The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-12
A STRUGGLE FOR LIBERTY.

ATTEMPTED ESCAPE OF DUTCH HARMON AND
FIVE OTHER coNvIcTs FROM PRISON ON
BLAcKwELL's IsLAND-REcAPTURE OF ALL
BUT oNE-scENEs ON TIE ISLAND
Blackwell's Island last night was the scene OF
intense excitement among the oflcial3 OF the
Penitentary, the same being occasioned by the
elimination OF a deep-ad, but unsuccessfully ex-
ecuted, plot for escape on the part OF half dozen
OF the most desperate convicts confined on the
Island.
IL appears that at about hai-past seven
O'Clock last night Waterman Dennis Har-
ney, while in the west wing OF the Peni-
Tertiary, heard a peculiar grating noise OF
suspicious character, and Fastening to investi-
gate the same was almost umbfounded at
beholding six convicts emerging from their cells
and making for the door that leads to the grounds
OF the Island, the same being thrown wide
open. In an instant he had sounded
the alarm, and Warden Fox hearing It,
rushed from his residence to the prison
Just in time to see the last OF the six prisoners
making hts exit. Hastily SUNNI oning the entire
guard on duty In the prison, consisting OF twenty
fve men, he seat the majority to scour the
Island, armed with pistols and shot guns, In
search OF the convicts. He then communicated
by telegraph with the Nineteenth precinct station
house, giving the danger signal 44i and calling for
ir less than fifteen minutes a platoon OF twenty
one officers, under command OF Sergeant whit
comb and Roundsman Minueck, were on the spot.
the following are the names OF the convicts who
escaped from their cells Herman LiedendorG
alias Dutch Harmon, the notorious desperado who
was serving sentence for felonious assault on
policeman last summer; George Thomas alias
Bentley convicted OF grand larceny; Edward
Kane, serving sentence or fourteen months Tor
larceny; Philip Shan Shwarz, George Sloan and
william Henry Johnson.
Sloan and Thomas were captured near the Small
pox hospital endeavorlng 10 secrete themselves.
Johnson was caught close to the Lunatic Asylum,
hidden under q plank, and Shan schwarz was
taken on the west side OF The island.
THE REcAPTURE OF DUTCH HARMON
was attended with considerable difficulty, as he
made a desperate fight Tor his liberty. While the
officers were searching on the west side OF the
Penitentiary. near the water, they noticed a boat
containing three men nuggng the shore, and a
moment afterward Harmon jumped from his
hiding place into the. river and was about TO
scramble into the boat, when the police
fred some shots at the occupants ana
they quickly rowed away, leaving the con-
Wet to his fate. One or the officers caught
him by the neck, he violently resisting
but he was finally taken after a struggle. He had
d
the ball and chain he was constantly obliged
to wear, the balance OF 1t having been
filed on. The prisoners were taken back
to the jail, and Warden Fox ordered them to
be placed in separate dark cells and roneo Up
to a late hour last night Edward Kane was still
at,hberty, but the authorities we're confident tnat
he would be apprehended. believing him to be sim
on the Island he had chains fastened to his legs.
HERALD reporter was cordially received by
Warden Fox and DR.. Kitchen. OF the Charity Hospi-
tai last night, who gave the following explanation
OF the escape :-Dutch Hartman was the ring
leader, and had. as he afterwards confessed, been
plotting the matter for a few weeks past.
By the aid OF some soft wax on a piece OF
wood, which he somehow obtained the would not
impart howl he succeeded, when not observed,
in taking the impression OF the lock TO the safe
In which the keys OF all the cells are kept, and
ne had a KEY made from the impress
sion, probably through some accomplice
outside. Last night when the keeper started on
his nightly rounds Hartman watched his opportu-
NIFTY and leaving his cell, tho door OF which in
some unexplainaole manner was not locked,
rushed the safe, opened It aad taking thereIrom
Ave keys, unlocked the cells where his 'pals"
were ncarcerated and liberated them.
The attempt was a desperate one, and had more
OF the prisoners been IN t1e plot IL is more than
likely that blood would nave been shed. The
police force sent to the Island the Nineteenth
precinct we're there up TO one O'Clock this morn
ing, and we're to remain until the capture or Kane