The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1888-01-20
CHAPTER XVIII.
AN ESCAPE.

TO time was lost in useless regrets. All
CT 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 ''the
hole" There was q knife in the party and
they at once began work. On Saturday
night they cut into the plank overhead, rs
this could be the more easily concealed.
1t was fearfully difficult. One man stood
on the shoulders Of two others who leaned
against tho walls, for there was no other
means of reaching the ceiling, and carved
Mt 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, effectually drowned it.
a piece was thus worked out during the
night large enough to admit the passage
Of n mans body and the work suspended
till the morning and afternoon visits Of
the jailcc 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 mournfully They
hoped to finish all that was to DC done by
midnight; but they had miscalculated
their task.
They had to cut the lock out of the trap
door in order to bring Andrews up from
below; then to pick their way through the
end brick wall above the ceiling, slowly
and carefully, so Us 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, rs
well as to make longer rope FOR the per-
ilous descent from the gabled end CT 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 as to render their escape inn
possible. They werc all in tho loft ard
Andrews was given the first chance. OF
course all letters had been removed The
rope was passed out, end Andrews crawlcd
through, and in n moment was swinging
outside; but in getting out he happened to
push off q loose brick, which fell to the
ground and gave the alarm. The nearest
guard raised his musket and fred at the
man hanging on the rope, but missed his
aim. Andrews had his boots in his hand.
but in the excitement let them fall and
could not stop to pick them up. He after
wards sorcly needed them. But in his
stocking feet he flung himself over the
fence and through the guard line, repeat
edly fired at but unhurt. John Wollam
followed. and while he was in the mir he
was fired at by other guards, but sue
cecded in getting out of tho yard unhurt.
Those who had failed to get out crawled
down and got on their irons again, and it
was u great mystery how the two men
alone had been able to effect their escape.
Andrews and Wollam separated as soon
as they left the prison. The former ran n |
short distance beyond the skirts of the |
town, after having taken precautions to |
throw the dogs of his track, and finding |
1t too light to travel further in safety, |
climbed into tree with dense foliage, |
which stood in plain view of the railroad. |
All day long he watched the running of |
the trains so close that he could have |
tossed a pebble on them, and once heard q |
party in pursuit talking about his mys-
terious disappearance. The search was |
patient and complete, but they did not |
think of looking over their headsl
lie descended at nightfall and swan tho |
deep and rapid river, feeling that his best |
course was to get into the loyal noun
famous country, through which he would |