The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1916-10-26
1T HAS RuNG OUT THE ALARM IN
MANY BREAKS AND HAS TOLL
ED THE DEATH KNELL OF MANY
CONDEMNED PRISONERS.
GAVE HOPE TO CONVICTED
WHO WERE INNOCENT
(BY PETER sTERLING).

day heralds the breaking of another
day and each night taps its closing?
Nobody seems actually to know, but
close tracing of history reveals that
it was erected about 1871. The fact
remains, however that it has changed
out the minute history of this penal
institution under United States, terri
torial and state control
What a fund of misery it has
stored away within its inmost self and
though it is not silent, it cannot tell
us all it knows. If it could, the story
would fill volumes and would run the
gamut of human emotions. 1t could
tel lus of notorious prisoners who got
their just deserts and who heard its
glass-toned voice with Indifference. 1t
could whisper to us of the terror
stricken youths who have passed un
der its belfry for the first time and
who have come to such fate because
of one misstep. 1t could inform us of
innocent men who faced life of dis
grace because of the unfortunate
trend of circumstances.
of the penitentiary, if one could but
trace it down. 1t is known, however,
that the pen was put under construc-
ton in 1868 and the first building com
pleted and opened in 1871. NJ 4.
Shaffenberg became the first warden.
The first guards were Albert Wal
ters, ]. Holt Price and NJ. Dueber.
There were probably about twenty-pris-
oners there the first few months be-
cause the first cell building held but
forty-two cells and was about half
full for about the first year.
In 1874 the institution was made the
territorial prison and Governor Anson
Rudd was the first warden. He was
followed by David Prosser and B. F.
Alien.
1t was in that opening year of
Rudd's regime that the first concerted
outbreak for liberty took place and
since that time the old pen bell has
changed out its terrifying warning on
at least three similar occasions. Like
the initial one the second and the
fourth took place at night and the
clarion call of the bell in the Silly
night sent the chills up and down
many a mans back. The third break
came in the day time and was the
most daring ever perpetrated in the
history of the pen.
One cold night shortly after Anson
Rudd took charge eight convicts broke
from the bounds of the little main
building, rushed to the small shack
that was used as an armory, armed
themselves and jumped over the old
wooden stockade that surrounded the
structures, letting the inky blackness
obliterate them. The one or two
guards were helpless against the fu-
silade that greeted them.
The convicts went to rendez-
vous in the Twin Mountains and later
got as far as Rosita, where they occu-
pied an abandored cabin. There was
a reward OUT for them, so one after
noon Alex Thornton and Jim Pringle
get on tn ,'r trail with a few pals and
surrounde their retreat. The leader
of the convicts spied the men as they
were about to rush the cabin and
opened fire. The posse returned the
fire and the leader fell.
The battle lasted over an hour un-
Ii 1.-The convicts ran out of ammunition
and made another break for liberty.
Two escaped, but the others were cap
tured, a couple of them being wound
ed. The two who got away were later
rounded up in the San Luis valley.
Many years passed before another
forceful attempt at liberty took place.
This break also happened at night and
resulted in the first death of a guard
in such an escapade. 1t was in the
winter time, on the night of Jan. %,
1900. Captain Vim. c. Rooney was
just taking four convicts, Thomas
Reynolds, c. E. Wagner, Antoine
Woods and Kid Wallace. from the din
ing room into cell house No. 1 when
one of them stabbed him in the back.
Assistant Captain C. F. Maloncy and
Engineer Humphrey were tied up and
a pail of soapy water was placed on
the transmission belt in the power
house and all was darkness.
The trusty little bell again rang
out the dreadful news and guards ran
this way and that, but they were
helpless. The four men got away. The
hall told the citizens OF the town OF