Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-08-25
STORY OF THE sHOEBox.
Miller Had No Assistance in His Famous
Escape.

Miller Had NO Assistance IN his FAMOUS
Escape.
After my conviction and sentence, l
was conveyed TO the penitentiary in
Allegheny City. On arrival there, the
usual routine having been gone through
with, few days afterward / was put
packing shoes in one Of the prison shops.
I had not been employed In the works
long until I was convinced of the FEAST
bility and possibility Of putting myself
into one of the boxes In which shoes
were packed and escaping from the
prison. To is true, my lawyers have
Informed me there was no doubt l would
either get a new trial or a pardon in a
short time. But, under the circum-
stances, I think the majority of men at
least will understand the feeling which
prompted me, a boy of % years old, to
take advantage OF the chance OF escape.
This I did, and if l remember right,
about December 13, I made preparations
by riding myself Of my cell mate to
make d pair Of trousers out Of blanket
which would enable me to travel the
streets of PittSburg until l could secure
something more suitable.
ESCAPED WITHOUT ASSISTANCE.
These made, placed them under my
prison trousers, and on the 93d of De-
cember, about 10 o'clock in the morn
ing, placed myself in a large packing
case, securely fastening the cover on
the inside without any sid or assistance
from any one, either civilian or con-
Wet. The driver Of the wagon for w.
r.. Schmertz & Co. was a conscientious,
dull-headed German II see him, by the
way, every day. whom l trained to
place the boxes on his wagon with the
stencil end up, thus minimizing the
chances of death. The driver placed
the case on his wagon and started with
his load, as was his usual custom, to w.
Z. Schmertz and Co.'S store, on Fifth
avenue, Pittsburg. Honest men, as q
rule, claim that q lawbreaker, or one
who has Oeen convicted Of violating the
law, has no courage. but il to-day the
majority of men in PittSburg had tC
take the same chances Of life or death
that I did in escaping from the peniten-
tiafy, they would change their opinion
on the courage question.
When the wagon was almost opposite
the Red Lion Hotel, whore / had beer
arrested, prepared to leave the Wagon
and get out Of the box where had en-
sconced myself. My intention was tC
carry the box away and throw it into
some vacant lot. The manifest which
the driver carried only called for q Ger
tain number Of boxes, the one which
was concealed in being an extra one
and not numbered In his bill Of lading
Wesrled and cramped by my Ions
ride in a small space, as l prepared t
leave the box q small boy padding II
in the gutter happened 70 look up anC
surprised 40 the appearance Of mar
emerging from a confined and peculial
place, in o shrill voice exclaimed, ''LooE
that man.
AN EXCITING MOMENT.
Instantly so pair of eyes were turned
on the wagon. Voices called on tn
driver to halt, which he did with an ex
clamation. / saw instantly that tn
carrying away Of the box was an I'm
possibility. / sprang across the street
assec down the alley alongSide the he'
ion Hotel. and came out on the SD
street. walked quickly into q cneal
lioaor shop on Diamond street, caiie'
for a glass Of liquor, part OF wnlen
drank and part Of which spit over M
clothes, my desire being appeaI "
toxieated, Stimulating the 'rtoxicatl9,
which / did not feel. went qNlskt
into c'otnE store GA she norref