Daily New Dominion

BREAK FOR LIBERTY
Thirteen Convicts Escape from California Penitentiary After Fierce Battle.
TWO PRISON GUARDS KILLED
Prisoners Use Captured Officers as Shields and Successfully Get Away.
Believed They Are Making for the Mountains-State Troops in Pursuit.

Folsom, Cal., July 28.--Thirteen desperate prisoners confined in the penitentiary made a successful break for liberty at the breakfast hour. After a fierce fight in the captain's office, during which a turnkey was fatally stabbed, a guard killed and another officer wounded, the convicts seized arms and ammunition and, using the warden and other officers as shields, escaped. It is believed they are making for the Bald mountain. State troops ordered out by Governor Pardee have gone to the scene.

The convicts made their break for liberty about 7 a. m. They went to the office of R. J. Murphy, captain of the guards and seized Warden Wilkinson, his grandson, Harry Wilkinson, Captain Murphy and several other officers and guards. A desperate fight took place. The convicts were armed with knives and razors and with these they assaulted Warden Wilkinson and his officers. The warden's clothing was slashed into shreds with a razor, but the blade did not touch the flesh.

Turnkey Cochrane fought the convicts with a chair, raining blows upon them right and left. Finally he was felled by a knife thrust in the back. Guard Cotter was disemboweled by a cut in the abdomen and he died about noon. Palmer was severely cut in the head. The floor of the office was covered with blood.

Used Officers as Shield.

The officers were easily outnumbered and were soon relieved of their arms. Then, using the officers as a shield, the convicts started for the armory on the outskirts of the penitentiary grounds. They passed a gatling gun on one of the walls, but the guards were afraid to shoot for fear of killing the prison officials.

When the armory was reached officers there attempted to interfere but were quickly overpowered and the convicts, after fortifying themselves further with rifles, knives, pistols and ammunition, made a dash for the country.

Convicts, each armed with rifles, marched one on either side of Warden Wilkinson, who was threatened with death if he made an attempt to escape and the officers were told that if any of the pursuers took the life of one of their number that they would retaliate, life for life. At Mormon Bridge, about a mile from the penitentiary, the warden, his grandson and Captain Murphy were released and sent back. The others were marched along with the convicts.

Made Use of Farmer and Team.

Further on the convicts went to a farmer's house, seized his four-horse team and wagon, stripped the house of all its portable valuables, took the farmer with them as a driver and headed for Bald mountain. Evidently it is their intention to reach Alabaster cave, situated near this mountain.

All the convicts are still at large. Among the officers carried off by them is General Overseer McDonough. Some fears are felt for his safety, as he bears the especial ill will of the convicts.

Later in the day Governor Pardee ordered Company H, of Placerville, to the scene, and Company C, Second Infantry, of Nevada City, was ordered to be in readiness.

The several hundred remaining prisoners made no attempt to get away and were quietly returned to their cells and locked up.

Warden Wilkinson was the first to return to the prison. The convicts had taken his hat. Captain Murphy appeared afterward, minus part of his clothing, and later young Wilkinson came in.

Description of Prison.

Folsom penitentiary is a prison without walls. It is situated in a rocky amphitheater close to the American river, about 20 miles from Sacramento. The prisoners are locked up at night in the cell house, but during the day they labor in the stone quarries under the supervision of armed guards. On the hills surrounding the prison grounds are watch towers, in which the guards, armed with gatling guns and rifles, are stationed about the hills. Nearly 1,500 men are confined at Folsom and it has been the practice to send the most desperate prisoners there. The American river runs through the prison grounds, but its waters are rapid and deep, with high precipitous bluffs, and an escaping prisoner stood but little chance at crossing.