The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1861-11-08
TsE CLrB SYSTEM ApANpoNED.
A,se~p,ea Escape from Fl. Lafayette.

Eetween ono and two o'clock on
Sunday morning, as a sentinel, in the
darkness and storm. WAS pacing bis
lonely round outside the walls o.
Fort Lafayette, he heard the ehuttci
oi a easement unfastening, and upon
cautions, examination. discovered
that csseinste number Ave had been
opened. Soon after q rope was
thrown out, varions articles lowered
In succession, followed by q man.
The rope was jnst long enough to
enable the fugitive to reach the
ground. AZ he touched the earth,
the sentinel presented his bayonet,
and baGe him surrender. The man
proved 10 be James Lowber, the re
bel bearer Of dispatches, who was
recently followed by the detectives
from the bonse Of his brother.in-lsw,
Mr.. Alexander Shnliz, at Pecksville.
TO Cresiline, Ohio, where they ar.
rested him. 1t will be remembered
that previous 10 his being taken, he
had forwarded his dispatches to their
destination, and he himself came
near elu,ling the officers. The sen.
try, npon seix'ng his prisoner, found
that he had lowered a large wash
tub. n life.preserver. and HE valise,
the latter packed full Of valuables.
Lowber b"gged hard to be permitted
TO aecend the rope again into his
apartment, and attempted to bribs bis
csptor by the offer Of his gold watch
and Sal, 90 in gold coin, which he
had tied up in q bladder, il he would
allow him to do 80. or course bis
proposal was not accepted, but in
stead the sentry marched his pris
oner into the fort and aroused the
officer Of the guard. Lieutenant
wood, the commander OF the fort,
was Immediately spprised OF the at
tempted escape, who ordered the
long roll TO be beaten. This brought
the garrison to the parade. A II the
prisoners Of the fort were then
brought out and the roll called, to
ascertain If any were missing. All
however, answered TO their names.
It appears that Mr.. Lowber occu.
pied cascmate number FIVE. in COM
pany with fifteen others, only six Of
whom as far as could be gathered
were aware Of the premediated es.
cape, and these say they attempted
TO diisuade him from his purpose
Lowber states that the gold was
brought to him on a drsught by the
wife ot one Of the prisoners; but
how he come possessed Of the wash.
tub, the rope. and the life preserver,
is Q mystery. The key with which
the prisoner unlocked the paddock
oi the casemate shutter, he says he
made himself. 1t is supposed that
he intended to place his valise 10
the tub, and supported by his life.
preserver, to have pushed off from
the fort with his novel craft, either
for the shore or for some vessel in
the vicinity. 1t seems probable that
an arrangement had been made to-
board q vessel, as three were hov
oring about in suspicious proximity,
one OF which, a bark. had approach
ed go near that the sentry had order
cd her of. AS soon as the prisoners
had gone to their lodgings, and
Lowber had been double ironed,
Lieutenant Wood, with a file OF
Soldiers, entered his cutter and
rowed out to the vessels, which
proved to be a bark, a brig, and
schooner. These he captured, and
anchored alongside the revenue cut.
ter Bibb. The Lieutenant states
that the officers OF the Bibb treated
him very uncivilly, apparently not
being very well pleased that he had
disturbed them at such an unwar'
rantable hour. Yesterday the yes.
sells were missing from the Bibb, but
1t had not been ascertsincd what
had become OF them. Yesterday
st the urgent request Of Lowber and
HE friends, the handcutfs were re
moved, his legs remaining manacled
So far from:espressing any regret ut
the attempt to escape he is rather
boastlul OF il, and declares himscl!
TO be-a most ardent Secession'st.
- NeU York Tribune.
II