The Minnesotian. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1851-1852, 1851-10-29
Another Baron Trenck-Exiraordinary Escape.

Another Baron Trenck--Ex,raordinary Escape.
The true American has the follow
ing account Of remarkable escape
from the Trenton State Prison:
An inmate Of the New Jersey State
Prison, named Edmund Holt, escaped
from his cell at an early hour on Mon
day morning, in the most extraordina-
ry manner. Wevisited the cell yester-
day, in company with number Of
others, who, with one accord, pro-
nounced the manner in which the es-
cape was accomplished, the most ex-
traordnary on record in this State
The prisoner occupied one of the lower
cells in the middle wing, and was en-
gagged in the chair department. He
had taken up part Of the floor Of his
cell and dug down perpendicular
depth of seven feet. The foundation
wall is about six feet below the surface.
He burrowed under the wall and up to
the surface Of the ground on the out
side. This brought him into the yard
Of the prison. Then, by means Of a
ladder, made of peices ofrope and bed
ding, and the Stats from the bottom of
his bunk, with hooks on the end, made
Of nails, he scaled the outside wall
lie had to throw the ladder to the top,
the hooks caught in the coping, and
after reaching the top he reversed his
ladder, and let himself down on the
outside.
The cell was in the utmost confu-
sion. The floor was covered with
about two cart loads of dirt and stone.
He must have been engaged sometime
in making his arrangements. A course
Of stone is laid Immediately under the
floor of the cells. These were removed
and put on his bunk and covered over
with the bedding. A box which was
used in his cell to put shavings in, was
filled with dirt neatly packed and COW
cred with shavings. The bottom of the
workbench was also nicely fitted with
boother stones. These materials had
evidently been taken out by night, be-
fore Sunday night, and after working
for sometime in this way, the boards
we're probably replaced, and every sus-
picious thing moved out Of the way
1t was an easy matter with seats,
shavings and cane, to conceal during
the day, every evidence of his opera
tions during the previous nj ght.
On Sunday night he doubtless felt
himself prepared to "put himself
through" and to all appearances
worked with most incredible industry.
The digging was performed with bed
screw, and thin pieces Of boards were
used for shoveling up the dirt s; all the
dirt thrown out on the cellar floor was
put there on Sunday after six O'Clock
in the evening-the hour at which the
cells were fastened for the night. Af-
ter he got down some FIVE feet, he made
a ladder to get in and out Of the hole
with the dirt. He carried the dirt in a
pail, to which he had a rope attached.
After getting the pail full he came ur
with stones in his hands, and after de-
posting them carefully on the floor, he
pulled up the pail full Of earth. One
can scarcely imagine how by such &
slow process he accomplished what ht
did. Everything had to be done will
great caution, as the least noise woult
reverbate through the corridor ant
! would be heard by the watchman. Th'
keepers themselves are perfectly aston
ished, and regard the feat as almos
impossible. The ladder was doubtles!
. first made and concealed during thu
day. 1t was made good and strong
and showed considerable ingenuity.
Holt is represented as rather a des.
, perate character. He was in the State
Prison before, but in consequence o.
. his youth was pardoned out. He j.
, now only eighteen years Of age, ant
was sentenced to the prison on the 12tl
of June, 1850, in the county Of Essex
for six years, for misdemeanor ant
larceny. He is a native of Newark
, About six months ago he made simi
lar attempt to escape from the cells il
the north wing. He was discovered
before he had commenced his excava.
tons, by the attention Of one Of tn,
keepers having been directed to tht
: washboard which he had loosed. H,
was then removed to the middle wing
: Before he left he wrote on the slat,
hanging in his cell these words:
'sNow bid farewell to my country,
And all my companions that leave behind
For you will never my face again,
Az Inn n dnac hi,a