Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-04-08
NO. 81.
MISCELLANEOUS READING.
REMARKABLE ESCAPE.
The London Times Of February 24, relate


The London Times Of February u, relates
the following remarkable incident:
"One of the most daring and successful at
tempts to achieve liberty it has ever been
our province TO record took place near Lock
erbie on the evening Of Friday last. The
mail train from Edinburgh arrived there
at its usual time, at eight minutes past eleven
o'clock, p. NJ. Among the passengers bein=
conveyed TO London was detective otnceF
from the metropolis and prisoner, ticket
of-]eaye map, under bis charge. The tram
makes no intermediate stoppsge between
Lockerbie and Carlisle, distance OF twenty
five miles: and thus, after leaving this sta
ton, goes generally at an unusually rapiu
rate--about forty miles sD hour. AFTER
leaving LYckerbie about mile and ball,
the prisoner made some excuse tor getting
near the window Of the carriage, second
class one The officer kindly humored his
desire, and was couversng with two geotle-
men in the compartment, tellow-travelers
from Edinburgh, when slight noise attract
ed bis attention, and caused him to turn
round to the prisoner; but the seat was va
cant aGd the bird not flown, but flying, as
the astonished officer, to his horror and
amazement, only saw the soles OF bis shoes
in the act OF clearing the window; the other
passengers, as much surprised, consoied the
cficer with the idea that he would find The
LII angled remains ot his prisoner next morL-
ing. as the velocity with which the tram was
going lett no chance Of bis getttpg Il IN sale
ty. But the baihtd officers misery was lot
to end here. No stoppage Of the tram could
take place unit, he reached Carlisle, aud no
train started for Lockerbie until next morn
ing: upon reaching the former station, how
eaer, goods train was placed at his dIsposal
and he was enabled to return. The next
morning, with various railway and police Of
fcials, he made search along the hoe, IN
the hope of finding the prisoner wounded and
unable to crawl away from the scene OF his
exploit; but no trace Of his presence EXCEPT
his bonnet could be discovered, although the
marks of hs leap were plainly visible; and
il was then seen with what Judgment the
prisoner bad chosen his ground. The place
was gentle slope, Immediately before en-
! tering the Norwood cutting. The distance
OF the leap from the carriage was truly WOE
dertul Although the fellow was handcuted
he must have made flying leap OF seven
feet from the carriage before he touched tde
ground, and then rolled down decllslty OF
eighteen or twenty feet into ditch, as ".'
distinctly shown from part of the hedge at
the bottom being broken, some spots OF blood
being spattered on one or two stones IN the
vicinity, and upon one WAS visible quaint
ty of hair. The officials narrowly searched
the hedges and plantations in the nelghbor-
| hood, but ere completely put OUT" however,
from inquiries made, they seemed TO have got
upon the prisoners trail, as man was seen
early in the morning to have passed some
children upon the road to Edinburgh h with
his head and one hand bandadgsd. The es-
capped prisoner has since been captured IN
Edinburgh.