Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-10-15
MANY ESCAPE
FROM WYOMING
PEN|TEN
More Than Thirty Convicts
Gain Liberty in Prison
Outbreaks; Several Cap
tured; Wound Citizens.
RATTLE RAGING IN
MOUNTAINS TODAY

Armed Posses Reported to
Have Attacked Place of
Refuge Of the Fugitives
Town is in a Panic.
Rawlins, Wyo., Oct. Alarmed
with revolvers, rifles and knives, a
half dozen or more dangerous Grim.
inals were said to be trapped in
canyon south Of Rawlins early to-
day. A battle between these desper-
ate men and the posse of a hundred
men who camped on the trail all
through the night was expected mo-
mentarily.
The men in hiding were among the
dozen convicts who escaped from the
state penitentiary late yesterday al
ternoon after they had overpoWered
the guards within the prison, took
their weapons from them and fed
down the main streets and through
yards Of private homes, terror1zlng
men, women and children.
The convicts paused In their mad
dash for freedom when they came
upon a livery barn, secured mounts
then sped toward the hills before citi-
Gems 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 for roll
call some time today. Owing to the
excitement in Rawlings the total
casualties were unknown.
Gang Leader Is Slain.
Il Anton Pazo, a Mexican, heralded as
leader Of the convicts in their break
for liberty was shot to death by
Deputy Sheriff Rogner, who shot the
Mexican as he started on horse back
for the hills, after having slashed Bert
;Talbert across the face and head with
q butcher knife. Talbert is the owner
of the livery barn.
Charles Stressner, a barber, was
shot to death while walking along
street apparently unaware that the
convicts had escaped. A negro con-
vict was seen to fire at Stressner.
Five of the convicts who escaped
yesterday were captured last night.
They were Convicts Elliott, Frazer,
Stewart. Burke and Gilmore. They
had sought refuge in cellars OF priv
ate homes, in box cars and outbuilding
They were unarmed and offered but
little resistance.
Desperate fighting was reported in
the prison between convicts and
guards following the outbreak, but
reports that several men, both guards
and convicts were killed there, were
unconfirmed.
Twenty Made Break Late Saturday.
Eleven of the twenty convicts who
broke out of the penitentiary late Sat
urday were still at large this morning
and it was believed those who escaped
yesterday have joined forces with
their fellows who liberated themselves
q posse of citizens and prison guards
was returning to Rawlins after q
fruitless search for the convicts who
escaped Saturday and had not heard
Of the second delivery until he reach.
ed Ralwins early today.
Although company of Wyoming
state militia remained under arms for
some time last night, the soldiers
were late in the night informed from
Gov. Carey's Office at Cheyenne that
their services would not be required.
Gov. Carey by telephone gave his
sanction to request made by the
mayor of Rawlins that he be author
lied to surround the penitentiary with
armed citizens The line was quickly
established and had quitening effect
upon the 300 or more convicts who
made no attempt to escape.
Bert Dalton, member Of the Whitney
gang of bandits who terrorized Wyom.
ing for months, was said to have sue
ceeded Antoine Pazo as leader Of the
convicts' now in the hills.
convicts Dash to Liberty.
The outbreak Sunday was the sec
ond within twenty-four hours. About
p. M, Saturday twenty prisoners
escaped and nine were recaptured be-
fore 8 o'clock. At 2:3O Sunday after.
noon party of desperate life term
ers overpowered the cellohuse keeper
took his keys and released their COM
rades from their cells. Every pris-
oner willing to risk 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
yells echoed from the prison. A few
seconds later more than dozen men
dashed down the main street, armed
with guns and knives,
Holding the few citizens on the
street at bay with revolvers, they
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