The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1892-05-19
Hfher Of Ieavenag Pove-u Govt Report Aug ~ 1850
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ABSOLUTELY PURE
ABSOLUTELY PURE
A TALEoF OLD NEwGArE


This gray walled old prison in Connec
ticu, WAS first used ssa prison for torif
and English prisoners away back 10 th
time Of the Revolutionary war aud xs
considered the strongest prison 10 tb
United States Later end for tfty year
until the building Of the We,hers6eld pris
on 10 1927 1t was used ass Connection
states prison.
Uoderneath these old prison building
are gloomy caveros. narrow rocky pas
sage, and what was once buisy coppe
mine. Here many OF the prisoners wer,
oou6ued, working by day in the mine
and sleeping by night 10 the cavern, know
iug nothing OF what WAS passing in tb'
world above.
Although i, is sometime since thest
mines were worked and these buildiDg'
echoed with the footsteps OF convicts. ye,
much OF the prison wall and many OF th'
buildings are still standing and these to
gether With the mine are yearly visited by
hundreds OF tourists and sIghtseers
Thrilling tales are told Of those i'm
prisooed here who we're bent on gaining
freedom Ut any cost. Many Of them dis
played resolute determination to yer
come any obstacles or danger that might
hinder the successful csrryin out OF their
purpose. My tale has prisoipslly to do
with one | will call John Barnes. who
many winters ago was brought rs prison
er to Newgste. He was comparatively
young man, oneIof those unfortunstes who
although they seem to do their share OF
work, seem never more than able to pro-
vide for themselves, much less to provide
Tor q family. and John Barnes had wife
and two small children, often lacking the
necessities OF life. knowing few Of its com
| forts.
One morning on his way to work be
found gold piece, A cold hard winter
vas coming on, many thin was needed,
iebis were pressing, The temptation was
great. He took the money and without
exertiDg himself to hnd its rightful owner
he appropriated it to bis own uses.
He is dead and gone years ago; but the
cell wniv,. u. g. -i-' --.'h th;.tv,
one other prisoners, is still there in good
state of preservation. 1t is such low
narrow. dark room! To accommodate 80
many must have necessitsted their being
packed together almost as thick ss plums
IN Jack Horner's Christmas pie At the
! end Of this room opposite the heavy spike
studded door is one small iron barred vim
dow which sfforded the only light and
ventilation. Ranged along the two sides,
one above the other like bertbs in ship,
were eight bunks which furnished the
sleeping accommodation OF the tbirty'two
occupants Of the cell. BIT as:
| "stone walls do not prison make
! Nor hon barsa cage"
90 John Barnes thoughts we're continually
s,rsying to bis family and bis mind was
actively engaged in tanning ways OF es'
1
cape.
One day an old watch spring came in
bis wsy. Was this a chancs2 Could such
a little thing as watch spring be OF any
assistance in removing iron bsrs2 That
night be showed the piece OF steel to bis
roommstes and brosched the plan 10 using
Il 10 saving apart the iron bars at the win
dow and thus through the window gain
their liberty.
Itwon't take so dretful long, said John
We can take turns ct the saving and II
there is any noise the heavy breathing o'
the rest would cover sll tbat up. 10 the
DAYTIME we can keep the crack filled with
pss,e made OF bread. It's just the color
OF these old rusty iron bars.
As drowning men catch ct straw &C
these imprisoned men now looked at tbi'
piece OF steel o. the means which wonic
restore 10 them their lost liberty. Ths
very nigh, they began the work. Night
passed aud still the work went on. untl
the little tool had worked Its way hal
through one OF the two inch bars. Hop'
grew
But they we're not be successful. Thei
sell was next the kitche1 and one of tb'
help, working late one night. heard th'
little scratching hardly louder than th'
buzzing OF . fly and she, locating tb'
sound, Immediately reported to the kee
per. An investigation disclosed the partl!
severed bar. This greatly sngered th'
keeper and he ordered that they should al
4, once suffer punishinen, by being sus
pended for the remsipder Of the nigh
from the ceiling, their toes Just toucbinI
the floor, and si,erward they coul'
look forward TO being confined 10 iron
and remaining sil tie time. night s vel
~ day, iu the mine.
John hsd heard nothing from bis isnil
aimee he came. The thought OF remsininI
, cou,in uslly 10 the mine sss to him lik
the thought OF . lasting separation. Years
years before be should zee nis vic ~
babies and the old fsiher and mothe
again. Years before be should see the oie'
sed sunlight
That mex, day ". terrible one, 10
they we're obliged TO do their usual vots
,thoush suffering from the Effects of ID
punishment Of the nigh, before. Whe
night came, slihough their bed ""
straw ssd on the rocky bed ofibe min'
they .Iep, the sleep Of Of utter exhaustion
|, I,va always damp there 10 the min
10 m,py places vsier dropped from u
ceiling. A lite brook curved here a.
,h.re through the csvsrps. There we're:
rocis 70 the ilsh, Of them.
Roeis " the isfi ofttsn,
Roels 10 fro1i Of ihem-