The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-10-17
CONWCTS BREAK JAIL
and FLEE TO HILLS
Wyoming Prisoners Battle With
Prison Officials 80 Several
Believed Dead.

Rawlins, Wyo., Oct. 15.-Armed with
shotguns, rifles, ~revolvers, %cleayers and
butcher knives, a half dozen or more
OF dangerous criminals We're said to be
trapped in a canyon just south of Raw
Inns early today. A battle between
these desperate men and the posse OF
| 100 men who camped on their trail in
the hills throughout the night, was ex-
pected momentarily.
The men in hiding were among the
dozen or more convicts who escaped
from the state penitentiary here late
yesterday afternoon after they had
overpowered the guards within the
prison. took their weapons from then
and fled down the main streets and
through yards of private homes, ter
rortzing men. women and children.
Paused to Kill.
The convicts paused in their mad
dash for freedom when they came up-
on a livery barn. secured mounts then
spec toward the hills before citizens
could arm and give chase.
The total number of prisoners who
escaped, it was said, would not be
known definitely at the prison, until
those remaining are lined up for a roll
call some time today. Owing to the
excitement III Rawlins, the total cas-
lalties We're unknown.
Antoine PaZo, q Mexican. heralded as
leader of the convicts in their break
for liberty, was shot to death by De-
putty Sheriff Rogner who saw the Mex
lean as he started on horseback for the
across the face and head with a butch
err knife. Talbert Is the owner Of the
livery barn.
Barber Shot BY Negro.
Charles Stressner, a barber, was shot
to death while walking along the
street, apparently unaware that the
convicts had escaped. A negro con-
Wet was seen to fire at Stressner.
Five of the convicts who escaped yes
terday were captured last night. They
We're convicts Elliott, Frazer. Stewart,
Burke and Gilmore. They had sought
refuge in cellar of private homes. in
box cars and in outbuildings. They
We're unarmed and offered but little
Desperate fighting was reported in
the prison between convicts and
guards, following the outbreak, but re-
ports that several men, both guards
and convicts We're killed there, were
unconfirmed.
First Break Saturday.
Eleven of the 20 conyicts who broke
out of the penitentiary Saturday after
IlOOu WcIe Sllll az ldTSe Ills IIlOI1lIlS
and it is believed that those who es-
capped yesterday have Joined forces
with their fellows who liberated them
selves Saturday. Warden Felix Aston,
with a possee of citizen and prison
guards was returning to Rawlins after
a fruitless search for the convicts
who escaped Saturday and he did not
know of the second delivery until he
J reached Rawlins early today.
Although a company of Wyoming
state militia remained under arms fol-
some time last night, the soldiers were
late in the night informed from Gov
ernor Carey's office at Cheyenne that
their services would not be needed
Governor Carey by telephone gave his
sanction to a request made by the may
or of Rawlins that he be authorized tc
surround the convicts with armed citi-
zens. The line was quickly established
and had a quoting effect upon the 800
or more convicts who made no attempt
q to escape.
, Bert Dalton, member of the Whit
ney gang of bandits, who terrorizec
Wyoming for months is said to have
succeeded Antoine Pazo as leader o.
r the onvicts in the hills.
While most Of the penitentiarJ
E guards were pursuing the convicts who
: fled to the hills, the small body left ii
the prison faced a still more desperate
situation. When the doors of the cells
| were unlocked a large number Of con
victs who did not join in the break fol
liberty were set free inside the walls
Riot in the Prison.
Many of them were armed. Soon {
riot was in progress, the guards bat
Ting desperately to save their owl
( convict in the Institution. The gate!
1 have remained locked and no definite
word has been received giving the
events within.
The report that several men havt
been killed has not been confirmed. Thu
citizens, however, believe the situation
critical and the determination to pos
a heavy guard outside the walls wa
reached when IT became apparent tina
the numerous prisoners had not beel
subdued and it was not believed tn
town was in imminent danger Of at
s tack.
> Person coming into town from tn
, south bring stories of a reign Of terro
u in the country districts. Riders hav
/, been sent to the ranches for a ra
4 dius of several miles warning the w
ers to be prepared to defend thei
. property. Several parties who wen
: south on horseback or in carriages re
u turned afoot, their horses having beel
7. stolen by the ~conyicts.
d General Prison Plot.
q The escapes appear to be the result
g of a general plot inside the prison.
e 1t is not known how many prisoner
who made their break for liberty go
: the guns with which they were wei
: supplied when they dashed from tn
gates. 1t is possible, the local officer
believe, that they killed a number o
guards, after overpowering the cell
house keeper, and took their weapons
|, Another theory is that the guns wer
4 smuggled into he prison by friends c
the men who escaped yesterday.
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