The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-12-18
DAVID MARTIN.
uov the Captain of the Wsnderer
Escaped from Prison.
from the Britnsirick (Ga.l Times.

Escaped from Prison.
From the Brunswick (dG) Times.
The hero Of the story | am about 70 re-
,.,e If such be may be called, is David S.
Martin. captain of the ship Wanderer, that
rsssel which was made historic because it
xss the ship that brought the last cargo of
slaves to this country.
That part of the story referring to Mar
ms capture in Savannah and his subse-
,,,ent Imprisonment in the Georgia peni-
afsStiarv / presume is sufficiently known to
~ readers. Many pages of history have
hsen devoted to the life of the man who
ended that traffic which finally involved the
union in a cruel, civil war of four long
Years. One point, however, in
Martins history has never been
fnIIv brought out-his escape from
t5e penitentiary-and it is concerning
his desire to write. In the fall of 1864
Gov. Brown pardoned all convicts in the
nenitentiary who would agree to shoulder
arms in defense of the confederacy. There
we're twenty or thirty among the convicts
,vbose imprisonment was for life These
men the governor would not pardon, be-
causa he hadn't enough confidence in them.
David S. Martin was one of the con-
victs whose sentence was life imprison-
ment, consequently the governor refused TO
Grant him pardon, believing him to be a
tIeacherous man. When Martin found
hat his request bad been treated with
silent contempt by the governor he became
exceeiingly angry and Immediately sought
10 devise some means of escape from his
confinement.
About this time Sherman made that
memorable march through Georgia,
and the keeper of the penitentiary
was ordered to take the convicts to Sa-
vannah. Martin thought the supreme
moment was at hand when he would be
able TO carry his plans into effect. He
thought he would find the opportunity to
escape while en- route to Savannah. la
this, however, he was sadly disappointed.
He was carried to Savannah in chains,
closely confined and carefully guarded
while there, and, when Sherman left Geor-
gia, was taken back to the prison. His
second attempt to escape proved successful,
and was executed in the following manner
Martin had an intimate friend in the
prison who was an expert molder in brass
and iron. He induced this fellow to mold
key that would unlock the outer door
of the penitentiary. This was done first by
taking an impression of the key between
two pieces of corn bread and then pouring
molten brass IN the impression, thus obtain
ing key that would unlock all the cells in
the building. In the meantime, Martin
contrived hollow auger to be used in cut
ting around the rivets of the door from the
inside in the iron hinges on the outside.
Everything was now in readiness and
Martin bided his time. 1t was but a short
while before the opportunity presented
itself. One of the two guards placed over
the prisoners at night had gone to supper
and the other was bringing in supply of
wood for the night. The prisoners were
alone Quick as thought the main door
was opened, and then Martin proceeded to
unlock all the cell doors. The prisoners
secreted themselves and awaited the return
of the guards. In due time they both re-
turned, were captured, relieved of their
guns and locked within, while Martin and
those whom he had liberated scaled the
prison walls and made good their escape.
The alarm was raised as soon as possible
nut it was too late. Martin had a gooc
start, and was never caught. He left tn,
country and was never heard of siuce.