The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-07
PRICE TWO CENTS.
MADE PRISONER BY A DOG.
HENRY FoRDHAMS ADVENTURES IN
MS FLIGHT FROM JAIL.
A Hard Run nom HIverhend, and Marrow
Esc"pe from Freezing In n Becnimed satl-
boat, hut Caught by his Trousers Leg.

A Hard Run nom HIverhend. and Marrow
Escape from Freezing In n BecaImed satl-
boat, hut Caught by his Trousers Leg.
RIvERHEAD, L. L.. March 6.-The big
cylindrical cast-iron stove that heats the Suffolk
County iail in Riverhead. Long Island. burned
low at 50 O'Clock on Monday last. and Sheriff
Cooper called for two prisoners to 20 out With
him into the yard and get some coal. Henry
Fordham and William Mott volunteered to per.
form this service with pleasing aacrity. Ford
ham s a sinewy fellow. about 30 years Of ago.
He was awaiting the action OF the Grand Jury
under u charge Of breaking into n store in Sag.
n small village near Sag Hnrbor. He and Mott
went out first. and the Sheriff stopped tc
lock the door. When the Sheriff stepped into
the yard he saw Fordham's right leg Just dis.
appearing over the spiked top Of Il very high
wooden fence. Mott was quite out Of view.
The Sheriff Is tall and muscular about 50 years
Of age. and he weighs nearly 200 pounds. He
sprang at the fence. and Notwithstanding that
one Of the spikes struck through the flesh 81
his little finger. he pulled himself up and wns
soon outside OF the yard But the two fugitves
were invisible in the darkness. and Mott has not
been heard from since.
This evening Fordham. sitting in the Sheri1's
oflce. told reporter for THE Sun what hap
pcned to him in his flight. He had on neither
coat nor hat when he escaped Monday
night. his gaiters were unbuttoned. the
night was frosty. and he had formed no plnn
where to go to. and 50 ran strnight ahead In the
| darkness. 1t happened that he got over the
north fence Of the Jail yard He says he never
stopped running until he came to some water.
He went down on tho beach and made
sure. from the surf. that it was
the Sound Then he turned around
and ran inland. taking AN enst'ry direction
! until he reached the railroad This made. he
| thinks nbout eight miles that he had run. Hs
ran along the railroad Tor mile or two until
| he reached broad rond. into which he turned.
| He followed the road through n village until il
| led him TO n wharf. This village MS he after
| ward learned. was Jamcsport. aud the wharf
WIS on P",onic Bay. which. with Great Peronc
| Buy, makes the map of the eastern end Of Long
Island resemble nshtail. Forlham's home
is in Sng Harbor on the southern point and
narrow pnrt Of the bny separated him from it
! This he says. he didn't know. He. however.
! looked about for skin. but not finding any
! containing oars. he WAS forced tO taks a cat-
! riEged sailboat The bay is about two miles
! wild o
At this time II was. as nenrly ns Fordhnm
| cnn Judge. about ~ O'Clock. There was u gaz-
| ing of H." over the water. which cracked ms the
| boat ran SLOWLY nwny from the wharf with
| light hrecz". When h" had got fairly out into
! the ony. the wInl died away. and he WAS lrit
nearly helpless. There WAS a hig sweep oar in
| tn" boat. lut the ir' wis not strong enough for
| him to push against. So hs sat town In despair.
| His shirt and hair were W.T. with persp rntion.
and chl,ls began 10 strike through him. At
st he begun TO row with the sweep.
| first on one side and then on the other.
| IL" does not know how long he worked in this
way. Tie had given up Try ng to cross the bay.
| and WAS using all his Efforts TO get back TO
shore but Mt distance from N" whnrf When
b" had got nhout mil westward. and was
began 10 grow iieht. His teeth ciattrred and
the joints Of his legs began - ewell from the
ELECTS Of the cold and his pr'vions rxrriions.
NJ h Htt In fr
the village and susurrt"d thnt they we're com-
ing. Tor the bont. H. red ,uhled his exertous
went hack. BY the time he had got close into
the thick shore Ice he saw the man who had
gone back reuppear mounted on a horse and
accompanied 10y a biz black dog.
F9r1hfm at Inst got So far n shore that he
first laid tho sweep fiat along 1t u get greater
bearing surfac" He wns soon on shore aud
running to n thick -hrauched fir tree that stood
II WIS not more than tn feet high. but no
climbed II. aud was concealed anon. its
passed bcnrnth him. After they had dsap-
pehrcd h,hind a bend IN th" shore he climbed
down and ran ms last as he could. being very
! sif. back toward the village tor a short dis
shore He had not run more than two
wh9 came 9terr tho horseman saw him.
ana shouted ne shout brought hlrk
| of woods and got out II view of the man on
foot But he soon snw that the hors"mnn was
| fields. whore the fences would aid his escape
Atanoui tne amrtine the uos caught sight ot
crossed ono field and WIS aiproarhing his
second t"n"n. running IN the direction Of
nlH'" ol woods, as the dog caught up with him.
The dog sprung ut his throit. hut Fordhum
| avoided inc spring. ana drlivered Kick
,nnt , hlaaH' ,nr uoS shy' forInnm ihen ~
had hi, lrft les over a~ the dog cnught him by
his right eg The dog only ~ ',c,eeded IN fasten
ine his teeth IN the lrs OF Fordham's trousers;
| Fordham kept sirainlng on the trousers and