Evening journal., 1889-10-21
PRISONERS ESCAPE.
Eighteen Buns Take French Leave From
New Castle Jail.

NEW CAstte jail.
Special correspondence EVENING JOURNAL.
New CASTLE, Del, Oct. 21-Late
Saturday night there occurred at the
prison here one of the most successful
attempts at general jail delivery that
has ever been known in the history of
that institution Out of twenty two
prisoners in the ''bum" cell, eighteen
escaped by tunneling under the wall
The 'bum" cell is in the extreme north
eastern part of the Jail at the end of the
corridor It's dimensions are about 40x20
feet. In the middle of the east end of
the room is the rather insecure covering
to the sewer which carries off the iail
refuse to the river. There is space
between the edge of the sewer
and the floor of the cell of about
three feet, and this space is maintained
almost uniformly under the whole flooring
OF the cell. 1t is easy to see that per-
son could get down and by commencing
at the wall and digging down two feet,
then under the wall and up the same dis
tance, could dig quite tunnel, and by
throwing the dirt under the cell floor
could keep the fact of there being an
excavation "a secret until the moment for
action arrived. This is the manner in
which the men escaped. The hole
is about three-feet in depth and
twenty-five inches in diameter as
viewed from outside the jail yard, and is
just back of the school outhouse, about
five feet. A number of discarded pieces
OF worthless wearing apparel, consisting
of undershirts, etc. were found in the
hole. The four prisoners who remained
In the cell were seen by your correspond.
ent yesterday morning shortly after the
fact OF the others escape became known.
and asked why they did not avail them
selves Of the opportunity to fee. One
Of them answered. "Begorra, wes was
too shlapy fur to know what wuz agoin
on, and If OF had 'erd what the bastes
was doin' OF wouldn't ave left um fur me
leg is so bent with paraloization that oi
can't bend it no straighter, and if we's
all I'D got out some one wud had TO
stay with and then we'd all been caught. /"
Rev DR.. Roche and wife of BROOKLYN.
Mrs. Megear, Mrs Hoffecker and Mrs
Sprnance of Smyrna have been the guests
OF Mrs. Allen for the past few days Rev.
DR.. Roche is an uncle of Mrs. Allen.
w. Marvin Truss will shortly accept O.
position with the Pullman Car Com pany
The slight protection which is afforded
to those who cross the sluice at the
mouth of the dyke mp the shore above
New Castle may become the cause of a
suit for damages against the city unless
If is covered up. 1t is wide and deep
place with two or three narrow posts
across and it endangers the lives and
limbs of those who are obliged to cross
Il.
The consort of the ''Arthuse." the
Roland, passed New Castle Yesterday
morning at 92O, under steam, after
being a week from New York. Unfavor-
able winds and disable machinery are the
principle causes Of her long delay.
Church services were held as usual yes
terday morning and evening, with two
exceptions, one being communion SER
vice at the Presbyterian, and none at the
Episcopalian in the evening.
The Seymour Stratton Company closed
weeks engagement here on Saturday
night, their farewell but admirably per
formed production being "The Colleen
Bawn
John S. Boyd class 'ss, Delaware Col
lege, but now Of Philadelphia, spent yes
terday with his mother.
Messrs. George Babb, Samuel Briggs
and E Grett of Reading, Pa, are
visiting New Castle friends.
The marine business has been very
brisk for the rast day or two and there is
every probability Of it's continuing so for
some time to come.
Company Il will shoot 500 yards this
afternoon