The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-12-01
AN INGENIOUS CONVICT.
The Wonderful Piece of Mechanism Hs
Turned Out of Board.

The Wonderful Piece of Mechanism Hs
Turned Out of Board.
A few days after Charles Fry was
sent to the local Jail he found q piece
Of board in the yard and took it to his
cell. At the time he intended to whittle
out few small trinkets, but decided to
make an effort and whittle something
of which he would be proud. The
board was Of white pine, three feet six
inches long, twelve inches wide and
two inches thick.
Fry is ship-carpenter by trade and
understands the nature of wood and
what can be done with it under the
circumstances. He had no tools, and
all he possessed that would cut was a
small wooden-handled knife. Knowing
that this would not perform the task he
had set before him, he tore a steel
shank from an old shoe, wrapped a
wooden handle about it, sharpened it
and began to look for something else.
There was an old worn-out mop in the
one-quarter inch wire. He put a handle
on it, wore it down to the thinness of q
blade, and q few days later he found
the rib of an umbrella, which he fixed
in the same way.
Being now fully prepared, he began
the task of turning out what he had
pictured in his mind. He worked
mostly at night, and often remained at
his work until three o'clock in the
morning. While at work he Stunned
the other prisoners and did not let
them know what was going on in his
cell until few weeks ago, when he
emerged with the work of art on which
he had spent all his time and energies
for three months. Looking at the pro-
duction as it hangs between two cells,
one can hardly believe that from the
small piece of board only two inches
thick and three and a half feet long
such chain of connected links and
swivels could be wrought. 1t is an
endless chain of 234 links, thirteen
swivels or revolving links, two pairs of
clasped hands, and six carvings which
explain themselves to the observer.
The Liberty Bell, as true represen-
tation as a picture, is four and a half
inches high and five and half inches
across the rim, and has the crack,
lettering and tongue and all else be-
longing to the beloved revolutionary
relic. Fry has pictured it as it stood
on exhibition at the Worlds Fair in
New Orleans in 1884, when new beam
had been given it and while it was
green. Instead of the green leaves he
has made II chain of wooden links
which coil gracefully around the bell
and add a feature to the marvellous
piece of work. The bell seems fas-
tened to the beam with wooden
stirrups, but they are a part of the bell
and beam, and the screw, nuts and
bolts are given in perfect eXactness to
the original. The beam is held to the
chain by two hands, beautifully carved,
and represent, as Fry says: 1.-The
North and South upholding their united
liberty" Above this again are clasped
hands similarly carved, which Fry says
'is the North and South, and is meant
as an emblem of peace" All these
carvings are connected to the chain by
swivels, most difficult piece of cary
ing in wood, even with the latest inn
proved machinery, but of these the
prisoner has made thirteen, and all of
them were made with the rib of an
umbrella.
Following the chain from the south
side to the bell, the first carving met
is bronze gothic pillar on which is
carved I'm God We Trust" Next is q
Chinese tower, on the corner of which
are four pillars, and inside these pill
lars is ball of wood, too large to be
taken out or put in without breaking
one of the confining pillars.
This is where | began the task"
said Fry, as he pointed to decorated
block on which are carved in raised
letters, blackened at the top, "St.
figure being on side.
The most amusing piece follows, and
Is square block, on one side of which
Is harp of Erin, and in corner the
first two notes of "Come Back to
Erin" On the other three sides are
an Irish flag, with sun
burst, round tower painted green,
and spray of shamrock.
Next in order and the best finished |
Of all the carvings, is scroll headed,
THE Emancipation" and at the end !
Of the scroll are pair of shackles, the
ring of which are broken, and, as the )
carver says, 'rhe Slave is Set Free"
ST. Louis Globe Democrat.
TlNkERlNG MECHANICS.