The Republican journal., 1874-03-05
NUMBER 35.
How The Prisoners Escaped.


Warden and his officers, vet these officials
are sometimes outwittcd by the convicts
who long for freedom. Last evening one
Of the most adroit and successful escapes
from imprisonment ever made took place
at that institution, and under circumstances
which clearly show that the prisoners had
for several months been engaged in plan
ming and executing the ways and means
in the case, as learned from the Deputy
Warden, are as follows: About half-past
) o'clock last evening, the time when the
prisoners We're locked up for the night, an
officer hurried to the Warden and Informed
him that Ensign Worthen and Nathaniel
Jones We're not in their cells as they should
have been.
TIE SEARCH.
Upon receiving this information search
through the prison ward was made for the
missing convcts, hut they could not be
found All the departments of the prison
including the foundry and machine shop.
We're thoroughly examined, but no .lue
could be obtained to their whereabouts,
and the manner and mode OF their sudden
departure was Tor over two hours Il mys-
terry to all most Interested An examina-
ton Of the outside Of thc walls was then
made ana here. on the southeast side and
fronting on Austin street was tonnd trail
which led to the ingenious plan which the
men had so adroitly carried out, and which
led them once more to freedom
rrNNELlING UNDER THE WALLS.
Between the south wiug Of the prison,
and separating il from the ward which
leads to the street and Whart. is atockade
fence. strongly built and about twenty feet
high. On examining this fence, and close
to the gate which leads t. the yard, the
officers found Il hole in tne ground, and
between two Of the posts which form the
stockade. The aperture was 50 small that
it ut first seemed incredible that such large
and heavily built men a. the escaped con
victs are could have made their exit by
crawling through ii But such was the
ease, aS will be shortly seen. The nearest
of the workshops to the stockadc is the
foundry and machine shop building. where
Northcn and Jones We're employed. and
another examination Of these departments
was begun after making the above dis
covery. In the south corner Of the tom
dry Is located the engine, Of which
Worthen had the entire charge and ad-
Joining the engine-loomi the black smith $
shop, where Jones worked Attcr closely
scrutinizing both departments without any
satisfactory results the Warden directed
one of the officers to take Il look behind
the engine lie did so, finding one of the
floor boards loose lifted it up, and to his
great astoniShmcnt discol cred that u tun-
ncl had been cNcavated TO 4 depth of two
iee1 ana ABOUT li1eeh lhchea Wide Further
inVestl@atIoh nN lhe ollicef revealed That
thc tunnel extended about Tour 1eet' anu
theh tlfhe" III u fiSht angie ana continued
70 = Instance OF tWehlN -"he leel' lrfnllal-
a,ES7, 'Iu1,- ,l,,,,,,,, +l.,4 a. l.. y
who had 20 skilfulIv cn9innnrrl his suh-
tcrlaneon po,supr was thorouohlv ac-
ouainted with the lopooroohy olt6e prison
.lu.ro,n,Iinus
,,....,.. ,...... ...,,,.,,...
~" '''', '''N ~ 'A' ''''' '''''''i'N'
lhe root and ~Idea ol ms tunnel were
protected by light boards, fitted up in 4
very WorkmanIikr manner showing that
the job was not the work of a lay or a
week, but in all probability was in pro-
gress tor several mouths How the men
managed to make the excavation without
peihg ui9covefe1 Is i mystery. which at
present lile "afdeii nor ms assistants can
SoiNe' ~ 'ile engine NAoP = WriI Us the
"iIi'l "'i''i 'iti'ie ms 'irt Stalt'het "hlctrS
VIII" occupy Sutn po9lllohS II me rooms as
TO oe ''o!t TO overlook ihe entire Slop ana
hoIe every movement on the prisoners ;
Yet daN alter day orthen, aud perhaps
zones We're ousilN engaged IN perfectln%
lheIr n'rth7 ol escape Another puzzle
10 Tie PRISON ollitIAlS IS when ana how the
men procure" the TOOLS to WORK with, and
the boards to prop up the sldea and roof
Oh lheif tulnFI Inc toolS they certainly
must nave ha!t' ;nd me boards are OF
We're last evening, III Just the same posi-
tIoll as tile men placed them. me officer
III charge OF me ahoVe-nentloned depart
inehlS states mat Shoftly before the hour
for ceasmg work for the day he noticed
ooth men, ana at that time they We're
about then usual work. NoHhen was
cleaning ms engine and Jones Wa@ attend
NC to some OF the machinery in the room