The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-11-07
NO. SO.
Attempted Escape From Fort Lafayette
Putting TO Sea in a Wash.tnb.

Attempted Escape From Fort Laiayette.s
Putting to Sea in wash.tnb.
Between and 2 O'Clock on Sunday
morning, as a sentinel. in the darkness and
storm, was pacing his lonely round out
side the walls Of Fort Lafayette, he heard
tho shutter OF q easement unfastshing, and
upon cautious examination, discovered
that easement No. 8 had been opened.
Soon after rope was thrown out, various
articles lowered in succession, followed
by man. The rope was just long en-.
ough to enable the fugitive to reach the
ground AS he touched the earth, the
sentinel presented his bayonet and bads
him surrender. The man proved to be
James Lowber, the Rebel bearer of dis.
patcheS who was recently followed by the
detectives from tia house Of his brother.
ln.law, Mr.. Alexander Shultz, at Pscks-
vile, to CreStiine, Ohio. where they ar.
rested him. It will be remembered tha,
previous to his being taken he had fOr-
wardsd bis dispatches to their estimation
and he himself came near sludipg The Of
ncsrs' The sentry, upon ssiEing his pris-
onsr, found that 10 had lowered large
nav Wash-tub,a life prsServtT and his va.
liss-ths latter packed full of ysluables,
LOWber begged hard 10 DO permitted 10
ascend tho rope again into his apartment
aud attempted 10 bri6s his cAplor by the
offer Of bis gold watch and S47, 80 in gold
coin, which he had tied up in bladder, If
be would allow him to do 20. OF course
bis proposal vas not accepted, but instead
the sentry marched his prisonsr into the
fort and aroused the officer of tie guard.
Lieut.. Wood, the commander Of the fort,
Immediately apprissd Of the atterp pied
escape, ordered the long roll to be
beaten. This brought the garrison to
the parade. All 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. II
appears that Mr.. LO#bsr occupied Case
mate No. 8 10 company Nith fifteen 9TH
ers, only six Of whom as far as could be
gathered, were aware Of the prsmsdilatsd
escape, and these say they attempted to
dissuAdS him from his purpose. Lowber
states that the gold was brought him on
a draughl by the wife of one Of the priso-
ners; but how be cams possessed Of the
wash tub, the rope and tho life pressrysr,
IS a mystery. The isy with which ths
prisoner unlocked the paddock of the
casemats shutter lie says he made him
self II is supposed that be intended to
place his valise in tile tub. and supported
by his life prsservsrs, to have pushed OF
from the fort With his novel craft, either
for the shore or for some vessel 10 the vie
, cinlly. 1t Sesms probable that an az
rangsmsnt had been made 10 board yes.
J., sel,as three were hovsring about In sus-
Piclous pro1imity-ous Of which, q bark,
o had approached 90 near that the sentry
T. had ordered her of. As soon a. the pri-
. oners had gone 10 their lodgings. and
lIoVbsr had been doubleironed. Lisut.
Wood. with file Of soldiers, entered his
: cutter aud rowsi out to the vessels. which
y proved to be bark. brig and schooner.
q These lie captured and anchored along
b side the revenue OUTER Bib. The Il.
states that the officers of the Bibb treated
him very unOivilly. apparently not being
very well pleased that be had disturbed
them at such an unwarrantable hour.
: Yesterday at the urgent request Of Low
Der and his friends the handouts were
removed, his legs remaining msnaoled.
So far from expressing any regret At the
attempt at escape he is rather boastfnl Of
D it, aud declares himself to bs-a most
D ardent Secessonist-M y Tribune.