The sun., 1870-02-09
THE BoWDOINHIM ROBBERs.
Desperate Attempt TO Escape from Prison
Fiueen Minutes Freedom-Fuli Particu-
lars OF the Plot, Flight, and Rccnpture-
Description OF the Prisoners.

Desperate Attempt to Escape from Prison
Fiiteel Minutes FreedOni-Eul Particu-
lars OF the Plot. Flight, and Rccnpture-
Description OF the Prisoners.
special Dstpdtch TO Ae Boston PDst
BAru, Me-, Feb. THE 7ipies Of this city 10.
morrow VIII contain iu account Of tho bold at
tempt Ut escape from the state Prison last Saturday
might, OF two Of the noted Bowdonham Bank rob
bers. with the particulars OF their capture. The
Umes says: "1he attempt at escaDe Of the Bow
donham Bank robbers from the state Prison. on
Saturday night. furnishes the allabsorDing theme OF
conversation. Ever sirce the Incarceration Of these
notorious fellows close surveillance has been kept
their movements, a. II was toarcG they would
make an attempt TO get Out as soon a thcy could
get the lay Of the land and hnd an opl ortune
moment"
PREVIOUS ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE.
Some time ago. It will be remembered. Mcguire.
foiled In the undertaking; and now II appears that
smms and Bartlett the other two, have undertaken
the same thing but have most slgnaly failed IN their
attempt TO breathe the fresh air Of freedom. The
tools which were found In possession Of simms, and
dcnce OF a plan Which probably had been maturing
for months.
THk PLOT.
!, appears tha; orrin simms wns the principal pcr.
sonage IN the plot and all planning had been en to
him. SO lar n he had gone In his manGuvrings. he
had accomplished everything in the most secret and
cunning manner, and Notwithstanding the yigilant
watch which was constantly kept over him and his
associates, he had shrewdly managed 10 obtain the
trumeht he used was ingenious eontrivance ike
Jackscrew with which he succeeded IN loosng the
keys which, after efecting escape lrom his own
cell he was to In letting ooee his confederate
David Bartlett. How and when he came IN posse -
sion OF these utensils IL mystery.
THE PRISONERS CELLS
The two prisoners occupied cell. In the trvt al.
vision OF the old wing OF the prison. Bartlett NO
and simms No. II. II 10 presumed that there was a
tacit understanding between them as 70 the mode OF
earane before their inr1rrcy thav had
not privately meditatod between them In the still
lours OF night, when their whispers along the cor.
| riders could not BE- heard.
THE TINE AGREED uPoY.
| Having secured the deslred implements which
were to be used IN giving him freedom, slmms set
| out upon the work ior his night. IL was about
| cast Afforded apropitous opnoriunty IN his favor
| TO make bis escape.
OPERATIONS COMMENCED.
Al now being In readiness, the notorious convict
| commences his schemes OF operpt.e... Ia. ,.ss-
screw y BROUGHT lnio re9uislhon, and slowly, but
not seem that he eTperis need m1on trouble in this,
| hs opening exploit. ON the other hand the bar
| furnishes indications Of having been wreneaed IS
easily as 50 much pane wood.
sIxEs ESCAPES FROM BIS OWN GILL AND VISITS MS
coNPASIoY
The work having been accomplished, s'mms now
steps quietly without his cell ; stealthy Ike a cat
he ereeps along the corridor, un1l he reaches the
hlms II known. and IN the mos, quiet manner posi-.
| ble entered ulon toe work Of unlocking his con-
| irere's cell. The keys coon accomplished the oh
| jeoL IL was bot the work OF moment The heavy
iron door swung noiselessly upon Its hinges and IN
| twinkling Bartlett emerged into the CORRIDOR
Up THROUGH scurrLE.
| Leaving the corridor, the two made their rny
through seuttle 10 the attic, aud rom thence they
crept to window, rom which. ny the use OF plank
| they reached the top OF the yard wall They now
for the hr-t time since their commttai breathe what
seems 70 them the AR Of certain freedom. But the
| VI
THEY SCALE IHa WALL.
As they stood or the wall In their part -colored
| clothing tuey looked down to the ground: II was
some fifteen feet. Beyond Was q road, and beyond
| that piece OF woods. II they could escape 10 the
| woods all would be well. The next moment and
they mad struck terra hrma, landing on their feet
eareeration they stand without the prison wall
aae road d was clear. II ihey could escape to tho
| mel all perhaps would be well.
FLIGHT TO THE wooDs.
There vss no time tor dciberation. That moment
had passed b Bartlett, who has one Glue and black
eye, taxes what be thinks VII be his look upon
The scene around him. lie sees no chance OF being
discovered and at once Lis tall agile form leads the
superior in point OF build and muscle follows close
| behind. They lad reached the road which lay
short distance rom the PRISON, whea just as they
| we're crossing II
THEY ARR DISCOVERED.
The nrst intimation OF their absence came TO ono
| ol we hight watchmen who was In the new wing,
and on hls return he at once gave the alarm which
! quickly flew from mouth to mouth aud Immediately
reached the seutncs who were At their seyera posts
OF dutv properly armed. II seems that the watch.
man discovered that two prisoners out VI their
| cells before thei we're out OF the attic.
BARTLETT snor AT.
Bartlett was shot az as as the outside senti.
mel nearest TO tie prisoners had caught word Of
their flight. lie Immediately sprang TO his feet
Reinforced by another Of the guards they both hred
but their shots failed 10 take effect Upon this they
| loaded again, when one OF the guards got a coed
sight upon Bartlett, who was some twenty rods
| ahead, and hred again bis shot this time hitting
| the prisoners TO stand still AZ TIC snow was very
| deep they experienced considerable dificnlty IN
making headway. Had It been otherwise Bartlett
might perhaps have escaped the effects of the shot
| but to escape was an imPossibil,y
| CAPTURE.
| Immediately upon coming to a stand-stll they
begged for Qunrtert Freedom has its bless sings but
they were not willing TO make a sacri1ce OF their
lives at the expense OF getting IT, Tney surrendered
without onerlug any resistance, aud were at one
conducted back into the prison yard having been
out liteen minutes and having gone some frty rods
from the prison. Ihoy had but little ifanythng, TO
| his wound.
| ~ SOLITARY CONFINEMENT.
On the return Of the prisoners the prison. Bart.
lets wounds were dressed, during which operation
ne malhttlned perfect sIolidlly OF countenanco.
Both were placed in solitary confinement, to which
punishment they Hppeared utterly IN 1erent. Nei.
tber displayed any visible chagrin at being defeated
| In their enterprise. They lad taken their CHANCES
| and tailed. When they are released trom the DIM.
gvon more vgllant watch will be kupt over their
movements than ever.
simms is a poSerfully built man, with black,
glossy hair. lie Il 10 years OF age Is a native OF
New Hampshire, and was committed with his con.
JTtT6s, Blrtet and Mcguire ing the same sen
fence lie had spent some hye years la Prison be-
fore going 10 Tbomaston.
| Terrific Gas Explosion in Boston,