Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-10-05

loathed work. SO the shiftiess James went
forth and burgled and assaulted to kill
nice folks who never did anything tn him.
He got coin, also 20 years If time thrown
in, which Is sometimes rcckoncd - money: |
hence the delay in getting the duck ranch
started. The money that was fed to the
rats forms the basis of "a picturesque prison
story, an interesting tale of criminal cum
ming, cupidity and patient waiting. in
which the aged convict finally triumphcd.
When Winters entered Folsom. in 1853.
presumably for the last time, he had $50
in g~reenbacks sewed up in the sleeves of
an old brown coat. He had qunrricd rock
Mt Folsom before and knew that in cold
weather the prisoners were allowed coats
Any old coat will do. If an inside man
has a comfortable garment, il Is given to
a man outside in the weather.
I Jim was well aware of this arrangement
and had prepared himself accordingly.
But his pruvidcnt plans received a setback.
He had served three terms and was classcd
as an incorrigible. So he was placed In
the dungeon. There he remained in utter
Holitude for 791 days, hnrassed by doubts
and fears of the most aSgravating deScr:p-
tion. The coat had been given TO another
prisoner.
In time there came q change at the pris-
on. Warden Aull succeeded Warden Nc
Comb. The new official took pity on Jim,
and the old man was relieved from the irk-
some confines of n dungeon cell on Jan.
IA, 1883. They placed him in charge Of
the limehouse, a small wooden structure
in the center of the prison yard where the
whitewashing appliances are kept. Even
before he was regularly installed in this
position of trust and responsibility Jim
had his weather eye peeled for the old
brown coat, but 1t was many weary days
before he caught a glimpse of IL. IL
wouldn't do to ask questions among the
900 convicts, many of whom were as crafty
as himself, 50 Jim had simply to watch
and wait.
At last one day Jim caught sight Of his
p~erambulating bank. 1t passed the lime
house on the hack of n big Mexican horse
thief who worked OF u derrick in the
quarry. Though somewhat changed, Jim
recognized the coat. 1t had been patched
here and there, and the man with money
on deposit noticed, with a sinking heart.
that the cuffs had been renewed with strips
Of horse blank = However, he took hope,
for, rs a rule, conyicts do not cut away the
frayed portions of n garment. They sim
ply sew the patch on the outside and let it
go at that.
| Jim was nearly two weeks recovering
| possession of the coat that had been among
strangers two years. The line of prisoners
marching to and from the quarry to meals
and to bed passes the limehousc. where
| Jim and his assistants fall in. l. Is only n
walk of 100 yards, and Jim had tn exer.
else great caution. Watching his chance
he would drop in behind the Mexican. and
in that way gradually worked up an ne
quaintance. He also complained Of cold
and the need of a heavier coat, and in time
made n dicker with the horse thief. ir
which smoking tobacco figured largely on
one side.
money after 1t had passed through at least
90 pairs of hands. as the coat had ben very
popular on cold days. He slowed the mon
y away on his person for the SAKE of being
nea il for a few months. and then. finding
that his job In the lin.ehouse was a rrr-
manent engagement. he rolled the bill. up
in a bit of rag and hid them in the build
ing. There the treasure remained for
about five years. drawing no interest, but
safe, as Jim thought
One day, however, when the burglar
went 20 look for his money the roll was
gone. His natural conclusion was that
some other convict had stumbled across the
hiding place Still Jim said not a word,
figuring thae the Thief would again hide
the money. So he Kept on mixing white
wash and probing around in hooks and
crannies when the chance offered. At the
expiration Of eight months, To his great
! joy, Jim fished his precious dollars out Of
, q rathole, but the bills were In u fearful
state of mutilation Each bill retained iss
original size and shape, but the nibbling
had reduced than to miniature lace cur
tains, 90 far - the fabric was concerned.
In one corner OF the liInehouse the cooks
had thrown their empty fruit and vege-
table cana There were at least 1000 in
the pile, one Of which Jim selected a. .
safety deposit box on the theory that rats
are unable to bite through tin After care
fully placing his money in the can Jim hid
1t in the rear Of the pile in such . manner
that he could easily locate that particular
can. Here the money remained undi,surb-
ed for another two years.
One night a onvic hid out''-that IL,
he Was mioinS when the line had been
sountsd n q IL prison gaia This saais