Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-09-22
TWO SHOTS FIRED RY THE MIGHT
WARDEN.
FOOTSTEPS HEARD UPON THE JAIL
ROOF

Big Frank made his escape from the New
Castle prison for the second time, last night
He seems to have been unasslsted by persons
on the outside, though what amount Of help was
extended him from the inside does not clearly
appear No force was used, no bolts we're bro
ken, but he walked unreshainedly through
doors which flew back at his "open sesame" as
readily az did those in fairy tales of old.
THERE ARE SEVERAL REPORTS
in circulation relative to the manner of the es-
cape, but Just how it was accomplished is one of
those things which s'no fellow can find ont. u
Sheriff Armstrong gives one version, Jail War
den Herdman another, but Mother of these were
only man who Witnessed the escape, and he
states that he fired two shots at Big Frank, one
aH he turned from the main corridor, and the
other as he vanished through the outer door into
the darkness. The pistol slugs are firmly inden-
ted in the wood work at the end of the corridor
and in the outer door, so that both missed their
aim and Big Frank ran the gauntlet of his fire
unHcathed. There are also eoine outside rumors
which we will give for what they are worth,
promising, however, that they are not without
belief in certain quarters.
THE MANNER OF THE ESCAPE.
The escape, as we have already stated, was
made through the prison doors. 1t occurred
night warden, WAS on duty at the time. He saye
that he had gone down to tho far end Of the cor
fllor to the weave room to ascertain what certain
sounds which he heard in that part OF the prison
were. Turning to retrace his steps he saw Big
Frank running along the corridor at the Other
end, and just as he turned to pass through the
inner wicket gate he fired at him. He then gave
pursuit, but the second wicket had in the
meantime been unlocked, the distance
traversed to the outer door and it thrown open
xft Il
the steps when another shot was discharged after
him. The distance from the end of the corridor
to the place where Big Frank was first seen Ii
about twice as far as from the turning point tc
the street, but there are no obstacles in the way
to prevent hasty passage to the first gate
while Big Frank had very difficult lock to turn
and door to unbolt before he could pass out
Either Warden Wilson is very slow, or Big
Frank exceedingly expert at pushing back a bolt
which the Wardens themselves, accustomed tc
it, could not readily turn at the first effort. -. -
THE CONDITION OF THE DOORS.
The manner in which the doors were left waf
| thus explained by Warden Herdrnan, this morn.
| ing The inner, or grating, door of Franks eel
was open, but the outer one was fastened by 6
| chain and locked. Both doors we're securely
| fastened, last night. To open tho inner dooi
| the outer one must first be unlocked and The
bolt pushed out. Such thing might be posi-
BILE with long arms and properly fitting keys, but
it would be very tiresome operation and one
| not altogether free from noise. The condition
| of the doors show that Frank had unlocked the
outer door, unbulted the inner, re-locked the
outer, and either unlocked it again ant
| again relocked it to get out, or ha6
crawled through the aperture afforded by tht
chain. Warden Herdman eays that only two
other doors obstructed his passage out-the cut
| er wicket gate and the outer door. The forme1h
| explained was fastened by a rolling lock, yer.
| difficult to open, and one whose bolt he canno
always push back at the first effort. 1t seems Il
have opened very quickly to Frank, however.
WHAT SHERIFF ARMSTRONG SAYS.
| Sheriff Armstrong says that -four doors mus
| be unlocked before an escaping prisoner cal
| pass from the prison corridor to the street an'
that all these doors are located between tn
street and the point where Big Frank was whei
| Warden Wilson first fired at him. Ii seems In
comprehensive to him that all thes
doors should have been opened Will
the warden was running the length
of the corridor. He expressed but little conf
dence in his wardens saying that he neve
would have selected either Of them had he bee
permitted to choose them. Ono of them he ha'
suspended but the Levy Court had reinstate
| him ; the other (Wllson, the one on duty at til
| time,) to use his own words, II would not truH
with S5." He intimated that the escape was
bought one. and that the bolts were turned bac
with a silver key.
OUTSIDE RUAIoRs.
The escape at the hour named and under til
circumstances stated ia very much questioned b
some people. 1t is now limited that Big Fran
was not in his cell at 10 late an hour, havin
previously been set at liberty. 1t is state
that one of the doors of the prison wa
securely locked Immediately after tn
escape, and was found go by SON
one who went in after the firing, leavin
the impression that Big Frank had not passe
through the door at all. Another rumor say
that all the doors had been set open, and th'
Frank simply ran through them and out into IL
street.
AFTER THE ESCAPE.
The direction taken in the flight is not know
The prisoners say they heard men walking c
the roof of the prison at the time OF the escap
Sheriff Armstrong at once drove over to Wi
mington and telegraphed TO Philadelphia, bl
nothing has been heard of Big Frank anywher
Frank took nothing with him, leaving all of h
clothing in his cell. Special officer Heritage,
this city, says that about o'clock, this mornin
he saw two men driving through in an OPT
wagon with grey horse attached, which hori
corresponds with strange one seen IN New ca
: tie, yesterday afternoon, by Deputy John War