Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-07-21
AN ESCAPE.

A prison is never pleasant abode, but 1t
is especially disagreeable to the prisoner
who knows not what day he may be called
out and shot. Such at least was my i'm
preston during three months in the Con
cepcion prison in the state of Sinoloa
We were Ga political prisoners-insur-
gents who had taken part in the rebellion
of General Romerez against President Diaz,
and as such expected no mercy
was the only American in the number.
We had all been wounded and captured in
the disastrous battle of Las Huntas
How |, an American, came to take an
active part on the side of the unfortunate
General Romerez was due to my surround
ings when the trouble began more than to
any disposition toward rebellion.
was engaged at the time developing an
old mining property in the Sierra Madre
mountains near Tolteta in the state of
Sinoloa. had invested all l had in the
world in working the mine, so that when
the people of the state arose in arms to re-
sent the forcible imposition on them of a
governor whom they detested the commo-
ton meant to me financial ruin. Should
election, succeed in establishing his right,
our enterprise would be a success. was
thus led to take up my winchester in de
Tense of the popular right to self govern
ment as against President Diaz and his
nominee, Rubio.
How we fought, first in the open and aft
erward guerrilla fashion in the mountains,
the world knows, and how we were hope
lessly defeated in the battle of Las Huntas
was wounded in the thigh in that bat
tie and made prisoner by the Diaz troops.
| AS have said, we were carried to Concep-
con prison, there to be kept until the gov
eminent should be ready to dispose of US
how, we had little reason to doubt The
fate of rebels caught with arms in their
hands in Mexico is easily foreseen.
La Conception prison was Il large, ram
| bling structure, formerly Jesuit monas-
| terry. The walls were 35 feet high, built of
stone and adobe. Our cells looked into
court which was open to the heavens over
head, but surrounded on three sides by the
walls of the prison and by the guardrooms
in front
In this court during the day we were al
lowed to wander at will and entertain our
selves as best we might. The guards were
stationed in front and on the prison roof
]
were slim. The guards had orders to fire
upon any one attempting it.
The wound in my leg at first kept me
confined in my cell, and when it began to
mend could walk only with IA crutch, and
it quite suited me to foster the idea that
was too lame to think of escape. In what
direction should eventually make the at
tempt | could not tell, but | was deter
mined not to remain there to be shot
The escape ola prisoner decided my plans
In broad daylight, almost under the eyes of
the guards, an Indian clambered up the
adobe wa at the point where the parti-
ton walls of the guards quarters joined
the main structure. The clay in course of
time had crumbled and had left the stones
uncovered, and their unevenness afforded
footing.
His escape decided me- | took advantage
of one of the ever occurring feast days to
make the attempt. The guards were en-
joyin themselves with their mescal, and
was halfway up when unfortunately one
of them cast his eye at the dangerous cor
ner and there espied me- came down in
quick time, expecting to be fired on.
There was ii great hubbub among the
officials, and the governor of the prison
next morning had us all file out in line be
u
very angry, and there publicly authorized
nay, ordered-the guards to shoot to death
without further explanation any prisoner
who might thenceforth attempt to escape.
AS for meat the close of his speech he
ordered me out of the ranks and into the
guardroom, where found two blacksmiths
waiting to iron my legs
When went back TO my cell that night.
it was with my legs fettered so that could
just step four inches at time.
But ] did not despair. 1t was true that
my legs were shackled but had still the
use of my hands. began at once to plan
The prospect was not encouraging From
carefully guarded queries put to the other
prisoners learned that the main wall was
5 feet through at the base and that it was
hanked on both sides by private houses
No chances for escape by boring through
the wall.
There was only one way. That was tc
: follow the same plan as the Indian. Every
time looked at the cracked and broken
joint in the corner felt impelled to give il
another trial. True, should be shot were
: discovered in the attempt, but was tc
be shot in any case.
But how was | to rid myself of my fet
ters2 With the irons on my feet could
, not dream of escaping. Then, again,
: should need help from the outside. There
was only one American in the town. He
had been allowed to visit me up to the time
of my attempt After that he could nc
longer obtain permission. His wife, how
ever, who was cousin of the governor Of
! the prison, was permitted to call now and
then. My only hope was that Barbarita
Williams might be persuaded to smugglt
in to me pair of triangular files Thi.
would be a dangerous proceeding for her
and though she was the governors cousin
she was carefully searched before entering
my cell Besides did not know whether
: Icould trust her enough to make known tC
her my wish. | determined, however, tC
risk it, On her next visit, after solemnly
beseeching her not to betray me, asked
her to bring me the files. lttook consider