The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-12-08
n CELEBRATED JAIL BREAKER.
HowsDave Paddock Made His Sensational
Escape from Joliet.

HowsDave Paddock Made His Sensational
Escape from Joliet.
N section OF iron bar was cut from tho
cell door OF Dave Paddock by that re-
doubtable knight OF the dark lantern and
Jimmy" on the occasion OF his sensa-
tional escape from Joliet. For over two
years Paddock had schemed and worked
to effect his.rurpose. Ho was sent from
Rock Island on an eight-year torn. and
was placed at work In one OF the shoe
shops, whore during every minute OF
the working hours In the shop he
was constantly under the watchful eye Of
his keeper. There was not the least
chance TO plan an escape from the shop.
But, not daunted at this, he determined
to find some means OF getting out OF his
cell at night. To fully appreciate the diff
ficuty Of cutting out OF a cell. 1t must be
remembered that three times every hour
during the night, at irregular intervals, a
guard wearing padded slippers-called
"sneak shoes" by the convicts-makes
his rounds. peering into each cell TO make
sure that all are secure and In bed. Pad
dock first appropriated n couple OF thin
bladed shoe knives from his shop, and,
concealing them from the guard, took
them to his cell, where. by using one as q
file, he converted the other into fine steel
saw. Then by slow degrees he collected
large amount Of shoe thread from the
same shop, with which he braided
the rope. All this required months Of
stealthful work. but In the course Of time
he had a slender. strong rope, fully fifty
feet In length. This he kept carefully
hidden In the mattress Of his bed. Next
he began saving the bars OF his door a
little at a time. Night after night he
watched for the passing OF the guard. and
as soon as that official was beyond hear
ing distance he would cut a little and then
I'LL up the space with black wax, which he
had also obtained from the shoe shop, so
that the prying eyes OF the guard could
not discover by daylight that the door
had been tampered with. When the bar
had been cut through he carefully wedgei
IL back into place with small iron staples
and bits OF lead.
He could now get outside Of his cell. but
the hardest work was yet to be done. His
cell was located high up on the third tier,
some sixty feet away from the tower door.
through which he hoped to make his way.
Watching his chance, when the night
guard was on the opposite side OF the
block OF cells, he removed the bar from
his door, crawled through the opening.
and, with all the agility OF a cat, climbed
down the railing, from tier to tier, ran
across the corridor to the tower door, and,
with piece OF shoemaker's wax, took an
impression Of the lock, regaininR his cell
before the guard appeared on that side
OF the dollhouse.
By careful working he made q key out
OF lead pipe that q plumber had dropped
near his workbench In the shop. Several
trips from his cell to the tower door were
made during the next few weeks before
his key would fit. and then IL took him
some time to get together enough
material TO make dummy" to put In
his bed TO prevent his absence being dis
covered before he could get beyond reach.
On the very day that he intended to make
his escape, while returning from the shop
to his cell, he slipped upon an 10y stair
way and badly sprained his ankle. This
almost discouraged him. His months OF
anxious toll had come to naught. His
scheme would surely be discovered. After
three weeks In the prison hospital he was
sent back 10 work. and when he reached
his cell that evening was overjoyed to
find that his rope, key and dummy
were still safely concealed In the mattress,
and everything as he had left IL.
Another week elapsed before his ankle
would permit his making the attempt.
The night came. however. and along about
midnight he was safe inside the tower. A
single iron bar still stood between him
and freedom, and 1t would take long hours
OF hard work TO cut through IL. Just as
daylight began to break the bar gave way.
The rope now came into good use, and
with its aid he slipped down upon the
prison lawn and hurried away TO the
woods that line the bluffs east OF the
prison. Here he found a thicket OF UNDER
brush. where he lay hid all that day, and
when darkness came again he got away.
His absence was not discovered from
prison until the guard went to unlock his
cell In the morning This was, without
doubt, the cleverest escape that had taken
place at Joliet, and stamped Paddock as
n genius. Extraordinary efforts were
made for his recapture. Large rewards
were offered. and his description was cast
broadcast. Ayesr later IL was discovered
that Paddock had mistress In Chicago.
A watch was set on her house for several
weeks, and sure enough one night Pad
dock put in an appearance. Captain 81
mon ODonnell. OF the police department.,
had the place surrounded. and the daring
convict was again In the tolls. lie was
taken back TO his old quarters at the
prison. where he finally completed his
sentence. not, however. until he had tried
several other schemes for eecape. but he
was too closely watched to ever again