The Portland daily press., 1879-02-01
THE JAIL BREAKERS CAUGHT.
An Interesting Story of Their Escape.

The nublic will remember that on the night
of tn g 9th of last month, in the midst of
binding snow-storm and bowling gale, John
Tieruey and William Tobey made a desperate
and successful attempt to break Portland Jail.
The circumstances of the escape seemed wonder
full at the time and the affair was general
topic of conversation in these quiettim+s Many
rumors were current as to what had become of
the men,aud that they were 10 hiding places in
the city and would soon be captured. Time
passed away and probably the matter was for
gotten by the great mass of the public.
The officers however were not idle They
kept their eyes aud ears open and made every
effort to discover the convicts' retreat. Finally
their efforts were crowned with success.
Marshal Bridges and Sheriff Dresser became
convinced that the men were in Boston and
Thursday noou Marshal Bridges took the train
for Boston. He proceeded to the Chief of
Polise's in that city, and was most courtsously
received by that official who kindly placed at
his disposal the services of Inspectors Garrity
and Harding, who took hold of the case with
vigor. The three officers proceeded to the
Palace Dining Saloon, on Washington street,
where Tobey's half brother had secured him
job as waiter at dollar and half week, and
meals for himself and TierneY. The latter had
no occupation bat was loafng about waiting
chance.
This moraing Tobey was arrested by the
officers and taken to the station. He refused
to "give away" Tierney and declared he knew
nothing of his whereabouts. When Marshal
Bridges came forward and said show do you
do robey, you didn't expect to see me did you"
Tobey briefly responded "no." Hs had hired
out at the saloon under the name of Charles
Douglass. After Tobey's arrest the Inspectors
waited, and when Tierney-who is evidently
the shrewd head of the two-put in an ap-
pearaucs for breakfast the officers made for
him but he started and ran out through the
kitchen, into an alley, the people crying "stop
thief" The officer slipped on the ice aud fell,
and Tierney would have got away but he
jumped over low fence into yard from
whence there was no escape except by climbing
high picket fence, and the officer collared
him. The twain were brought to the city by
the train arriving az 5 p. N, yesterday. At
the station they were cool and collected and
were shown to all the officers present SO they
might recognize them 10 the future.
A reporter for the PRESS visited the prisoners
at the Jail last evening where they were taken,
from the police station about p. m aud there
received from them the story Of their escape.
They state that after filling the bolt-socket
of their cell with paper, they picked the lock
of the poor debtors cell with piece of wire,
and gaining entrance, clambered up the bars
on the window to the ceiling. Here they dug
through the plsstering, and were astonished to
find the spiked fIortng of the atuc just above
the ceiling They managed to pull themselves
along between the flooring and the ceiling until
they found place where rsfter was broken
off near the caves, leaving small hole through
which Tisrney crept, and pulled through Tobey,
who stuck. according to their story some half
an hour, but probably the time was much
shorter. Once IN the attic, the men crawled
through the elevator and were on the roof in
the binding snow, the darkness and the gale.
They bad rope, aud Terney, getting on to the
ridge-pole. slid down to the caves. For mo-
msnt, as he approached the caves, he thought
he was gone, his momentum was SO great but
his heel fortunately caught in the gutter
and saved him. Tobey then slid down eau-
tiously and his feet were caught py Tierney
They then lowered themselves by the rope to
the covered walk running from the Jail to the
workshop, and thence Jumped ten feet to the
ground. When they reached the covered walk
they could look right into one of the Jail rooms,
where bright gas-iisht was burning, and they
could see an official reading newspaper.
When terra frma was gained they started up
the street BY Back Cove, aud kept in the rear
of the city until they reached the upper prom.
ena6e. They then crossed over to the front Of
the city and located themselves in an empty
box-car, used for potatoes, on the Osdensburg
track. They thought they were 10 a Maine
Central Car. Both were poorly provided with
clothes and they thought they should freeze.
They pulled off their shoes, and each chafed
the Others feet. Then they would get up and
walk about Only once were they interrupted,
and thar WAS when brakeman looked into
the car (where they had hidden 10 the dark
corner), and said "only potato car" shut the
door, but d,d not lock it. Early in the mora
ing the car was attached to the freight train
andleft f,r Upper Bartlett. At Lake Sebago
they noticed they were on the Ogdensourg road.
At Frye burg the Car was switched on q a sid
ing and the men left it. They walked past
two stations and then sought farmers house
and begged for nights lodging and some
thing to eat. They had not had mouthful
since the night before. The farmer accommo-
dated them and ths next morning, Saturday,
they sawed "pay wood" for him until noon.
Then they walked to Conway Centre and
camped out for the night. They thought they
should freeze From thence they continued on
through Madison, Ossipee and other New
Hampshire towns, until they reached Exeter,
Saturday the 18Th. Here they got on the rear
of freight train aud rode to Fl averhii, when
the conductor came along and they jumped off
and ran to the front of the train and got on in
the rear of the engine. When the train reach
ed Boston the men were nearly dead with cold
and so stiff they could move only with diff
Guilty. They wandered about Boston several
days, sleeping in the police stations, except the
first night-when they made their quarters in a
| tound his half brother who procured him q sit
nation in the dining saloon.
| When asked if be had any idea how his hid
| ing place had been found out, Tierney an.
swered that letter told the story bns be had
written to nobody. When asked if he though;
of the chances he was taking the night he es
capped, be said, eyes, but even bird will risk
| its life to be free."
The two men were placed in separate cells ia
| the western Wiog-tiey were in the eastern
wing beforehand will not, probably, escape
again. They declare they had no outside as
sistance, but the officers think this statement
"too thip."
Convention of Cumberland County he
| form Clubs.
The quarterly Convention of the Reform
Clubs of Cumberland county was held at Ora!
Thursday. The meeting was called to order
| hy the President Coleman Harding of Cir