The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1882-01-07
THE PLtTs OF PRISONERS.

New the cesvicts In Auburn Prison Plan
h~caDe-Ms king implements to Break
Vat Of PriseE With.
Bolts and bars and walls built to re-
slsI the teeth of time are not ALWAYS
sufficient to restrain the conv;cts in the
csate prison at Auburn, n. Y. Con-
unement seems to sharpen the wits of
,ne prisoners, and not only have they
neen known to devise successful plans
70 escape, but to invent most ingenious
appliances and machinery. Every morn
ing the contractor drives in throuqh
the north gate, and receiving his load
OF three or four barrels at the kitchen
urlVes ont again. A convict several
years ago thought he saw in the swill.
Darrei means of escape, and he pro-
ceeded to put his idea into operation.
ne enreloped his head in cloths and got
into barrel of liquid swill. The gate
keeper IS provided with long iron rod.
and lsrequlred to probe or examine eyerv
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-
ton, and he plunged it again with CON
siderable force. He was amazed to see
filthy object emerge from the swirl
and utter mufied 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 q good deal of COM
ment at the time. A prisoner once
dsappeared'and no trace OF him could
be found. The officers searched for q
week without avail. Finally, after all
efforts had been given up, the keeper
OF the tailor shop one day instructed
us men to remove the pieces of cloth,
OF which there was great quantity,
rom beneath the cutting bench. The
oencn was entirely closed, with the ex-
cept1on of small aperture into which
the odds and ends were thrown, and
wniie the pieces we're being taken out
the missing convict was unearthed.
Inc man had been waiting for an op-
portunlty I get outside the walls, but
ne waited one day too many it proved.
he had been fed regularly by other
conslcts, who brought him food in their
pockets from the mess-room.
ihree or four years ago, when the
prison was crowded with l, 500 conviets,
= :, great many slept in large room in
.ne Top OF the main building, known as
ene odd hospital" These men imae-
med that liberty was within their reach.
ana they made an attempt to effect
tneir 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
Ihe delivery, but when the men put
their heads up through the opening
they were confronted with row of re.
volvers in the hands of officers. Some
one had revealed the scheme. and the
authorities had been forewarned. Had
TINS plan been successful the population
OF the prison would have been de-
creased some two hundred. Five wears
ago convict employed in the toolshop.
which IS no longer operated. made q
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 a way that
he could shut himself in. To conceal
the deception he drove heads of nails
INTO the board SO that it looked as if it
was nailed down. The contractors had
another shop In what is known as
" Hackney" In the northwestern part
OF the city, whittier all tools were tai eli
before being shipped. The convict en-
sconced himself in his narrow quarters,
and the box was loaded on a wagon
With number of others. He waited
until he thought the prison had been
left behind, and then raised the cover
to survey his Surroundings. He was
observed by the driver, o young man,
who gave frightened yell and jumped
from the wagon. A guard happened to
be IN grocery store in front of which
the convict made his appearance, and
he caught a 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 a 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.
He secured pair of overalls and a
blouse. and shouldering 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
a 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 up from window to win
cow 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 thew vera dnfectpd nv the