots. the agreed signal, rang out, an
nouncing the prisoners arrival. At
the prison gate the prisoner was de-
mapded,, and the officers in charge,
seeing that resistance was useless,
gave; the man up. He was taken to tho
corner Of MAil ,aed First streets and
. moose adjusted About his neck. He
was given IN opportunity to speak,
but would say nothing, except to ask
for a cigarette. The miserable man,
wan and haggard from four days OF
exposure and fear, was hoisted some
ten feet in the air, then lowered and
asked II he had anything to say. Again
he refused to talk.
Then strong men drew the rope
tight and the body was lifted far up
towards the cross bars Of the pole.
Here 1t was allowed to hang.
Not q shot was fired except the sig
nal of approach. The mob dispersed
in an orderly way. The next day at
noon the body was taken down and
buried in the penitentiary burying
ground.