Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-06-17
A CLEVER ESCAPE.
HOW A TENNESSEE CONVICT GOT
AWAY FROM AN ARMED GUARD.
An Interesting Story from the Convict
Camps In the Briceville Mountains-An
Ingenious Convict Who Is at Large.
Getting u Change of Clothes.

Ingenious Convict Who Is at Large.
Getting IL Change of Clothes.
In Tennessee the most of the convicts
are worked in the mines, and are not
guarded by walls and bolts, but by men
who stand over them with shotguns and
Winchesters. As matter Of course
these taskmasters are not of very high
social order and do not excel in either
humanity or education. Ii a convict
leaves the line as he and his fellows are
marching from mine to stockade in the
first shadows Of evening, or if he drops
his rake at the coke ovens and starts to
run, he will certainly be pursued by one
or more bullets, aimed with considerable
precision. 1t is therefore not a rare
thing for convict to be killed or MAIN
ed for life.
Not long ago there was a white con-
Wet named Reed working at the Brice
vile stockade. He had been put in for
ten years for series of forgeries, and as
he was not very strong they let him do
the lighter work around the stockade,
and only worked him in the mines when
there was particularly heavy run. He
had been in stripes about a year, and
had behaved himself so well that the
guards thought he was resigned to his
lot Furthermore, Briceville is far away
from civilization, and he had no friends |
to give him clothes even if he succeeded |
In getting away. One morning he start
ed for the well to draw some water, a
guard with a Winchester over his shout |
der accompanying him. They walked
along side by side, the convict carrying |
two big tin pals. The well is about 400
yards from the stockade, around the
side of the mountain, and shut in from
any sort of view by trees and bushes.
The guard sat down on stone near by /
aud the convict stood at the we'll box,
looking down into the well. Pretty soon
the convict leaned away over and put
his head far down into the well box.
whats the matter" said the guard.
"a big water snake" said the convict,
standing up and looking around at him.
"The biggest ever saw"
The guard left his Winchester leaning
against the rock he had been sitting
upon, and came over. He looked down .
the we'll
81 don't see no snake" said he, DRAW
your water and come along"
"You don't lean over far enough" said I
the convict. Hes lying on a ledge
about half way up the side of the WELL" 4
The guard was interested, and hold /
ing to the well box with both hands, .
leaned away in.
"a little further" said the convict,
land you'll see him."
The guard leaned still further in. The /
convict grabbed him by the legs, lifted /
his body TO perpendicular, and with /
one tremendous jam loosened his hold on /
the box and stuffed him into the well. |
The guard fell with yell and huge
splash. But the yell was muffled by the
close walls Of the well and by the small |
box. Fortunately for him the water was
deep and he struck it in such way
that he came TO the surface right side up |
There he was, spluttering, splashing and |
cursing resonantly. He looked up at the
small square of daylight high above
him and saw the convict's face and heard /
him laugh. "Do you see the shaker"
said the convict.
Just wait till | get out of thisl" said
the guard. I'm make you sweat for
It,"
"But won't wait" said the convict.
His face disappeared from the hole and
the guard began to yell. The convict
reappeared with the Winchester. "You
needn't trouble yourself to yell, said ne.
"Two feet away from this box it sounds
no louder than frogs croak. Now UNI
dress yourself quickly and I'll let down
the bucket for your clothes II you
don't undress I'll shoot"
If you shoot they'll hear you and then
it'll be all mp with you." shouted the
guard triumphsntly.
The convict was silent minute. then
called out: That's fact. I'm much
obliged. I'll drop big stones in at you II
you don't hurry up those clothes" And
he dropped in small stone Just to show
how 1t would work. The guard lodged /
it. but the stone caught him on the 4
shoulder and made quite an impression,
coming from such distance
Hurry mp" said the convict. 'rn
undress, too, and pass you down nv
clothes. See that ledge over there? You I
can get on it and keep dry until some
one comes. l am really doing you q
favor in letting You have my dry clothes /
for your wet ones
The convict was undressed first aud
hurried the guard with couple Of good I
sired stones that Just missed him. When /
the clothes were ready the convict let
down the empty bucket, which was
caught by the shivsring guard and filed
with wet clothes. The convict raised
these to the surface, took them out, and
put his dry clothes In and lowered the
bucket again. When the guard had got
the dry clothes the convict raised the
brckst again.
He wrung the wet clothes out over the
mouth CT the well and then put them on.
He leaned over the well and said. Say.