The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-11-23
Naval Prisoners Off for
Victoria.
HID ON THE WALLA WALLA.
Daily, Cliffy and Hall Planned
for Months to Go.
A QUICK DROP OF FORTY FEET.
Full Details of How the Men Got
Out of the Great Naval
Prison.
A QUICK DROP OF FORTY FEET.

Governments officers, assisted by the local
police, were not spry enough to find out
that the three escapes are now safely on
board the steamer Walla Walla as stow
Always. and before many days will be safe
and sound in British Columbian territory.
The three men named escaped from the
naval prison at Mare Island on Saturday
evening last. The news Of their break for
liberty was wired to this city. but no par
ticuiars were given of what now proves
to be one of the most remarkable jail
breaks on record.
Mare Islands prison is considered one
of the strongest naval peDitenti aries in
the country. Hitherto it has been consid-
cred impossible for an inmate to escape
from it. but Hall, Cliffy and Daily man
aged to leave it on the evening mentioned.
Directly from the men themselves comes
the story of their dash for liberty coupled
with all its exciting phases and details OF
narrow escapes.
The men reached the city Sunday after
noon, went on board of the Walla Walla
Monday night. hid in the fireroom, and are
now safely beyon the jurisdiction of the
United States authorities, for the Walla
Walla sailed Tuesday morning for the
North. and her first stop will be at Vic
toria, B. c.
Fully three months before the attempt
was made get TO away Daily and Hall had
all their plans arranged. Chffy was i'm
prisoned about one month before his escape
aud was taken into the scheme as third
party. No officer or subofficer aided the
men to leave the island, as was limited,
friends in Vallejo being the persons who
helped the prisoners secure tools with
which to cut their way out of the prison
citadel roof.
and Daily and Cliffy three years tor breach
of discipline. No criminal charges were
placed against them.
Saturday afternoon Daily and Cliffy
were sent into the barracks citadel to do
some cleaning up and painting TO the dome.
Hall Joined them later In the dap.
A handsaw. two jImmies and two co nj
chisels had been secreted in a break in the
wall.
At 80 the guard passed the south end
of the building and no one was close at
hand but a sergeant of marines, aud he
soon walked away, never dreaming for an
instant that the bars of the dome could be
cut through and the prisoners would make
a drop from its top. a distance OF about
forty feet.
Halt and Cliffy commenced hammering
vigorously on the walls of their prison as
though working industl lously. Daily used
the saw with dexterIty and succeeded in
removing three bars of the window gra-
ting.
1t was then nearly o'clock and getting
quite dark. The moment for escape had
arrived. The slightest hitch in the plans
of the prisoners would have ended disas-
trously.
Hammock Iashings had been spiced to-
gether and these were dropped from the
window, but the end of the improviseu
rope did not reach within 10 feet OF the
ground.
1t twas but the work OF few moments to
draw the lashings III again and add to their
length several pieces OF half-inch rope
twls ed out of hammock netting. 1t reached
the bottom of the wall and was made fast
TO one of the window bars.
Hall went down hrS:, but when half
way down the line he slipped am slid the
rest of the way like a shot. His hands
were bliStered and badly cul. Daily and
Cllffy had similar experience in coming
down the rope.
Friends in Vallejo had hid three patent
liie-preservers near by. and the men, after
dlvesting themselves of all their apparel
except their underclothiDg. inflated the
life-preservers and adjusted them about
their bodies.
Then came the great struggle 10 cross the
strip OF water separating Vallejo from the
navy-yard.
Cliffy, who is only a boy, was not much
OF swimmer and had 10 be assisted by
his companions, who, luckily. were at
home in the water. The middle of the
stream was reached after long struggle
against tue tide, and powerful effort
brought the trio nearer and nearer to the
Vallejo shore.
No difficulty would have been expert
enced in making land had not at this juno
ture the the preserver worn by Cliffy
burst.
Cliffy went down, but was brought ND
to the surface. He succeeded in placing
one hand on the shoulder of each of his
comrades, who thus burdened struck out
again for terra firma.
After long fight Tor life, and the land,
all three reached low ground and waded
ashore.
any covering other than their water
soaked undercl0thing The escapes started,
harefooted. across the hills south OF the
town. A bleak wind was blowing, chill
ing them to the very marrow.
They stumbled along over rocks and
through dry grasses, cutting their feet till
the blood flowed.
Nothing but barren hills confronted
them at every turn, and even when
dIniy dlScernable light gave evidence Of
farmhouse they dare not stop. They knew
that by that time That the alarm must have
UeeH gwen anu tnaL The whole country was
probably being secured in search of them.
Occasionally a stray dog would sally out
to greet them with yelp or q bark, but as
if frightened by their uncanny appearance
the brntes would soon beat hasty retreat.
The moon was peeping through a thin
veil of mist and gave sufficient light to
enable the escapes 10 see that they were
approaching BenicIa.
a CONSUL alton was held as to the best
plan to be pursued, as it would have been
folly to have approached Benicia, the mill
tary authorities 1t which station had I'M
doubtedly been apprised of the escape.
1t was decided finally to rstrace steps a
short distance TO the farmhouse of an ex-
navy sailor, who has settled down in a
quiet little Contra Costa valley, far from
the sight or solnd of the ocean,
There the men found friend in need.
The old salt clothed and fed them and
furnished each with an old pair of boots
or shoes.
Several hours were spent with this good
samaritan, then the trip TO Benicia was
thought over. decided upon and accom-
plished.
An early freight-train served as means
Of reaching San Francisco.
Though the naval authorities looked
high and low for the men, they were in
various places along the water front on