Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 December 1877 — DROWSED BY A DOG. [ARTICLE]

DROWSED BY A DOG.

A Convict Battling for Jlle and liberty in the Waters of the Savannah. [From the Savannah News.] A report was current in the community on yesterday morning of an uprising of some of the convicts belonging to the force under the lease of Col. T. J. Smith, now at work on Hutchinson’s island, opposite the city ; and the escape of seven, after the guard had been overpowered and murdered. In the northern side of tho building occupied by the forces as sleeping quarters there was a hole about two feet square, where the chimney of the sugarrefinery stood, which had been closed up with bricks, mud being used instead of mortar. About quarter after 1 o’clock George Billups, a negro, who slept near the opening, managed to free his feet from his shackles, and, pushing the bricks out, worked himself slowly through the hole, which as about three feet from the ground. In getting out" however, he struck against the man who slept in the bunk next to him. The movement awakened the fellow, who, raising himself, discovered George’s legs just disappearing through the aperture. He at once gave an alarm, crying to the guard who was on duty at the door that a man was escaping. The guard darted around the building and caught sight of George running toward the bank of the Savannah river. He immediately opened fire on the fugitive, firing six times at him. About three hundred yards from the building one of the dogs caught the flying negro, who was impeded in his flight by the dense swamp reeds. After a short struggle, during wkich the guard fired at him again, he succeeded in freeing himself from the dog, and continued running toward the river. On reaching the river bank the negro plunged boldly into the water, and the dog after him. When about twenty yards from the shore the dog seized him again, and a fight for life and liberty ensued in the waters. The night was clear, but not sufficiently clear to enable the guards to discern where the man wa3. His cries and struggles with the dog were heard, and in a few moments the dog returned to the bank. As nothing was seen of the convict on this side, it is believed that he was drowned It is supposed that he was wounded by one of the shots, and it is certain that he was badly bitten by the dog when he was first caught and during the struggle in the wate* The morning was very cold, and he would most probaply have been numbed before he could have swum to this side, even had lie not been injured. Hence there is but little doubt but that his dash for liberty resulted in his finding a watery grave. George Billups was a young negro convicted of burglary in Fulton county Superior Court.