Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 August 1903 — OUTLAWS’ AIM KILLS. [ARTICLE]

OUTLAWS’ AIM KILLS.

Two Militiamen Slain and Others Wounded in Battle. According to a Placerville, Cal., dispatch, two fights with the convicts who escaped from Folsom prison are reported. On Saturday eveffhig two of the militiamen were kiliaii and auother wounded in a battle at Grand Victory mine and Sunday night another encounter took place at Dutch Flat. One of the convicts is supposed to have been shot and a number of the posse wounded. The fugitives in both instances escaped. The militiamen slain are Festus Rutherford and W. C. Jones. Jones had served in the Philippines. The following story of Saturday night’s battle wit-h the convicts is told by one of the members of the posse: “Lieut. Smith and seven men of company H of the militia were pursuing a trail that had been discovered earlier in the day. Their first intimation of the presence of the convicts was when the latter opened fire on them at close range from a hiding place in the bushes. Three members of Lieut. Smith’s squad fell at the first volley. “News of the battle spread quickly to Placerville and the surrounding country, and soon the hill was surrounded by a "large force, including the entire strength of the Placerville militia company. Co-operating with the militiamen were a po;~se of citizens from PlncerviHe, headed by the sheriff’s son, Dallas Bosquit. They were within sound and sight of the fighting, but dared not fire for fear of hitting the militiamen. “Lieut. Smith reported that there were fotvr convicts in the band that opened fire on his men, but he was unable to identify any of them except a nqgro, Seavis.”