The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1861-10-31
Attempted escape from Fort lafayette
PutfIrp IN Saa in a Wash-Tub


Putting to Sea N Wash-Tub.
Between one and two o'clock on Sun
day morning, as a sentinel. in the dark
ness and storm, was pacing bis lonely
round outside the galIs of Fort Lafayette
be beard the shutter of easement No. D
had been opened. Soon after rope was
throwu out, various articles lowered IN
succession. followed By man The rope
was just long enough to enable the fugi-
tive to reach the ground. As be touched
the earth. the sentinel presented bis bay
onet, and baie him surrender. The man
proved to be james Lowber, the Rebel
bearer of dispatches who was recently
followed by the detectives from the hou-e
of his brotber.iD Law, Mr.. Alexander
! Shuttle, at Peeksville. to Crestline. Ohio,
where they arrested him. 1t will De &c
mem tered that previous to his being ta
ken be had forwarded his dispatches to
their destination, and he himself came
near eludiDg the officers. The sentry,
upon seiziug his prisoner, found that he
had lowered large new tub. life
|
ed full of valuables. Lowher begged
hard to be permitted to ascend the rope
again into bis aparta eut aud attempted
to brite his cspior By the offer of his gold
watch and $i7 so in gold coin, which be
bad tied up in bladder, if be would al,
low bim TO do SO. Of course his propo
sal was not accepted, but, instead, the
sentry marched his prisoner into t6e fort
aud aroused the officer OF the guard
Lieut.. W ood, the commander Of the fort
was im mediate!y aPprised Of the attempt
ed escape, who ordered the long roll to be
beaten. This brought the garrison to
the parade. All the prisoners Of the fort
we're then brought out and the roll cal!ed
to ascertain If there we're any missing
All, however, answered to their nauc
1t appears that Mr Low Der occupied d
Caseuate No. 5, in company with fifteen
others, only six OF whom as far as could
be gathered, were aware Of the premedi
tated escape, aud these say they attempt
ed to dissuade him from his purpose
Lowber states that the gold was brought
to bin on draft by the wife Of one OF
the prisoners; but bow be came possessed
OF the wash tub, the rope, and the life
preserVer. is mystery The key With
which the prisoner unlocked the paddock
of the casema;e shutter, he says be uade
himself It is supposed that be intended
to place his sali-e in the tub, and sup
ported by bis life pFe-erver, to have push
ed of from the fort with hi- novel craft,
either for the shore or !or some vessel IN
the vicinity. 1t seems probable that al,
arrangement had been Z ade to board a
vessel, as three were hogeriug about in
suspicious proxinity-one of which, a
bark. lad approached so near that the
sentry had ordered her of As soon a,
the pri-one had go1e to their iod dgiugs
aud Low ber had been double roncd.
Lieut.. Wood. with file of soldiers, en-
tered bis cutter and rowrd out to the ve-
seis, which proTod to be bark, a brig,
aud schooner. These he captured an d
anchored alongside the rcgerue cutter
Bibb. The Lieutenant states that the Of
6eers OF the Bib treate! him very uUciy
lily. apparently not being ,ery we'll pleas
ed that he had disturbed them a such an
aUwarrantable hour. Yesterday the yes
sells we're missing from tie Bib. but it
ha3 not been ascertained what had be
cone OF them. Yesterday, 1T the urgent
request OF LoSber and bis friends, the
handcuffs were removed, his legs remain
ing uanaclej. Sc far from expressing
any regret 10 the sttemFt at escape be is
rather boa-tful OF it. aud declares hiaself
to be a most ardent Secessioni,t.