The New York herald., 1872-10-13
FLIGHT OF JAIL BIRDS.
The Escape OF Prisoners from
BlackWc1l's Island.
Sixteen Desperadoes Take French Congo During
tho Year-A Gang Capture Boat and
Their Keeper, and All But One Get
Away-Another Attempt
Frustrated Yesterday.

the boldest escape on record Of convicts from
the Penitentiary, at Backwell's Island took place
on Friday afternoon, when six powerfully built
desperadoes rowing past Hell Gate, In prison
boat accompanied by their keeper, Patrick
Gearey, rose upon him, seized his pistol, and,
cooking IL, threatened to blow out his brains
and throw him overheard II he moved hand
or f0ot. The unfortunate keeper was power
less. for the convicts were masters OF the
situation. They forced him to steer them to the
foot OF 1O6th street, East River, where they
landed and made their escape, their frst proceed
ing being to run towards the gas works there In
process Of construction, where they were fur
nshed with clothes by the laborers or aecompices,
which hid from public gaze their
zEBRA-PATTERNED PRISON 0ARB
Startling az the announcement may appear, no
less than sixteen prisoners, including the i've just
mentioned, have escaped this year from Black
wels Island Penitentiary, and doubtless many Of
the incarcerated rascals there think, according to
the well-known cOuplet,
Stone walls do not prison make,
Nor iron bars q cage;
for when so many OF their number escape, each
man may justdably hope that his day win
come sooner or later. About couple Of years ago,
at Sixty-second street, keeper engaged in the
Penitentary found half dozen pistols leveled at
his head, and he was ordered to let his boats crew
go ashore, which they did and escaped. Upon
arriving on the New York side
NO PROTECTION EXISTS FOR THE KEEPERS
and any well-organized gang Of ruflans can take
possession Of these boats, there being merely the
men at these points as sentinels is an absolute
necessity.
Yesterday young Frenchman, q penitentiary pri-
sOner, tried to reach Manhattan Island frOm Wards
Island where he working for the day In company
with u hundred other prisoners, He rushed down to
the water's edge and attempte to swim across the
river, but hardly had he entered the water when
three shots came Kissing into the stream near him
and caused him to reconsider his plans. The hun
dred prisoners just alluded to are taken daily in
the steamboat belonging to the Commissioners Of
and are placed between decks, under guard Of
VISIT TO BLAoKwELL's ISLAND
The writer went yesterday to the foot OF Eighty
sixth street, where escapes from the workhouse
are OF frequent occurrence To this place also
and street brawis. At the foot OF Eighty-sixth
street stands refreshment saloon, and one OF the
see men swimming or the Island, and when they
landed their friends would be waiting with q
change Of clothes for them, the prison garb being
the reporter soon reached the Workhouse ferry.
The keeper had his pistol on his knee and steered
the boat, the Oarsmen being 'ten-day men,"
THROUGH THE woRKHoUsE GROUNDS,
where hundreds % Of linen men and women were seen
iron gate was entered, and the reporter found him
self In the Penitentiary grounds. Passing through
length the handsome villa Of Mr.. Fitch, the warden
was reached. Addressing himself to q prisoner
learned that Mr.. Fitch had just left for Baltimore
and would not be back for ten days. Nothing re-
mained but to find the deputy warden, Mr.. Cuen-
haven. He was found in the prison, but was not
able to give any
to the number OF prisoners who had escaped this
year or to give the names or all the men who had
escaped as the clerk had alseAdy left. He said
that when prisoners escaped they were almost in
variably befriended by accompces, who awaited
them on the New York shore. He considered the
escape Of the five men as the b0ldest affair on
record at the Island, and he had himself had much
experience with the prisoners. Subsequently the
reporter paid visit to the keeper Mr.. Geary, from
whom the five men had escaped. in appearance he
Is handsome man and possesses remarkably
THE KEEPER's STORY.
On Friday afternoon, at halfpast four O'Clock, as
was pulling down from Wards Island, against
strong ebb tide running past He'll Gate laden with
my stroke slipped his oar doubtless Intentionally.
called out to him to recover 1t, and he got
persons rowing sprang aft and pinioned
my arms just as 1 was in the act OF
cockea to oM
stirred hand or foot and throw me into the
water. Tney then turned the boat up the river
and headed for l06th street, where five OF them
landed and ran Off at full speed to the gas works.
The sixth man. German, was
in getting ashore, and managed to capture him.
then mOored the boat and with my prisoner went
to the Eighty-sixth street police station,
where ! caused an alarm to be given,
but up to the present moment none Of them
have been recaptured. Their names have been
gwen by me to Detective Mahoney, OF the Fourth
ward, who will soon have some Of them back
again. have been nearly four years keeper, and
have never lost prisoner. / was appointed
through the Hon. Denis Burns. 1 consider the
vigilance exercised eiectua on the Island. but
this case is an exceptional one. The guard boats
are continually plying round the island from half
past six P. M. to halfpast five p M when the
bell rings. Last summer we were short OF keepers.
Thanking the keeper for his statement, the re-
porter bade him good night.