The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1880-12-02
THE CAVE OF DEATH.

tins. Seventy-two prisoners who were
condemned were thrown into the Cave
of Death on the 9th OF December. there
to wait the execution Of their sentence.
This could not be the next dav. because
1t was ths Decadi
One Of the prisoners by the name of
Porral, only twenty-five years OF age.
of a bold and ardent spirit. profited by
this interval TO devise plan OF escape.
His sisters having, by means Of very
large bride, obtained access 10 this
abode of horror. began 30 weep around
him.
1T is not now time to weep. said
be; 1T is the moment TO arm ourselves
with resolution and activity, aud CO.
deavor to find some way by which we
can elude our menaced fate. Bring me
flies, q chisel and other instruments;
bring wine in great abundance; bring
. poniard that. if reduced 10 extremity.
we may not perish without the means
Of defence. BY this CRATE. which looks
into the Rue Lsfond. you can give ms
these things. will be in waiting thsfc
the whole day 10 receive them
The sisters retired, and in the course
of ths day, at different visits. brought
variety of tools. twelve fowls and
about sixty bottles of wine. Porral
communicated his project 10 four others,
bold and active like himself, and the
whole business was arranged TO bis
complete satisfaction.
The evening arrived. q general sup
per was proposed-the last, they
thought, they should ever eat. The
prisoners supped well. and exhorted
each other 10 meet their fate the next
morEing with heroism and foriitads.
AT IL O'Clock the associates began
their labors; one Of them was placed as
. sentinel next the door of the cave,
armed with poniard. ready TO dispatch
the turnkey il. at his visit at 2 o'clock
in the morning. he should appear 10
suspect anything; the others. pulling
OF their coats, began 10 make their
researches. sea
At the extremity of the second cave
they found huge door. and on this
they began their operations. II was Of
oak. aud doubled barred; by degrees
the hinges gave way to the files. and
the door was no longer held by them;
but still they could not force it open -
it was held by something on the other
side. A hole was made in il with a
chisel. and, looking through, they per-
ceived it was tied by very strong rope
to q post at a distance.
This was terrible momenti They
endeavored In vain to cut the rope with
the chisel or file, but they could not
reach il. A piece of wax candle, how
ever, was procured; and. being lighted
and lied to the end of stick, they
thrust it.through tho hole in the door
aud burnt the cord asunder. The door
WAS then opened. and the Adventures
proceeded forward.
This door they found led only to an-
other vault, which served Us depot for
contiscated effects and merchandise.
Among other things was large trunk
full of shirts. They profted by this
discovery to make u change Of linen;
aud. instead Of tho clean ones which
they took. they left their own, which
they had worn for many weeks. Two
doors beside that at which they had
entered now offered themselves to their
choice. They began to attack Que; but
they had scarcely applied the die, when
they were alarmed by tho barking of II
dog behind.
A general CONSERVATION seized the
party; the work was stopped in an in
slant; perhaps the door led into the
apartments Of the jail~r. This idea re-
called to their mirds that il was now
hear on to 2 O'Clock, tho time of his
visit. One Of the party returned to-
ward the Cave OF Death to see whether
all was safe, and il was agreed to sus-
pend their lsbors till his return.
When the scout returned he said that
on his arrival at the Cave OF Death he
shuddered with horror TO Hnd the turn
key there already. The man. how
ever, who had been left "a sentinei
had engaged him to drink with him;
and the scout joining the party, they
had pl:s5 him so well that he at last
reeled Oh without examining the cave
mach. and was. in all probability laid
fast asleep for the res, of the night.
This was very consolatory news.
Quitting the door at which they sd
heard the dog barking. they spilled
themselves to the other. They found
here folding doors, one Of which they
opened and found themselves in a
long. dark passage. At the end they
perceived still another door. but. listen.
ing very iptently. they heard the sound
of voices. it. in fact. led TO tho guard
house. where several soldiers in their
national uniform were assembled. This
was, indeed. q terrible stroke. Had
they then gone 90 far, only 10 meet
with worse obstscle than any thew
had yet encountered Must oil their
lAbors prove. then. at length fruitlessg
Oaly one resource now remained, aud
this was door which they had passed
on the side Of the passage. and which
they conceived must lead b the n, eat
court of the Hotel do Vile.
In fact. having forced the door, il sp.
rearod they were not mistaken: that
thsyiwere ut the bottom Of the stair
case which led into the court. IL wa.
now half.past four o'clock: the morning
was dark aud cold. while rain and snow
were falling in abundance The asso>
ciates embraced each other with trans.
port. and were preparing TO mount the
staircase. when Porrsl cried out:
what are you abouts II We attempt
to 90 out at present. all is over with
US. The gate is now shut and il any.
one should be perceived in the court
the alarm would be given. aud all would
be discovered. After having had the
courage TO penetrate thus far let Us have
resolution still to wait waile. Ats