The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-04-03

The Prisoners In the County Jail At
tempt 10 Escape.

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A daring attempt was made by the
inmates Of the county jail TO escape by
saving their way TO liberty. but it was
fortunately discovered in time and pre-
vented.
On Friday Deputy Sheriff Martin
noticed when be went into the jail that
one of the prisoners whistled very lust
lily, and he considered the circumstance
peculiar, and he SO remarked to Sheriff
Sharpless. On yesterday morning the
sheriff noted the same peculiar circum-
stance when he went into the jail, and
after coming out had some conversation
on the subject with his deputy. The
jail ONE time afterwards, and listened
intently. He heard considerable tramp
ing and scraping of feet inside, but in
the midst of it all he detected a saw at
work. The sheriff was called, and the
two listeners plainly heard the saving.
During the afternoon they resolved
upon making the capture. Removing
their boots they prepared to enter by
the front door In order to surprise
the prisoners and learn who the
real workers were. They could hear
someone pass by the door ON the inside
every minute or two, like a sentinel,
shoeless and cautious.
Suddenly the noise Of the sa wing
ceased, and stiffness ensued. Nothing
was heard ave the cat-like tread of the
sentinel. The sheriff and deputy con-
cluded that the men had sawed through
a bar and were sharpening the saw.
Noiselessly unlocking the door, just as
the sentinel had passed by, Messrs.
S~harpless and Martin slipped inside in
their stocking feet. They had OWNED
from the sounds that the work wa be-
ing lone TO the left hand, or at the
west side of the corridor. Both pre-
misses were correct, that is, that the
men were sharpening the saw and that
they were at work on the left side.
The sentinel, who proved to be a fe-
male prisoner, was seen, and a sign of
warning prevented her from giving the
alarm. The two officers crept quietly
around until they got within full view
of the gang of prisoners. They were all
seated on the iron floor Of the corridor
IN a circle, in the center of which sat a
man who was at work sharpening the
saw, using his boot heel as an anvil.
All the prisoners but the one who was
at work saw the officers, but were I'M
pressed with silence by signs. Mr..
Martin then went back and around to
the other side of the cages to see if
anything was out of place. and re-
turned, while Sheriff Sharpless was
watching the saw sharpening proceed.
1t is evident to the reader that the me-
chanic OF the outfit was much preoccu-
pied with his task when he failed to
notice the presence of the sheriff. FL
nally, n Of the men in the circle arose,
and the mechanic casually looked up at
him, when his eyes fell upon the sheriff.
He turned the seven colors Of the rain
bow in quick succession. He was
caught, and he endeavored to hide the
saw. But 1t was useless; the saw. and
the instrument used for sharpening
were secured. 1t was then seen that a
bar had been sawed off close to the
floor.
From the prisoners themselves, it
was learned that they had concluded
not to saw any more until Sunday (this)
morning. Then they would saw off
the upper end of the bar spoken of.
This would let them out into the main
body Of the jail. The calculation was
then to saw off the lock of the door on
the west side of the building, complet.
ing the job at about one O'Clock, after
noon, when the sheriff and deputy were
at dinner, and then break for liberty.
The saw used was made of the steel
shank Of n boot. e., the steel spring
that stiffens the hollow portion of the
sole. 1t was toothed by a knife blade,
which in turn was nicked on another
blade. The knife and blade were left
by a former female inmate, who had
had them secreted in her clothing. The
saw is about four inches long and five
eighths of an inch wide, and a sixteenth
thick. 1t IS fastened into a piece of
wood for a handle, and bound stoutly
with broomwire, proving to be a most
effective instrument.
The plan for the escape was laid by
the two men who were sentenced to
one hundred days. Imprisonment for
stealing clothing from the Key City |
house. They boosted to the other pris-
oners that they would break out inside
of two weeks, and they came neal full
filling their boast.
But for the vigilance and efficiency
OF the sheriff and deputy the prisoners
would have all gotten out, as their plan
was a very good n and their impro-
vised facilities ample. The officers are
to be congratulated upon their timely
discovery Of the ATTEMPT and their neat
method of detecting the prisoners at
work.
Wanted.
A girl to do general homework. In
quire of Mrs. John II. Durbin.