New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-23
ESCAPING CONVICTS SHOT.
ONE KILLED. THE OTHER WOUNDED AND
RECAPTURED.
DESPERATE FIGHTING WITH THE GUARDs-sING
SING PRISON IL An UPRoAR-INGENloCs
PLANS TO REGAIN MIsUsED LIBERTY.


PLANS TO REGAIN MIsUsED LIBERTY.
carefully planned escape, which was frus-
irated by the guards was attempted in Sing sing
prison early yesterday Two prisoners cut their
way out of their cell, and, after stubborn hght,
one of them was shot dead and the other was
badly wounded in the left leg by guards
The convcts were both long-term men and des-
perate characters They were James Welsh. who
WAS sent 10 Sing Sing by Judge Fitzgerald on
March II. 1891, for term of five years for
larceny: and Charles f. Vincent, who was sen
fenced on September "a, 1889, t. term OF sixteen
years. for robbery in the first degree
The men were cell mates and worked In the
clothing department. They procured two cola
chiscls Of a small pattern, one saw NE with Il
wooden handle two small fiat flies, which were
sharpcned at the ends to form ine driil points
"a drill, hammer. pair oil Shears anu d 'iii',i
piece Of looking glass, about quarter oi ah ihci
thick The latter one of the most important
adiuncts Of their scheme, as with IT. thcy "eIo
able to watch the movements of the guards as
they patrocd the corridor.
The men were in cell No. S33, gallery NO.
II, Oh the south end Of the west sldc oi 'ne
main prison. The cell was in the middie oi '"o
tier and in such position that whlie onc ".'i'
worked at cutting away the lock, his companion
side 10 side could see the guards as they ap-
nroocbod tho cell IN time to give his working
mate warning.
IT took the men a week to complete the de-
tails and get together the Instruments III au-
dition to the tools with which they were to effect
their ESCAPE they secured in some mysterious
manner two suits Of citizens clothes Ih'y aiso
had a piece Of cloth, about yard square, III
which they wrapped their tools when not WORK
ing and used "A cushion when operations "elc
in progress The object Of the cushion was 10
dcaden the sound of hammering, and was ialf
substitute for the rubber pad which forms Il
part of burglars complete outht
rrom thc end of the corridor to the cell OF the
men Is about three hundred feet, ana from 'hc
railing 10 the window, where they expected to
make their escape, about ten feet. 10 bridge the
chasn between the end of the corridor rail and
thc window nI was one of the most diilcut
parts of the scheme, and in overcoming 1T the men
disnlaved great ingenuity. 1t being impossible
for thcm ~ obtain a board long enough TO bridge
,he distance. they secured number OF small
nicces of plank which they tied and nailed 10
rcther and thus formed board long enough FOR
the purpose.
At 2 o'clock on Sunday afternoon the men
ho,on opcrations They first bored through two
mates of thick shcet-ron, which were across the
inside OF the door; covering the mechanism OF the
lock They continued 70 bore until tho hole was
sufficiently large 10 admit the point OF the shears
The point was then inserted ana an irregular
piece about eight inches square was removed
This cNpos., the covering Of the lock, which WIS
also Of sheet iron, and was removed IN similar
manner TLs work, Interrupted as 1t was at ire
qucnt intervals by the approach of the guard
was slow. and il was o'clock before the lock IT
self was laid bare.
Once the lock was exposed 10 view the men
could do no more at the time, Ms IL was too early
70 mt the remainder Of their plan into operation
They cleared up all evidences of their work and
waited until about 80 Monday morning, when the
pont Of tie shears was one, more inserted III inc
lock and the bar thrown back.
Welsh. who was the lighter man OF the two,
left the cell first, carrying small but powerful
iacll which had been secured to force apart the
bar, in the window al the end corridor. Vincent
followed CARRYING the plank When they reached
the end Of the corridor the plank was lad from
the railing Of the corridor TO the deep window
sill. Vincent held the end OF the plank "hle
Welsh crossed it and placed the jack between inc
bars. and after scrcwing il tight, used SNORT
niece Of gas pipc which had been cut TO lit the
boles, in the lack as Il lever. few turns suf'l"ed
20 surcad the bars apart. Everything now seemed
to favor the escape Of both men, few moments
more and Welsh would have dropped outside ana
could have been followed by Vincent,
L. was not to he, however for n night guar'''
Solomon Post, just then entered the upper cho
Of the corridor. He AT once saw the two m'h
at the window and called TO them u STOP AV
the same time he drew his revolver ana ofdcr'u
Vincent 10 throw up his hands. Vincent uii so'
hut Welsh. who WAS close to the window. put his
t,rh tbe
,rasping the bars, swung his body out
Post ran down the corridor and ordered Vincent
IN accomnany him. Vincent pretended TO 90 so'
Lut suddenly sprang upon the keeper and the men
cIinchcd Post fired his revolver, and vincent
AZ the same moment, got the foringer OF foSts
left hand between his teeth, and grabbed 'he
ouard's right wrist with both hands. Tie men
struggled desperately for few moments lucy
fell 10 the floor several times but Vincent hcN'r
released his hold on the guards wrist, ana coh'li
ned to chew Posts finger until 1t was almost OH
Vincent was a powerful man, ana attempted 10
throw the guard over the rail to the ground hooi'
twenty-five feet below. Several times lie SUI
cccdcd in forcing Post against the RAIL- p"' o"e
Guard proved TO he his match i'll strength, ana as
often forced himself away from his terrible dan
ger.
Finally Vincent obtained possession OF the p's'oi'
ard letting go Post, sprang for thc wlhuo". io''
called for help and James McC Cornck ana refer
short. two other guards who were on dliicreh.
tiers. came to his assistance. Mccormick called
70 Vincent to stop but Vincent continued to crawl
across the plank, and Mccormick fired. The shot
did not take effect, and Vincent returned the Ire
with Posts revolver. Short came up at the same
time. and both keepers fired on Vincent. vincent
returned the fire as long as tie cartridges III
Posts revolver held out Eighteen shots III all
were exchanged but neither OF the Keepers wis
hit. Vincent, however, was struck TWICE. oiicc
in the back causing a flesh wound and another
hullot n,ssed through the lower lobe of the left
lung. fatally wounding him.