Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-13
DROPPEDFROM AWINDOW
A CHANGING CONVICT QUITS
THE HAIL FOR FREER AIR.

An Umbrella Tramp "Trusty" While at
Vvorl, I'm the Kitchen Prizes Open a
window and Climbs into the street
his Fscape Discovered and Officers on
ugs Track-Chased on the CrOss-ties
into Carolina.
An escape from the Chatham county
iaiI is A rare occurrence, and very few
of the attempts that have been made have
ever succeeded. On Tuesday, however, a
white prisoner named William Dent, who
was sent to the chain-gang several weeks
ago under six months sentence for
stealing a hat belonging TO NJ. ). O'Con-
uer. ESD, and was afterwards returned
to the Jail, succeeded in making his es-
cane. Up to last night he was still at
large. but officers are on his track and
his capture is looked for to-day.
Tue matter was kept quiet, and no re-
port of the escape was MADE until gesIer-
iay. 1t appears that alter Dent nau DGeil
on the chain-gang several weeks MS health
failed. and the tenn of his Imprisonment
was reduced. He was finally returned 10
the Jail for medical treatment, and was
r-i,-er work as a strusty" in and about
So iail ward. He seemed TO be CRATE
mi Tor the treatment that was being
given him. Rev. I. I. Christian, pastor
9t Trinity Church, and others, manifested
considerable interest in his welfare, on
account of the manner in which he was
conducting himself. About ii O'Clock on
Tuesday morning, when the officers
of the Jail were busily engaged, Dent,
who had been out in the yard and
Kitchen and was mending some tins, re-
moved the fastenings from the kitchen
window fronting on Hall street, and tax
inc the bundle OF umbrella handles
which he was carrying when first arrested,
he dropped nOiselessly to the pavement
and disappeared. As soon as the noise OF
the hammer which he was using IN doing
the timing ceased, q Waterman went to
the kitchen TO see what was the matter,
and. not finding the prisoner any
where on the premises, gave an alarm
One Of the guards. Mr.. Henry G. Hastedt,
boarded the afternoon train on the
Charleston and Savannah Railway with
the view Of heading of the fugitive at
the railway bridge beyond MOnteith sta
ton. about twelve miles from the city, III
which direction it was presumed ne mao
gone. On reaching MOntelth, Mr. HAS
tedt was informed that Dent had passed
through there about thirty min
while at the station he had plr
chased a lunch OF crackers and cheese
ard had made dinner off of the LAY out
I in the store. 1t was also learned that ne
| had gone up tae road towards the bridge
1 about four miles off. Hastedt started on
fast walk to overtime him. When be
I arrived at the south end OF the bridge ne
recognized the fugitive, nearly mile
| ahead. by the bundle of umbrella Sticks
that he carried, and seeing no one
/ whom he could call to his ass s.
ance he decided 10 give up tue
chase. Dent is a tall. sallOw-complex
inned man, fast traveller, and is prac
ticed in walking on tresties, and hence
VAS able to make nearly double the dis
lance every minute that Hastedt wa:
making when he abandoned the pursuit
about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. i've
men. who met Dent on the Carolina sl1e
I Of the river, aud who walked into Mon
teith that evening. told Hastedt ina
{ Dent said that he was going west iron
I Yamasee. a description OF the ESCAPED
convict was at once telegraphed TO Al
Iauta. Augusta, and other points, but al
/ To last night no tidlngs OF the 1ugltlF'
had been received.