Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-01-06
CHAPTER XVIII.
AN ESCAPE.

No time was lost in useless regrets. All
Of our comrades resolved to carry out the
plan of escape which was their leaders,
only chance of life-probably their own
also. Andrews was separated from them
the same evening and put down into 1.-THE
hole" There was knife in the party and
they at once began work. On Saturday
night they cut into the plank overhead, as
this could be the more easily concealed.
1t was fearfully difficult. One man stood
on the shoulders Of two others who leaned
against the walls, for there was no other
means of reaching the ceiling, and carved
at the heavy oak plank till weary, when
another relay of three would take their
place. The cutting was not very noisy,
but little shutting about, talking, and
especially singing, etfectually drowned it,
A piece was thus worked out during the
night large enough to admit the passage
of a mans body and the work suspended
till the morning and afternoon visits of
the jaler had been passed.
After they had returned from their daily
airing on Sunday they went to work with
new vigor. Now they did not need to con
ceal the evidences of their work, for be-
fore the jailer came again on Monday
morning they meant to be free. They
knew that dangers were ahead, but the
thought of liberty, and their leaders life,
was enough to inspire them They worked
hard and sang long that Sunday evening.
Swims afterward said that he ought to
have known that something was the mat
ter by their singing so mournfullyl They
hoped to finish all that was to be done by
midnight; but they had miscalculated
their task.
They had to cut the lock out of the trap
| I 4
below: then to pick their way through the
end brick wall above the ceiling, slowly
and carefully, so as not to alarm the guard
outside, Their garments had to be twisted
into ropes to lift Andrews from below and
| the last of themselves up to the ceiling, as
well us to make a longer rope for the per
| ilous descent from the gabled end Of the
| Jail to the ground outside.
When all was done day was just begin
| ming to break family in the east No time
was to be lost In half an hour it would
| be so light rs to render their escape inn
possible. They were all in the loft ard
Andrews was given the first chance. OF
| course all letters had been removed. The
rope was passed out, and Andrews crawled
through. and in n moment was swinging
outside: but in getting out he happened to
push off loose brick, which fell to the
ground and gave the alarm. The nearest
guard raised his musket and fired at the
man hanging on the rope, but missed his
aim. Andrews had his boots in his hand,
hut in the excitement let them fall and
could not ston 10 nick them IN. He after.
words eornIr needed them Rut in his
stockinr feet he nuno himself over tbe
fence md throuch thc orrard line reneat.
edlv fred ot INIT unburt John Wollon
followed and while he was in the mir h,
was fired Mt bv other guords. Int suc
coded in getting ont of the yard Inburt
Those who had failed 70 oct ont cro,vlef
down and GOT on their irons ornin md if
was n Great mystery how tbp two mer
olono had heen aha 70 nCTect thnir escnne
Andrews and Wollam senorated no soor
nc thev lat the nrieon mo former ran
short distance hevond tho slirts of IN,
town after bavinr take, nrecautions r.
throw the DOES off his troct and f,ndin,
r. too Ii~ht ~ travel fnrther in safety