The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-09-04
DESPERATE CHANCES.
Swimming the Hackensack
with Ball and Chain.
AND ALMOST SUCCEEDED
Only Rifle and Boat Prevented Him
from Escaping from Snake
Hill-A Convict With
q History.

Frank Duggan, the prisoner who once
escaped from the Snake Hill Penitentary,
and made TWO other unsuccessful at
tempts to cut his way out, made third
attempt to obtain his liberty yesterday.
Since he cut his way out of his cell abou
three months ago, Duggan has day and
night worn around his waist an iron
band with heavy iron ball ttached to
it.
Yesterday, as usual, he worked in the
quarry. When the rain began to fall
Duggan said he wanted to go to an out
house built over the river. He was per-
the little building he dropped through
hole in the floor into
the river. He seized board which
he had probably at some previous
time secreted there and placing his heavy
iron chain and ball on it proceeded to swim
across the river. His intention, probably,
was to reach the tall grass that grows on
the oppositesside, and there secrete him
self until night and then in the darkness
seek safety. 1t is believed that he had a
file with him to enable him to cut the
iron baud around his waist.
IL this was his intention he counted
against great odds. The tide of the Hack
ensack River at Snake Hill Is very
strong, and good swimmer as Duggan
proved to be he drifted two hundred
yards down the stream before he gained
the middle of the river. At this
where Keeper O'Neil was doing duty.
The keeper noticed through the fog and
rain the black object floating down
stream, and after watching 1t for mo-
ment realized that prisoner was escap-
ing.
HAILED WITH RIFLE.
He fired a shot at Duggan with his rifle,
and the ball struck too close to the con.
vict for comfort. This was followed by
another shot. By this time the other
keepers were aroused, and they ran TO
O'Neil to learn the cause for the firing.
When told, they hastily unmoored
a boat and started in pursuit of thec con-
yicr He WAS overtaken just Opposite
Black Toms Cabin, ana when he saw es-
cape was impossible he sullenly sur
rendered. He was locked up in dark
cell.
When the escape was made Warden
Grimes was at the Freeholder's Office and
Deputy Warden Vollers was away from
the Hill also. Warden Grimes today said
he believed Duggan had confederate in
one of the prisoners. He is making a
careful examination.
PREVIOUS EFFORTS
Duggan was arrested more than a year
ago anu COlVlcCeQ 0t bHe CudFE6 OIL DTeHk-
ing and entering in the Bayonne schools
aud stealing books. He was sen fenced to
a term OF one year at the Penitentiary but
had not been there more than three
months when he cut through
his cell wall and the walls
of the Penitentiary and obtained liberty.
He was recaptured by Deputy Warden
Vollers four months later on ferryboat.
He made another attempt after three
months to cut his way out aud succeeded
in reaching the outer hall of the prison.
when ne was detected. He was placed in
n dark cell and only released to work
with ball and chain attached to his
waist In the quarry. He was never per-
mitted to be out of sight of the keeper.
Duggan is a powerful fellow about
thirry-three years old and has received
fair education.