The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1899-11-01

Iish Prison Tells How He Accom-
pIished the DImcuIt Feat.
William Bartlett, well known Eng
llsh burglar, is the only man who ever
effected his escape from Portland pris-
on, an escape which Is the original OF
that described In Hawley Smart's
novel, "Brokcn Bounds" Bartlett told
the story of his escape to reporter as
follows:
1.-THE correct details OF my escape
have never been told" he said an
tell you what actually happened. In
1868 l received sentence of ten years
penal seryltude From Pentonville /
was taken to Portland. 1t was awful
j made up my mind to escape-a feat
never before accomplished. One day l
managed to pick up small piece of
hoop iron. That seemed like godsend.
Every time ] had the chance | took
that iron hopping with me, and worked
like niger to make II into II saw. |
did II in fear and trembling, for the
slightest sound would have betrayed
me. a stroke of luck awaited me. |
found convict who had got "A little bit
of file. He had no ambition and said
the file was no good To him. ! gave
him my dinner for 1t, and with the file
/ was able to complete the saw. Then
| managed by working stealthlly cy-
cry evening after | had been locked up
for the night. to saw through the wood
flooring of my cell Every night | had
to replace the boards, SO that the ward.
ers should not see what | had done
Then an awful disappointment await
ed me. The space beneath my cell was
lined with sheet iron; but, nothing
daunted, | eventually got through that.
Then | got into an alrshaft and after
three months hard work saw my way
clear 10 liberty.
AT last the opportunity came. II
was "A dark night, and all was stlll.
with my sheets ! had made n rope,
and, as luck would have II, | had pick
ed UP piece of wood called II dog
with iron hooks nj each end put my
stool underneath the quilt, to look as
much like my body rs possible In case
the warders should look In, and then
went down the passage IL had taken
me three months hard labor to make.
After lifting an iron grating | found
myself In the open mir and managed to
throw the hooks on my linen ladder
over Il wall. by this means got on to
the roof of the officers quarters. There
was no one about, and the only sound
| could hear was that made by my
beating heart, From the roof had to
jump on to the boundary wall, about
10 or II feet distant. l dare say 1t was
n bold leap, but you don't stick ut
trlilcs when You are escaping from
Portland | made the leap and was
successful in reaching the boundary
wall. Then | got 10 the ground by
means OF my linen ladder.
Unfortunately the hooks were so Sc
cure TINT | had to leave the ladder
where II was, and If II had not been
for that ! might have been In London
In three or four days. As II was, had
an awful experience. While making n
desperate tug ut the ladder | heard
footsteps approaching, and rushed
Into the garden of the grove public
house. | turned round and saw II
guard looking at the ladder. A few
minutes aftcrward shots We're fired,
and II bell was rung. My escape had
been discovered. Guards were running
by In all directions; but, unperceived,
i got through the window of the Ro-
man Catholic chapel and concealed my
self beneath the communion table,
which proved to be something very
70 hnX / hn
sound of hurrying footsteps all night.
but no one came into the chapel until
the next morning, when service was
held there.
1T was not IL pleasant position to be
In, l Gun assure YOU \ sneezc or II
cough would have betrayed me- but
fortunately all went we'll But | got
very hungry. So ut the end of about
81 hours | stole out and broke into the
Clifton hotel. | there found some bread
and meat, cheese and tobacco What
was of more consequence. | was able
TO steal hat and some clothes. With
the clothing and the food the sweetest
food | ever tasted | returned to my
hiding place in the chapel out of a
black coat made II pair of trousers.
and put on another of the stolen coats,
which happened TO be made of velvet
The food divided into six portions,
and for six days | was concealed be
meath that communion table There
were frequent services, aud, what was
still worse, the priest used to come
In ut night for private dcvotions.
AT last had more than enough of
II and broke into the priests house
with the object of obtaining some mon
ey | could find none. however. There
was some silver plate, but that was Of
no use 20 me. obtained white stole,
however. and with that made some
thing resembling shirt Feeling now
fairly confident as to my appearance,
l walked down tie road and saw n
milLman who | afterward found gave
information about me. At a little place
10 miles from Portland concealed my
self In field Two men came In
blaekberrying, and l had TO get out,
They asked me where l was going
said to Blandford
"They volunteered to show me the
way, but we had not gone very far
before we met two police inspectors.
They asked me TO go into public
house and give an account of myself.
They We're particularly anxious to
know If had Il mark on my right arm.
Seeing the game was almost up. tried
10 dash through the public house but
II was no good and | was collared. ]
was afterward sentenced 10 eight
years penal seryitude for the burglary
at the Clifton hotel" - London Tele
graph.
The mai Nho reaches the rallc. ad