Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-09-17
THAT SHREVD ESCAPE
GRHAT INTEREST IN HIzSIEMOSS DARING
ESOAPADE
Speculation as to Row the Scheme Was Worked.
PrOAsbly Outside Ad-Dsais
Of the CrimA

The daring escape Of Frederick Fitz-
simmons from the Plttsburg jail has ex-
cited great attention. Fizsimmons has
always been regarded as man OF nerve.
But surprising all his deeds Of daring
and shrewd schemes was his flight from
jail and Justice Tuesday. Urged on al
most to frenzy by an approaching trial
for murder, no cut the bars OF his cell
and crept through a space that 10 man
actuated by milder motives would have
been a physical impOsSibility. Thirty
feet OF smooth wall were scaled with the
agility Of a monkey, and with no other
assistance than a frall cord and the
shadow OF impending sentence.
CinQin1 with one hand 10 window,
he assisted a friend outside to cut away
the bars, and while an unconscious
keeper was sitting comfortably few
yards away, he slipped 70 the street be-
low and disappeared from view. Not
All the energetic efforts OF county and
city officers have produced ore clew as
to his whereabouts, and his chances
for finally escaping justice are appar-
emily OF the best.
After gaining his freedom, with an
assurance almost sublime, be mailed
letter TO q Pittsburg paper telling OF his
experiences in confinement and intlmat-
ing that the plan Of escape had been
boiling in his brain for many days PACK;
The following is the letter, as couehed
In terms that can leave no doubt as 10
the genius and intellect OF the man.
BAsr1IIE DE PITTSBURG,
August S, 1891,
September IA.
For the Public:
What constitutes individuality are the
different traits, tastes, etc. Fate has so
decreed that for some five months past
I should reside at the Allegheny County
Jail. Now this institution does not pos
sess all the comforts or attractions as
the Anderson. The atmosphere is foul
and unwholesome. The diet not such
as to tempt the epicure. The exercise
OF . hours in "a approach solitary con-
fnement. The unChanging programme
OF each successive day make lie m0not-
OnOus.
Hence II the instruments OF ingenuity
and nerve can effect my living In other
more inviting hOstleries, who can blame
/? II in the transformation others are
not harmed, why not repeat as appro-
pirate the great players words, "All is
well that ends well?" This is the first
time was ever imprisoned and Liberty
or Death will be my motto. Let the
sleuth hounds loose OF the lamp-post-
Paddy-Murphy calibre and see what il
will avail them? Respectfully,
T. @. FITZSDiMoNs.
The FIRST date plainly shows that the
writer felt confident of being able to
make his escape as far back as August
S. It was written then and held until
he gained his liberty and could mail ii !
himself. A postscript written at later !
date is as follows:
4 CLAIM OF JUsTIFIABLE HOMICIDE.
September IA, 1891.
The homicide am now awaiting trial |
for was perfectly justitiable. Murphy |
ought to be arrested, for felsniouS shoot |
ing and assault. Prejudice IS playing a |
high handed game, yet in this era OF |
civilization amidst this intelligent CON- |
munity they permit this legal enact
ment which is a perfidy on justice.
Respectfully,
+. c. FTTZSDiNIONS.
Word had already gotten abroad con-
corning the escape when the police
were In hot chase. Superintendent
Weir, Assistant Superintendent O'Mara
and Inspector McAleese were on the
scene and soon had all their forces at
work. Men were posted at every livery
stable TO see that no such man got a
team. Every policeman in the two
cities was furnished with description
Of the fleeing man. Railroads were no.
titled and watchers set at every depot.
In spite of all efforts he had not been
captured az a late hour last night.
The surmiSe that FltZsimmOns was
aided in his escape by some person
either in or out Of the jail is strength
ened by an inspection of the portion of
the prison near his cell. There are four
rows of cells, running north, east and
south from the large circular open space
In the center. In the last named row,
which extends out 10 the Diamond
street wall, are the cells for muTderers.
FitZSimmons was kept in cell No. S on
tue lowest tier of this section, facing
toward Ross street. From his cell door
he could look across the corridor
through the heavily barred windows
into a small yard or court back OF the
Warden's residence. A small wing of
the Warden'S house, used as a kitchen,
runs back along the Diamond street
side Of the jail proper, and from an in
terror point Of view there is no evidence
of the court.
The windows opposite "MurdererS'
Row" extend from roof 10 floor, dis
lance Of OYER forty feet, except the one
nearest TO Diamond street. This one
comes down as far as the roof Of the
Warden's kitchen outside. 1t is ten
feet long and the sin Is thirty feet from
the floor. To this seemingly inaccesSi- /
bic window the agile FitZsimmons clam
bered The highest OF the FIVE tiers of
cells is just opposite. Between the win
dows and the walls is a corridor thir-
teen feet wide. This distance is dimin-
lshed four feet by rallied galleries with
steps leading from one 10 the other at
the end OF the row.
FitzsimmOnS' cell door was cOnsti-
tuted OF half-inch upright bars set is
inches aport, with flat cross bars every
IA inches. When Keeper Price discOv-
cred the cell empty he also found two
bars taken out between two cross
pieces. The upper ends had been cut
clean through, close up against the YER
tical bar. The lower cuts had been
made little over half way through and
broken. All these cuts showed signs Of
having been made some time ago. The
face of one cut was covered with rust
and dirt and could not have been made
loo than two Nuaolc ~, 90, 4. ~