New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-18
DARING ESCAPEOF CONVICTS.

TWELVE SING SING CORyICTs JUMP ON A STEAM
TUG AND CROSS THE HUDSON - NONE OF
THEM Observation-Disclosures OF A SUPPOSED
CONFEDERATE.
Twelve conyicts escaped from Sing Sing
prison, yesterday by daring and ingenious strata
gem. About 10 minutes before Ia the Dean Richmond,
small propeller which usually plies about New York har
bor. approached the prison dock having canal boat in
tow and was Immediately warned Off by the guards.
The captain, i. Van ordon was at the wheel
aud rang the bell for the engineer TO "slow"
the boat. At the same instant man who
was In the wheelhouse and wac one Of two
men who are said by tho captain to have chartered the
boat for tho purpose OF carrying down to Eew-York
furniture the bell again in order to confuse
the engineer The latter, not knowing what to do paid
no attention to the captains signal and kept The
captain thrust his head out Of the window of the wheel
house and saw II men out OF the shops and jump
aboard the boat as she touched the pier The Captain
Immediately leaped ashore, while the Dean Richmond
steamed out into the river and casting Off the canal
boat TO the opposite sde.of the river where
her yillainous prang ashore, and disappeared In
the thick woods that the hills at that point
The prison authorities Immediately upon the escape OF
the convicts, teeTaphed to superinenden Kelso in
this city, informing him Of the facts and the latter
sent up the police boat Seneca command OF Capt
Todd with large force Of police. The Seneca arrived
in the afternoon and fastening 10 the Dean Richmond
hauled her off, and brought her the prison dock where
she now lies. 1t Is stated that the Dean Richmond is
by the Van Orden brothers. residing at Permont
printed bill, taken from the boat and in the pos
session OF the prison authorities is headed Sea HaTbOr
and Gate Towing, by the propeller Dean Richmond.
Apply to T.. Lane, Pier "a, North River, Eew-YOrk or
to Capt p. Van Orden, Thirty firsst, Hoboken, N j."
The captain has ordered under arrest although the
prison authorities scarcely believe that he guilty OF
completely in the plot, and two guards aboard
the Dean Richmond, with strict orders not TO allow the
engineer to pass from their sight.
When the Richmond came up she had no aboard,
except the captain, engineer, and boy, and the
men alluded to as having chartered the boat These
two were undoubtedly in the plot they disappeared
with the rest as soon as touched shore Pieces
OF clothing and set Of whskers with other articles cal
cuaed to alter the personal appearance were found on
the canalboat, which was picked up by one
Of the prison vessels. There were two guards
stationed on the pier at the time Of the escape
Of the prisoner, but they did not fire upon the
rogues whether this was because they confused
they actuated by desire to aid their
escape does not yet appear The matter will be nyest
gated, and found guilty they will be severely dealt
WITH The captain OF the Dean Richmond stated TO In
specor Latin OF the Sing Sing Prison that his vessel was
chartered up to Sing Sing week last Tues
day. by two men TO him unknown, to carry down some
furniture from Sing Sing to NewYOrk, and that certain
individual who keeps drinking saloon In the City oi
New-York became security for the payment OF the
indebtedness incurred by these men. The amount
agreed upon ~ per houf lof inc acsuSl uhc eH-
poyed.i Upon this compact the vessel started last
week Tuesday; and on arriving at Sing Sing
made the regular steamboat landing in the vii
lage. One OF the two men spoken OF went ashore,
and after a short absence returned, stating that
the furniture yet ready for delivery and they
would have to come again. On the following
Sunday they met the captain again. and desired him to
come up the succeeding Tuesday, Aug. Is, but the
captain said the tanks not In order and he could
get the boat ready before Thursday the l7th lie
then agreed to meet the men at 81 O'Clock yesterday
morning at foot OF West Thirethst and proceed TO
Sing Sing. The result this bargain is already told
Large quantities OF lime are constantly shipped by
barge from Sing Sing and the barge which the Dean
Richmond had in probably blind TO deceive the
authorities as TO the object of her visit.
The names OF those who escaped the following: D.
f. Creamer Walter Williams, Joseph H. Kingsland Ber-
nard Wiley James Thompson, VIM. Finley, VIM. Byrnes,
Dennis Conroy Jacob Weller George Williams, Albert
Williams James Burns
The pursuit Of cOnvcts is kept all nghtfwith
the hope OF success at daybreak Two men have been
arrested Engewo0d, ~ j. supposed to belong TO the
gang which escaped keeper will 30 forward immed-
lately TO identify them II possible Before dark last
night musketry firing was heard In the direction OF
Rockand on the west shore, and it thought an en-
counter had taken place between the conycls ana the
pursuing guard
report was circulated, last night, at the Hudson
River Depot in this city, that the conycts had been met
by the police boat Seneca opposite Yonkers, driven
ashore from their tug, and chased through Excelsior
Park. reporter who visited Yonkers found that the
police authorities Of that did not even know where
the convics had landed. The Police Captain had re-
ceved a dispatch telling him OF the escape and
asking assistance He sent out to II he could get
Capt Peenes propeller the eHamlton, but it was not
there Seeing in the stream the steam
yacht Mystic-a vessel owned by H. N
Smith OF the old Wallst. firm OF Smith, Could
and Martin--they sought to obtain the use OF that
The captain readily agreed to enter on the chase ana
was off with four policemen steam could be
raised The Mystic fastened up TO Permont, stopping
all suspicious vessels by the way Finding the Seneca
there with body of the New-York City police on board
the Yonkers police transferred to that vessel which
returned TO her old anchorage. Nothing more was
known Of the affair at Yonkcrs until at 10 p m the
Seneca steamed up to the dock and put Of the four
policemen. The only fact cleaned from them was
that the rescue was planned for five men, but seven
others jumped ON the tug.
AN ARREST.
From information received from Capt. van ofdeh OF
the Dean Richmond superintendent kelso ueelhed IL
proper last evening the arrest Of John W. Earle
of West Tenth-st suspicion of being Implicated IN the
Jail delivery, iand instructed Capt Washburn oil the
Ninth Precinct accordingly. TRIBUNE reporter
called upon Mr. Earle at the station-House, and
WAS informed by him that he is hoteEkeeper
at the corner OF West and West Tenthstsp where
he has done business for the past 10 years.
His house is the resort Of many men doing business on
the wharyes and on the river Within two weeks past
mfr Earle does not remember the datel man called at
his place of business and asked where he could see the
owner of tow boat, he had eanafDOat ioaded WIN
furniture which lie wanted To have t0wed from TINS CITY
10 Tarryown Sing Sing. Earle states hat lie referred
him to Capt. Van Orden OF the propeller Dean heh-
mond After some conversation the stranger and Capt
Van Orden concluded their NJ go;ations Capt Van Oren
agreeing TO take the about 81 per hour "a contract
was produced which Earle said he witnessed 10y MS sig