Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-03-23
A CONNECTS CLEVER RUsE.

was the chaOce IL gave u'" IVA
making a dash upon the ice for
liberty. In those far back days
tina winters we're uniformly rigor'
ous. commencing early in Novem'
Der and continuing until late IN
March. Every season it used 10 De
a familiar sight to see the guards
out on the ice, some distance from
the shore, patrolling regularly pre-
scribed heats aud having sentry
boxes, in which they tVok refuge IN
stormy or exceedingly cold weather
Sometimes convict messengers
went out to the guards to bring
them their lunch or an order from
the warden. IT was on one OF these
visitations of convict TO a guard
that the frozen bosom OF the
Hudson presented an animated
scene. The guard, like most OF
those who had ice beats, was pro-
vlded with skates, that, should oc
casion arise, be could chase IN an
effectual manner and have an ad-
vantage over a fleeing convict hay
ing only his shoes to depend upon
The guard in question was Giro
ing about, cutting pigeon WINGS
rings, figure eIghts and all the
fancy figures, when be suddenly
stopped in front Of the convict
messenger who had come out TO
him, a young, athletic fellow, and
inquired if he could cut those hgureS
on ice.
TIE convict SAID be never had a
pair of skates on IN his lite. Moth
ing would tempt him to risk his
head with those slippery blades on
his feet. he said he had been
brought up in tue south, where
thew do not have any skating.
When he came 20 New York, he
was too old to attempt to learn
anything requiring so much Skill
He thought it was necessary to
grow up with it as q sort of second
nature.
The guard tod him lie had
"missed hall his life" in not learn
ing to skate and offered to give him
a little preliminary lesson, 'Just
for the fun of the thing to relieve
the trea,y mOnOtoDy of guard
duty.
The convict ex! os,u ated and
said it was no use; lie would have
to be carried back to the prison
hospital on stretcher with
broken he1d or broken bones If he
tried any such performance.
While this CONVEX sation was
taking place, the guard had taken
Of his skates, and as he unbuckled
the last strap be told the convict to
strap them on his own feet, and be
would hold him aud give him a
lesson in the graceful art. The
convict btyed aud soon had both
skates on his feet. Tben came the
fan for the gulrG: He would let go
of the convict every few minutes
aud let him tumble and scramble
back as best he could to his feet
They both laughed merry over the
sorry attempts OF the novice.
This had gone on for 10 minutes,
wien, like q fash, the convict
q ashed of over the smooth surface
of the ice. no longer novice, but
a complete master OF the art. lie
b id been "pul!ing the woOl| over
the guards eyes and pretending
not to know how to skate only to
get a chance to get the skates on
his feet 10 o:der TO reach che invit'
ing woodland on the opposite side
OF tue river.
Away be sped, like shot from a
rife. The river was frozen solid
to Rocklaud county, opposite. The
guard was dumtouuced. Hegazed
in blank amazement for a period
long enough to m IKE any thought
OF pursuit hopeless. He fred bis
carbine, but that only had the
effect OF warning tue other guards
of the situation. They, having
skates or, gave chase, but it was
OF DO use.
The convict had everything 70
gain and sped away like the wind
Before any systematic pursuit was
instituted, his figure was quite a
distant speck upon the horizon
Be eff ted his escape. 1t was to-
a long time spoken Of AZ one OF b
cleyerest and most daring escape
in the history of the prison.-N. I
Times.
- nNz.---------