New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-10-28
ATTEMPTED ESCAPE FROM FORT
LAFAYETTE.

PUTTING TO SEA IN A wAsH-TUB.
Between and o'clock on Sunday morning, as a
sentinel in the darkness and storm, pacing bis
lonely round outside the walls of Fort Lafayette, be
heard the shutter of easement christening, and,
upon cautious examination discovered that easement
No. 5 had been opened Soon after a rope was
thrown ont various articles lowered in succession,
followed by man. The rope was just long enough
TO enable the fugitive to reach the ground. As be
touched the earth the sentinel presented bis bayo-
net. and babe him surrender. The man proved to be
James Lowber, the Rebel bearer Of dispatches who
was recently followed by the detectives from the
bouse Of his bro,her.in-law Mr.. Alexander Shuttle,
at Peeksyille, to Crestiue, Ohio, where they an
rested bin. At will be remembered that previous to
his being taken he had forwarded his dispatches to
their destination and he himself came near eluding
the officers. The sentry, upon selling his prisoner
found that he had lowered large new wash-tub, a
life-preserver, and his valise--the latter packed
ful OF valuables Lowber begged hard
to DO lNernitted to ascend the rope again into his
apartment and attempted TO bride his captor by the
offer Of hs gold watch and 81 50 in gold coin which
be had tied up In a bladder, il he would allow him to
do 30. Ofeourse bis proposal was not accepted, but
instead the sentry parched his prisoner into the fort
and aroused the officer Of the guard. Lieut. Wood,
the commander Of the fort was Immediately aprised
Of the attempted escape who ordered the long roll 10
be beaten. This brought the garrison to the parade.
All the prisoners Of the fort were then brought ont
and the roll called to ascertain if any missing.
All, however, answered 70 their names. Ii appears
st..t Al. a ". . -.
papy with fifteen others only six Of whom as far n
cold be gathered were aware Of the premeditated
escape, and these say they attempted 70 dissuade BIN
from bis purpose. Lowber states that the gold was
brought 20 him on a draught By the wife Of one OF
the prisoners but how he came possessed ofthe wash
tub. the rope, and the life-preserver il mystery.
TIE key with which the prisoner unlocked the pad
ocS Of the casemate shutter be says he made himself
IL Is srpposed that ne intended 10 place his vase in
the tub and supported by bic life preservers 70 have
pushed Off from the fort with bis novel craft either
for toe shore or for some vessel in the vicinity. 1t
seems probable that an arrangement had been made
TO board vessel as three were lowering about in
suspicious proximty-one Of which, a bark, had
approached 40 near that the sentry had ordered her
of. As soon a. the prisoners had gone TO their
lodgings and Lowber had been doublcd-ironed
Lieut. Wood with file of soldiers, entered his
cutter and rowed out TO the vessels, which proved TO
DO a bark brig, and schooner. These he cap
tured, and anchored alongside the revenue cutter
Bib. The Lieutenant states that the officers
Of the Bib treated him very unciyilly, appa-
rently not being very well pleased that he had
disturbed them at such an unwausntable hour,
Yesterday the vessels were missing from the Bib,
but it bad not been ascertaiued what rad become Of
them. Yesterday, at the urgent request Of Lowber
and his friends the handouts removed, his legs
remaining manacled. SO far from expressing any
regret the attempt at escape he is rather boastful
Of il. and declares himsef TO be most ardent Seces-
sionst.