Valdez daily prospector. (Valdez, Alaska) 1905-1918, 1917-09-15
ALASKA PRISONER
BREAKS JAIL
. Confined In Walla Walla Penitentiary
Makes Escape from Skagway Jail
In Marvellous Manner

Vernon Bawlf, said to be one of the
most daring convicts in the State OF
Washington, who escaped from the
Walla Walla penitentiary, and was
caught at Atlin, and brot out this
week to the Skagway federal prison
en- route back to the penitentiary es-
capped from his cell last night at 1880
P. M. in the court house jail, and
thus far has made good his getaway.
Bawlf was sitting In the guard
room Of the Jail watching four other
prisoners playing cards, and was
singing, apparently enjoying life. In
a matter of fact maner he got up,
picked up his coat and hat. and
quietly stepped into the kitchen, pull
ed up the radiator opening into the
basement, and slipped to the ground
below making his escape out of the
back door. He was wearing an Ore
son boot on one leg, and hampered
with this he cannot make good prog
ress.
Posse Of so in 5 Minutes.
Three minutes after his leaving the
card tables the other prisoners MOTTO
ed he was gone and called Marshal
Miller who Immediately sounded the
alarm by firing many pistol shots. In
side five minutes it is said there were
SO men on hand and all scattered in
different directions, searching the
houses in the nearby vicinity, but no
trace of him could be found.
A posse then organized apd a
systematic search has been made
since, some men searching the hill
side and country surrounding the
lower lake, others guarding the wat
er front, and still more men guard
eng the railroad bridges. No sign
of him has been found, but it is re-
ported that one of the Wheeler boys
saw a suspicious character near the
railroad bridge at Mile 2 this morn
ing, and men have been searching
there since then.
Wears Oregon Boot
The Oregon boot which the con-
yict wears is about an inch and
half in thickness, and fits from
ankle up we'll over the calf of the leg
and weighs Is pounds. Braces from
the foot makes it impossible to
move to ankle joint. While in prison
it was noticed that his ankle was very
sore and badly cut
When the convict walks On board
walk or pavement the boot makes
considerable noise, and Mrs. Miller,
wife of the Marshal, who was IN her
home near the Court House at the
time heard the man go up the back
stairs of the Jail basement in escap-
ing. Miller was in his Office across
the hallway, and the first he knew
was when one of the prisoners pound
ed on the kitchen door, which was
locked, and yelled that the "bad man"
<had gone.
Description
Vernon Bawlf is a big man, six
feet, two inches in height. When he
escaped, he wore blue overalls, light
colored coat and a khaki shirt, much
after the style of the army shirts. He
has blue eyes and blonde hair. and it
is not known whether he wore black
slouch hat or cap. He is 26 years
old. One of his front teeth is gone.
Had No Weapons
While in prison he had no money,
or weapons of any kind. He is total
" unfamiliar with this part of the
country, but his experiences as a.
cowboy will stand him we'll in hand.
Escaped Convict
He was travelling under the guard
of Harvey Horton, of the Walla Walla
penitentiary when he was placed in
the federal Jail. His acts have extend
ed to practically every state In the
west. He was sentenced some time
ago to serve three from and half to
Is years in the Walla Walla peniten-
tiary for horse stealing, but on April
20 made his escape. He made his way
to the Atlin country and was there
caught, working in one of the mines.
A posse composed of Hardy, Mil
Ter, Tanner. three prisoners, Page,
Achison, Chambers and others has
been searching the woods for him
since his escape from the federal pris-