The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-14
CONVICTS AT LARGE.
TWO BLACKwEILs ISLAND PRISONERS DIsARM
AND BIND THEIR KEEPER AND LEAVE HIM

TWO BLACKwELLs ISLAND PRISONERS DIsARM
AND BIND THEIR KEEPER AND LEAVE HIM
ON THE LONG ISLAND SHORE
Two convicts escaped from the Penitentiary yes
terday forenoon under circumstances that, to say
tho least are peculiar. They detailed to row
of the keepers boats that patrol the east
Long Island side of Blackwells Island. The keeper
in charge Mr. Strauss who received his appoint
ment about four months ago. On Warden Fox's
books the prisoners names are registered John
Quinn and Thomas Lewis. When the craft
nearly opposite the bake house, and
about four hundred feet from the Long
Island shore. of the prisoners. it is not clearly
determined which. caught the stretcher (the long.
narrow piece Of wood against which oarsmen brace
their fect) and holding it Keeper Strauss
warned HIM that If he made any resistance ut
tered an cutlery no would be murdered instantly.
The other pointed the keepers gun at his head and
reiterated the threat. The attitude of the men
seems to have subdued the keeper. and instant
later he found himself bound hand and foot by the
Sra;ns ont said the outiaws VINO then be"an 70
for the Long Island shore. They landed at
the kavenswood dock. and took with them
from his pocket. The former found upon
the shore whore the boat touched. but the latter
has not been discovered. Quinn and Lewis started
at lively pace, and Keeper Strauss after strenuous
efforts succeeded in looscning the rope that bound
hum and then cried Justify for help.
This Is the story that Mr.. Strauss tells, and tho
statement that he yelled for assistance is verified by
Warden Fox and others. Deputy Warden Osborn.
Hallkecper O'keefe and Keeper Riley responded to
the alarm and were in pursuit the fugtives.
They traced them to several localities, but lost track
of them ut place where IL ascertained that they
had dotted all but their underclothng and pur-
suing their in that plight Keeper Strauss is
with the party hunting the runaways.
THE wARDES's BELEF
Warden Fox said last evening that he expected
to have Quinn and Lewis back within three days.
They had been traced two miles inland. and their
track was warm. II believe Mr.. Strauss tells
the TRUTH" he went on. ut il only by expert
cnco that keepers be selected for such
duty. and although Mr.. Strauss has been here
but short time have no reason to doubt his hon
estv or efficiency"
Mr. Fox further said that Quinn - term expired in
November next. aud he wondered why he should try
To effect escape the penalty. under the circun
stances, one years imprisonment in addition to
the time due the original sentence, without de-
duction for good behavior. Lewis was sentenced ON
October to confinement In tho Pcnitcntiary for
eighteen months. the crime being larceny
from the person. IL ~ not known that
he arrested before. Quinn had
been I'm tho Penitcntiary three terms before.
one OF the keepers ut tho Pcntcntiary said to tho
HERALD reportcr:-"l won't charge Strauss with
anything wrong for cant believe that he Is capa-
BILE of committing such a crime--that OF conniving
the escape of prisoner. But IL is the most sim
gular act ever heard OF. and I have done duty on
the Island for ten years My impression Is that he
is goodhearted and his head IL soft. lie let
the prisoners gain his confidence aud they took adj
want of 4