Page:California Inter Pocula.djvu/439



guard. Soon the  jingle  of  keys  called  to  action;  and as the  captahi  and  his  attendant  entered  they  were stunned, one  with  a  slungshot,  the  other  with  a  bottle. Several more  pounced  in  to  deal  the  coup  de  grace, but merciful  sentiments  prevailing,  they  were  thrown into a  cell  and  locked  up. The next  moment  the convicts were  climbing  the  cell  tiers,  for  the  hole,  to join  their  companions  who  had  already  broken  through the ceilino:  in  the  east  buildino;  and  were  tumbling; down upon  the  deputy  warden. This startled  func- tionary was awed  into  submission,  but  soon  made  his escape to  securer  quarters. The noise  had  caused no less  consternation  on  the  lower  story,  where  Lieu- tenant-governor Denver was  entertaining  a  party  of ladies  at  dinner. Seizing a  pistol  he  rushed  out  to meet  the  crowd  as  it  came  pouring  down  the  stairs, led by  ClilFord. The first  shot  almost  crippled  the leader, but  the  mass  pressed  onward,  overpowering him, and  making  him  the  target  of  his  own  pistol. At this  critical  moment,  Dead  man,  a  life  convict,  who acted as  servant  to  the  officers,  and  had  followed  his master faithfully,  seized  a  chair,  and  whirling  it  with savage fury  stretched  several  convicts  on  the  floor  and pitched one  over  the  balustrade. This act  diverted attention and  saved  the  life  of  the  wounded  governor ; but his  heroic  champion  had  also  to  succumb  to  num- bers, and fell  senseless  after  demolishing  another  chair upon the  assailants. Meanwhile the  bleeding  Clifford led on  to  the  armory,  wrenching  open  the  lock  with suspicious ease,  and  soon  the  firing  announced  that arms had  been  secured.

Believing the  prisoners  safe  under  lock  and  key,  the guard had  abandoned  itself  to  the  leisure  of  the  Sab- bath, leaving no  sentinel  on  the  wall. As the  prison- ers entered the  guard-house,  there  were  none  to confront  them  except  the  guard  Isaacs,  who  fearlessly took his  stand  in  the  vard  with  a  six-shooter,  firings  in

throuo'h  the  windows  and   receiving^   the  return  fire

... .      .  ~

without flinchmg. His right  knee  being  shattered  by