The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-01-25
THE PLOTS OF PRISONERS.
How she ConvIcts In Anburn Prison Plar
20 EAcnpc-aIakinR Implements 20 Hrenl
Out Of PrleoB with.

sufficient to restrain the convicts in the
State prison at Auburn, N. Y. Con-
fnement seems to sharpen the wits of
the prisoners, and not only have they
been known TO devise successful plans
to escape, but to invent most ingenious
appliances and machinery Every morn
ing the contractor drives in through
the north gate, and receiving his load
of three or four barrels at the kitchen
drives out again. A convict several
years ago thought he saw in the swill-
barrel means of escape, and he pro-
ceeded to put his idea into operation.
He enveloped his head in cloths and got
into q, barrel Of liquid swill. The gate
keeper is provided with 3 long iron rod,
and isrequired 10 probe or examine every
load, no matter what it may be that
leaves the prison. When the wagon
reached the gate the keeper ran the rod
into the barrel in which the convict
was concealed. It struck an obstruc-
tion, and he plunged it again with con-
siderable force He was amazed to see
q filthy object emerge from the swill
and utter q muffled cry of pain. 1t did
not take the keeper long, however, to
determine that it was convict attempt
ing to escape. The clever plot OF the
prisoner created a good deal of COM
ment at the time. A prisoner once
disappeared and no trace of him could
be found The officers searched for a
week without avail. Finally, after all
efforts had been given up, the keeper
Of the tailor shop one day instructed
his men to remove the pieces of cloth,
OF which there was a great quantity,
from beneath the cutting bench. The
bench WAS entirely closed, with the ex-
oeption OF small aperture into which
the odds and ends were thrown, and
while the pieces were being taken out
the missing convict was unearthed.
The man had been waiting for an op-
portunity to get outside the walls, but
he waited one day too many it proved.
He had been fed regularly 10y other
oonvicts, who brought him food in their
pockets from the mess-room.
Three or four years ago, when the
prison was crowded with 1 800 conviots,
great many slept in a large room in
the top of the main building, known as
the old hospital" These men imag-
ined that liberty was within their reach,
and they made an attempt to effect
their escape. They cut their way
through the woodwork to the roof, and
only the tin covering remained to be
removed. The night was appointed for
the delivery, but when the men put
their heads up through the opening
they were confronted with o row of re-
volvers In the hands of officers. Some
one had revealed the scheme, and the
authorities had been forewarned. Had
this plan been successful the population
OF the prison would have been de-
creased some two hundred. Five years
ago convict employed in the toolshop,
which is no longer operated, made a
bold venture. The tools were packed
IN boxes some three and half feet
long, two feet wide and, twenty inches
deep. The man attached cleats and
button to one of the boards
comprising the cover in such way that
he could shut himself in. To conceal
she deception he drove heads of nails
INTO the board so that it looked as if it
was nailed down. The contractors had
another shop i'll what is known as
Hackney" in the northwestern part
OF the city, whittier all tools were taken
before being shipped. The convict en-
sconced himself in his narrow quarters.
and the box was lolded on wagon
with number of others. He waited
until he thought the prison had been
left behind, and then raised the cover
20 survey his surroundings. He was
observed by the driver, young man,
who gave frightened yell and jumped
nom the wagon. A guard happened to
be IN grocery store in 'front.' Of which
the convict made his appearance, and
he caught q glimpse of the head in the
box. The escaping prisoner recognized
him, and, leaping from the wagon, ran
as fast as his legs would carry him.
The guard followed, and, as the fugi-
tive would not stop in response to re-
peated commands, fred ball into his
leg, which put an end to the chase.
Citizens are employed in the prison
shops in large numbers, and they pass
IN and out without any questions being
asked. A convict once embraced the
opportunity that this practice affords.
be secured pair of overalls and a
blouse, and shouldering a wise walked
\ past the guards. When he reached the
street he threw down the wise and made
for the country. Slipping out of the
ranks is one of the practices of convicts
as the preliminary step to an escape.
One cold winter morning, while it was
still dark, two convicts left their places
in line. They had previously obtained
long piece of wire, and attaching a
hook to one end they tore up their bed
clothing and wound it tightlyabout it.
This made stiff rope; and reaching it
up they caught the hook on the bars
Of the window in the story above.
They climbed mp from window to win
dow until they reached the roof, from
which they expected to descend to
low side wall and drop to the ground.
Their absence had been discov-
cred, however, and just as they were
descending they were detected by the
officers who we're lookin0 for fhaun