The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-02-15
rnE EsoApEn pR1soNEns.
How They Got out.-Furthsr and FuIIer
Particulars.

Particulars.
The topic Of conversation on the streets
yesterday was the bold and daring escape Of
four prisoners from the County Jail at two
O'Clock in the morning. What rendered the
affair the more interesting was the fact that
the notorious COnnors and Stanley were
among the prisoners who had taken French
leave. Owing 70 the lateness Of the hour and
the fact thAti II was necessary 10 run o second
edition In order 10 furnish the public with
any account whatever OF the eicapade, the
full details could not be given yesterday
Assoc clock yesterday morning, when the
reporter visited the jail, Il was supposed that
the escape had been made by way Of u
twelve inch crock sewer. Yesterday after.
noon another visit was paid and q thorough
exAtninRti0n'ot the premises was made, when
II was found that such was not the case, The
jail Is built on foundation that Is several
ieet below the grade Of EOlf street. It stands
as It were in well, the sides Of which the
prisoners must scale when they reach the
yard. In the front part Of the Jail Is the
jailoF's residence, Office and wards. In the
rear 10 the cell department, When the Jail
was originally built the heating apparatus for
the cells consisted OF large furnace placed
the tirst tier Of cells, The first tier Is about
on level with Eoff street. On the south
side Of the corridor are seven cells and on the
North side four. The cells arc not built up
solid from the ground, but the arches sup
porting them are hollow; or, In fuct, are cells
but were never used.
In place ota door opening into thecorridor
where the furnace was, there was hole
about two feet square, into which the hot
air passed and then found It's way into the
cells Of the prisoners by lluO about 7ISxiO
inches. This opening In the floor was
stopped by grated iron. When the steam
! was put In, these holes were covered by iron
plates, held 10 the floor BY eight iron bolts,
aud the ends OF tue basement corridor built
up with stone and iron. The new heating
apparatus was built OF the west end Of the
building.
ConnorS was In tho first cell on the north
side, us one entered the corridor, andShanIey
was In the third. Rodgers was in the fourth
on the south side, and Brown in the sixth.
II is believed that ConnorS and Brown were
tho primemOverSi the matter Monday after
noon they let all the prisoners on that tier
know their plans. They had procured drill
made out OF arazOr-and with IL had undOubt-
edly for weeks past been working on that iron
plate. The acoustic properties OF the place
are such that the faintest tap on the iron
could be heard all around, which shows how
carefully they must have labored. The keys
with which they unlocked their cell doors
were made out OF tin. There used to be iron
bolts in addition TO the locks, but they have
been wrenched from their places ut various
times to be used as instruments Of escape and
defense.
FitzSimmons, the Waterman, wears boots
and could be heard when he walked out in
tho yard; ut that time the doors were
unlocked and Browns cell quickly
reached, the plate lifted up, leaving the bolts
still in the iron floor. One Of them, with a
string tied TO his leg then went down the
tue 719xlO inches into the false cell below,
then into the corridor. and then into the
cell in the corner. Here lie prospected
around and dug under sewer to the founda-
ton wall on the west side. Here, when the
building was built 1t is supposed, stone
was left out, for what purpose il Is not
known. 1t was through this hole that Con.
ners escaped several years ago, and he doubt.
less remembered 1t. When the sewer was
put in it was thought this hole was guarded,
but 1t seems that 1t was not. Through this
hole, scarcely large enough to put dog
through, the prisoners cFawled and found
about eight feet OF straw OH top Of them,
through which they CEaWled and thus made
their escape. The work was hard, but well
planned and executed.
There is no clue as to which way they
went, but heautharitieS are sure OF catch.
ing them: The string was used as signal no
doubt. For lantern they had a quart tin
bucket with piece cut out OF the side and u
e4iIs eye glass set in; candle was Used in.