Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1888-12-13
INGENUITY OF A CONVICT.
Wonderful Piece of Mechanism
Turned Out of a Board.

A few days after Charles Fry was sent
to the local Jail he found 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 cir
cumstances. He had no tools, and all
he possessed that would cut was small
wooden handled knife. Knowing that
this would not perform the task he had
set before him, he tore steel shank
from an old shoe, wrapped wooden
handle about it, sharpened it and began
to look for something else. There was
an old WORKOUT mop in the jail, and
from this he cut piece of one-quarter
inch wire. He put handle on it, wore
it down to the thinness of blade, and a
J few days later he found the rib of an
umbrella, which he fixed in the same
way.
| uOW pISpdtCd, lO Uc3oh
the task of turning out what he had pio-
tured 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 production as it hangs
between two cells, one can hardly be-
lieve that from the small piece of board
only two inches thick and three and
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 pair OF
clasped hands, and six carvings which
explain themselves to the observer.
The Liberty Bell, as true represen-
tation as picture, is four and hall
inches high and five and a half inches
across the rim, and has the crack, letter
ing and tongue and all else belonging
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 was given it and
while it was garlanded with living
wreath of green. Instead of the green
leaves he has made chain of wooden
links which coil gracefully around the
bell and add feature to the marvellous
piece of work. The bell seems fastened
to the beam with wooden stirrups, but
they are part of the bell and beam, and
the screw, bits and bolts are given in
perfect exictness to the original. The
beam is held to the chain by two bands,
beautifully carved, and represent, as
Fry says, "The North and South up
holding their united liberty" Above
this again are clasped hands similarly
carved, which Fry says sis the North
and South, and is meant as an emblem
of peace" All these carvings are con-
nected to the chain by swivels, most
difficult piece of carving in wood, even
with the latest improved machinery, but
of these the prisoner has made thirteen,
and all of them were made with the ribs
of an umbrella.
Following the chain from tho south
side to the bell, the first carving met is q
bronzed gothic pillar on which is carved
SIN God We Trust" Next is Chinese
tower on the corners of which are four
pillars, and inside these pillars is ball
OF wood, too large to be taken out or put
in without breaking one of the combining
pillars.
"lhis is where / began the task, "
said Fry, as he pointed to decorated
block on which are carved in raised
letters, blackened at the top, est. Louis
Jail, June H." being on side.
The most amusing piece follows, and
is square block, on one side of which
is q harp Of Erin, and in corner the
first two notes of "Come Back to Erin. y
On the other three sides are respectively
an Irish Flag, with sunburst, round
tower painted green, and a spray Of
shamrock.
Next in order, and the best finished
of oil the carvings, is scroll headed,
''The Emancipation, and at the end Of
the scroll are pair of shackles, the
rings of which are broken, and, as the
carver says, "The Slave is Set Free
Glo6e-Democrat.