The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-03-03
Broke Jail-A Daring Escn pc.

| -Four prisoners made one of the most
daring escapes on record from the jail at
New Castle, Del, on Wednesday night
last. The four burglars who had robbed a
bank also took with them man named
Frazier, who was convicted about ten years
ago of killing his brother-in-law at Middle
town, Del, and sentenced to imprisonment
for life. 1t is supposed the confederates
came from Philadelphia to New Castle at
night in steam tug, and landed and enter
ed the town shortly after midnight. Two
such boats are known to have arrived, and
one left about three o'clock.
The party found near the jail two lad
ders belonging to work man who had
them in use the day before. These they
fastened together, making one of sufficient
length to scale the walls of the prison yard,
and descending into the back yard they
then mounted to the cell window of Law
Ter and Hurlburt ON the west side of the
prison, prying the window from its position
and enabling those two to join the crowd
outside.
1t is probable that Jawler or Hurlbugt
then directed the subsequent movements,
and they then turned their attention to the
rescue of their comrades, who were con-
fined in cell on the other side of the prison
on the lower floor.
They therefore went to door on the
same side of the Jail, which opens into
back yard, and here they either knocked
after the fashion of their attempt at the
bank, or their operations made some noise.
At any rate they attracted the attention Of
the warden ON guard, Israel Rulings, who
went to tho door, unbolted it and looked
out. Hpt nrr
When Mr.. Rulings threw back the door
as many of the men on the outside as could
possibly do so rushed in and seized him,
forcing him into silence. They then closed
the door behind them, and thus had the
prison all to themselves, to do whatever
they wished,as Rulings was the onay Off Ger
on duty. He was hurried along the cor
ridor Hurlburt picking him up like child
and carrying him. They took him into
the cellar of the Jail and there bound and
gagged him.
His hands were handcuffed together, his
feet secured to post by chain. A cord
was then tied around his body and back
under his arms, and a huge lump of coal
was placed under his shoulders. Then a
gag about two inches in diameter was
forced into his mouth, and securely fas-
tened there by means Of a strap, which
was buckled around his head.
In this condition Mr.. Rulings was left
and the villains then assembled the stairs
into the corridor, into which they let Big
Frank, Hope and Frazier.
No other persons were released from
their cells and no interference was made
with any other department of the prison.
The whole party then left as quietly as
they came, and the escape was not discov-
cred until after daylight.
When Deputy Sheriff Griffin was awaken
ed he found the cell doors and the Jail door
open, and the convicts gone Rulings,
after some search, was discovered in the
cellar in perfectly helpless condition.
Being relieved from his bonds and gag he
could neither speak nor stand. His jaws
refused to close, and in fact he was in
condition which, had it been protracted
much longer, would have resulted in death.
Ou1hf "a IN Hama.