Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1877-08-14
\ BOLD STROKE FOR LIBERTY.

Two-Two Johnny, the hero of half a
dozen escapes, and as many recap
lures, made another bold stroke for
liberty on Sunday evening last, and
succeeded in breathing the free air of
heaven for about five minutes, at the
ex piration of which time he was re-
turned To his cell. a little blown and
very much discouraged. The facts of
the escape are as follows: About
half past seven o'clock Sunday even
ing, Messrs. Sias and Nelson pro-
ceeded, as is their custom, to lock up
the prisoners in their cell for the night,
they being allowed the freedom of the
corridor during tine day. Johnny oc-
cupies the cell nearest the door lead.
ing into the corridor. and went into it,
where he was duly fastened TO a chain
leading to a ring in the floor, connect
ing with his foot shackles, and the cell
door was closed and locked. Sheriff
Sias proceeded to lock up the balance
of the prisoners, while Nelson remain
ed on guard at the main door. When
Sias had reached the rear part of the
Jail, Johnny complained to Nelson
that no water had been given him,
and asked him TO procure it. Nelson
unlocked the door and asked for the
bucket in which the prisoner usually
kept a supply of the article on hand,
and was informed that it was outside.
He stepped forward and procured it,
putting his hand on the faucet, " hich
was directly opposite the door of
the cell, his back being partially
turned to the prisoner, when Johnny
rushed past him, out through the cor
ridor door, and gained the street about
ten feet in advance of Nelson, who was
in full pursuit. Sheriff Sias, who had
heard the unusual rafting of the
chains, had followed the prisoner
very closely, and OF Nelson falling,
took up the pursuit, Joe telling him
in which direction the prisoner
had fled. The night was dark,
and it vas only by the unusual
agitation of the denizens of
Chinatown that the Sheriff could get
any clue as to the course that the fugi-
tive Vas taking. He followed on,
however, and was rewarded by seeing
Johnny's form loom up against the
sky as he crossed the street in search
of a hiding place. Finding himself
hard pressed, he finally took refuge in
the rear of the Italian store, flinging
himself to the ground in the vain
hope that the Sheriff would overlook
him. He was mistaken in his calcu-
lation, for in another moment the OFF,
cial grasped him and escorted him
back to the Jail. The whole affair oc-
cupied hardly ten minutes from the
time of the escape of the prisoner un-
til his return to his cell. Johnny
laid his plans with considerable
but failed to make allow
for the SheriffTs running quail
ties. The IN which he man
aged to free himself of his shackles is
a mystery, but il is believed that dur
ing the presence of locksmith Young
who had been called to repair a lock a
day or two previous-that he man
aged to abstract a punch from the
tools, and with that instrument punch
ed the rivets from his manacles and
The Grand Jury is now in
session, and if an indictment is found
against this modern Jack Sheppard,
trial will speedily follow, and in
the event of a conviction, he will be
to Carson at once. If he gives
he State Prison officials as much
and ~vexation as he has those
of Eureka county, they will have a
time of it.