New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-03-31
aroused Of my movements. By the
end Of the week or so, I had broken
away all but the thin outer edge, SO
that q vigorous shove would send the

away tlll DuU Tue CIllQ outer eQG0, so
that vigorous shove would send the
remaining part out.
The question was now how to get
down to the ground outside. The dis
tance from the hole to the yard below
was fully sixty feet. A rope l must
have somehow. All my ingenuity was
called in to play to get one The rugs
OF my bed were double, and fastened
together as if one was the lining of the
other. The under ones I tore off and
made into strips, which l plated into
which found from day to day in my
work about the corridors, were
stealthily put aside and changed into
rope. At length I had plated what l
thought sufficient. My materials were
slowed away behind the cistern, and
determined to attempt an escape on
the next Saturday evening. 1 chose
that evening becauseit was usually the
most tree from any chance of Interrupt
ton from the officers, and the most
favorable for escaping detection, if I
succeeded in reaching the crowded
thoroughfares of the town.
A0e~CoA0cVy Oc4AAO. OuPpCl V(tS SCIfOu
at 5; the cells were locked up for the
night; and by 6 o'clock the officers,
excepting a couple left in charge, had
left the building. ''The night watch
man will be on duty outside at g."
said to myself; II must be out of this
before then. Now for it" removed
the cistern for the last time, pulled
from their hiding-place the coils and
irons, and with a thrust or two sent
the thin portion of wall into the yard
below. then fastened bar of iron
to each end Of the rope. One OF these,
placed across the opening on the in
side, afforded a safe holding; the 9th.
er kept the hanging rope steady I
put my legs through the opening to
descend, and managed to get through,
and reached the basement yard,
thong not without fear and trembling.
BY a shake Of the rope the iron bar
fell from it's holding, and was able to
pull it down Tor my further usein seal
ing the outer wall. twas a November
night-dark, cold, and windy. l now
made for part of the outer wall
which separated the chaplain's garden
- OA4 p44SOAl, CU11u N11ClC l11clc w DIS
a suitable corner for the use of my
rope. [ had frequently noticed this
spot from the reception ward, and
guessed it's height to be about fifteen
feet. Over this spot threw the iron
bar at the end of the rope; by good
luck, it caught somehow on the other
side. mounted quickly, sailor fash
ion, and in another minute was free.
The by-road from the prison joined
the highway to the town about 600
yards off and skirted the warders cot
tages. When reached the junction I
sawunder thegas lamp one OF the ward
ers smoking and chatting with apolice-
man. At the sight my heart sank; but I
quickly recovered my courage, crossed
theroad, swinging my arms about in a,
careless way land passed on safely tow
ards the town. AS Iproceeded, it struck
me as very foolish to venture into the
lighted streets in prison dress; besides
there was no one in the town that par
ticularly cared to see. [ therefore
turned my steps in an opposite direc-
ton, and marched northwards into
the country. After walking about
seven miles, took refuge for the night
in an clubhouse belonging to small
farm on the roadside. l hid myself in
the loft among the hay and straw and
slept like top. Early on Sunday
morning l was aroused by some one
coming to milk the COWS. kept close
under cover, but no one came into the
loft.
AS soon as darkness came on I slip
ped away, and went on still north
wards. All that night 1 tramped,
scarcely meeting asoul. By daybreak
I had reached the outskirts of a large
town, whose name I did not know.
An empty house offered an enticing
place OF rest, and in / went for a few
hours. BY this time / knew that the
hue and cry would be abroad. With
out a disguise my liberty would be
but short. The police of this I'M
known town would, am sure, be now
on the lookout, for the prison could
not be thirty miles off. An empty
house could supply me with nothing,
so l resolved to go prospecting. I
got through an attic window on the
roof, and crawled to the nearest in
habited house. Looking through
it's attic window / saw on
chair a suit of clothes
evidently some ones Sunday suit,
not yet put away. They were quick
~ in my grasp, and a few moments
found me back again in my refuge. I
was, indeed, in luck's way, for in the
trousers pockets were twenty-three
shillings. l slowed the prison clothes
up the chimney and walked into the
street dressed in the stolen suit.
hailed cab coming down the road,
after one or two questions for infor-
nation, I directed him to drive me to
the barracks. Strange to say, this
cabman was the owner OF the clothes
had on. You may scarcely believe
it, but it is quite true, as after events
proved. And I'paid the poor fellow
with his own coin!
enlisted in foot regiment, under
a feigned name of course. For a fort
night or so kept pretty close to bar
racks; I then foolishly asked the wife
of one of the sergeants to pawn the
stolen clothes. It was the story oil