New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-14
| ocked in Wyoming Penitenti-
ary with Hundreds of Mutt
neerS, Battle DeSper-
ateIy for Life.
MANY PRISONERS ESCAPE
Kill Citizens in Rawlins, Steal
Horses and Hold Posses at
Bay in Hills-Militia
Asked to Quell
Outbreak.

Rawlins, Wyo, oct. 13.-A battle
-aged early tonight in the state peni-
,sntiary. Locked inside the walls with
hundreds Of mutinous prisoners. a few
ouards fought desperately to restore
order and prevent wholesale jail de-
livery.
Camped outside the walls was a force
~ citizens heavily armed, ready TO
drive back the conviCts if they muir
dered the remaining guards and made
o rush through the gates. Shouts and
occasional shots told Of desperate fight
ing within the walls, and IT was ru-
mored that several guards and convicts
we're killed
Another battle was in progress at the
same time in the hills south of Raw
Inns, between a posse Of citizens ana
from twenty to forty escaped prisoners.
Two men were killed in the streets OF
Raylins. one was desperately wounded
and two convicts were recaptured, fol-
lowing the escape Of from ten to thirty
prisoners this afternoon.
The town is in a panic. Frantic tele-
grams were sent TO Governor Carey
now at Sheridan, imploring him TO send
state troops to protect the citizens.
Townspeople barricaded themselves in
their homes tonight, or heavily
armed patrolled the streets.
Prisoners Rush for Gates.
The outbreak to-day was the second
within twenty-four hours. About p.
m. Yesterday twenty prisoners escaped
and rine were recaptured before 8
o'clock. At 2:3O this afternoon a party
Of desperate life termers overpowered
the cell housekeeper, took his keys and
released their comrades from their
cells. Every prisoner willing TO risk a
battle with the guards made rush for
the gates.
A moment later the citizens Of the
town heard fusillade Of shots inside
the walls. A bedlam of shouts and
wells echoed from the prison. few
seconds later more than a dozen men
dashed down the main street, armed
with guns and knives. Holding the
few citizens at bay with revolvers. they
charged into a livery barn, holding up
the proprietor and hastily throwing
saddles and brides on the horses.
A huge negro, armed with a revolver,
was left as guard on the outside.
Charles Stressner, a barber, had heard
the commotion and came down the
street with a shotgun. The negro shot
him through the head, killing him in
stantly.
At the sound Of the shot the convicts
swarmed from the barn, some with
stolen horses and some afoot. A Mexi-
can wantonly stabbed the proprietor in
the face. severely wounding him, and
few seconds later paid for the deed
with his life. Hugh Rogner, a deputy
sheriff, shot him twice, killing him al
most instantly.
Running Battle in the Hills.
Leaving their dying comrade, the
eonvicts made a dash for the rocky hills
south Of the town. A party Of peniten-
tiary guards followed in close pursui',
and before the bewildered citizens had
had time TO form posse pursuers ana
fugitives had disappeared among the
hills. In a short time posses had been
formed, and one of the most desperate
man hunts in the history Of the West
was on.
The convicts scattered into small
groups, all striving to escape in the al
most impossible stretch of rocky coun-
Continued on third page, third column.