The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1892-05-19

disturbed. the neIt and the next Tb
report Of there being . ehost 10 the min
rescbed them They heard the guard
talking among themselves OF borribl
sounds and Of terrible sppsrition wbicl
they said no massive or tightly locked ant
bolted door could exclude. One day
se cd opportunity Offering. John whisperst
10 one OF the men. Who bad been lor SON,
time copHpod in the mine, about thes,
sounds and reports.
Yes. said the man, I've head IL Ali and
was mighty scsft at Arst and imagined oil
sorts OF terrible unsrthly critters w,
round. But 'tsin't no ghost or sich like
II the guards do Try 10 make II eut LIS
only that old niger We pass every day on
our way TO work. He's got the rhsums
tiz and don't know what elss. During
the day be keeps pretty quiet for fear oi
the guards. The keeper and the guards
don care so much about il At mig bt a. long
as they can make Us think it's some kind OF
q noisy imp Of a ghcst
But why do they want to make us think
tbst2 said John.
They think it will make US kinder fright
eped aud tame like. Prsps they'll find
out we're not so scsrt over their preten
ded ghost as they think. That niger is
ero~ ipg wuss and wuss aud bimeby he
cant keep still, guards or no guards. no
matter what they threaten.
Nov as iron chains are strong. the guard
did not always ss closely watch the prison
ers as they might The man just back of
John, who was the end man OF the gang.
bad discovered flaw in link OF the
chain joining him to the rest. He had
worked away on the link till it could be
easily shattered by light blow.
Tomorrow. after work is over, one night
he said to John. I'm going to finish this
business. II the rest Of you manage right
perhaps shsn't be missed till morning.
After you do get the irons broken !
don't see how you are going to manage to
get ont of here, said John.
I'm going TO try the mine drain said
he
But you'll snflocste! you'll drown.
we'll, can't moren die trying, anyway,
| must get out Of here. Did you know
the prison at Wethersfeld is nearly ready
for us? so heard one OF the guards say
ing this morning They say there are all
sorts Of things there for entertaining us fell
lows. don't want to go there; this place
is bad enough.
shall never go there, said John.
The next night Purdy was missing. He
bad effected bis escape by means Of the
drain as be had planned and although pur'
sued wac not taken. Years afterwards, af
been show be vas iunooent ~
the crime fUt .s-r..sou'
ed, it was found be bad gone West and
was nov one OF the 6rst men OF . growing
city--an honorable man, respected by ell.
The news that soon they we're to go 10
Wethersfield was received with dislike by
ell. John Barnes declared he would nev
or 20 there, but would gain bis freedom at
any cost, and from this time bis mind WAS
even more active in planning wsys OF es
cape.
There il q beautiful we'll OF water at
Old Newgate. 1t was and is now open to
the mine. Anyone standing on the edge
can look up many feet to the we'll curbing
above and up further to the sky. 10 John
there seemed no way Of escaping from the
mine unless the we'll could be utilized. II
only someone would forget and leave the
we'll hatch open.
1t has always been supposed that John
persuaded one OF the guards to leave the
covering at the top Of the we'll open and
the we'll rope down in the we'll on Ger.
tain night, and the same night be effected
his escape to the WE'LL Everything wss ss
he expected. seemingly favorable. He
grasped the rope and swung himself out
over the water. Hand over hand be clim
bed, up, up, little by little Only little
while and be would see jamie snd the bs'
bies. The blue sky seemed nearer; the
we'll curbipg showed palmer. All. JAMIE.
babies, I'm cominel
Snap! what was thst2 All still again.
Slowly, hand over hand. Snspl Snspl
the rope was breskipg. 1t parted. he
grasped at the sides. bat they we're too
smooth to IF I'd any assistance. Down,
down he fell, striking on the rocks around
the we'll in the mine below. All was sils
eDce and darkness now.
The guards on their morning rounds
found him there, one arm and one loot
banging over the side OF the well. quite
desd He Was taken TO the beautiful sun
light above which be had so longed TO see
and arrsyed in citizens clothes lay In the
keepers cottage.
His vile came. sDd on her urgent solici'
ts,iou contrary torules the burial Was de-
lsyed ,ill next day.
He has been gone 50 long, she ssid.
have missed him so. Let me bsve him ia
myself Just this little while. It is only
lev hours.
As nigh, came. one and smother came
and offered to wstch With her. butshe shut
them ell ont 10 the morning the keepers
.ife, having knocked at the door again
and sesin, eptered the room. She vss cit
Jog by her dead her head resting 90 bi'
breast -, and clasp a hspd. The keepers
.ife touched her. She did not stir. He'
hands we're cold. She was quite dead
Tvo forms would 6ll the waiting grave
The csuse of ber death, Il vas ssid, VA
hesrt disease.
Go TO Old Newgste TO day and you viii
see snd hesr N nch OF What hsve told yot