The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-10
TOOK ADVANTAGE OF FOG.
Most Daring Leap for Liberty in the
History of DhrtmOOr Prison.
From Chambers Journal.

From Chambers Journal.
The most daring and successful leap for
liberty" which Dartmoor prison has
known occurred little more than year
ago, and one feature of it was made great
capital of by The local and London press.
About O'Clock in the afternoon a gang
of twenty convlcts, while, working out on
the moor, became suddenly enveloped in a
characteristic Dartmoor mist. Three ward
ers were in charge OF the party, and the
chief of these at once ordered a "fa.l-in''
and march,! On coming within sight
of the prison, three men suddenly bounded
out of the ranks and vanished into the fog.
Fortunately for the fugitives the rest Of
the men had to be safely marched 10 their
cells before the alarm could be given, and
fortunately for the warders five or six OF
these were within a few weeks of being
liberated, and consequently We're not Ike
ly to forfeit their % per cent reduction
of term for aiding their comrades much
less by following their example. The fate
of the three was both comic and tragic.
One was soon overtaken by the horse
men, and while leaping a low wall was
shot dead. The rule is that a fugitive must
be called to three times before he is fred
upon, and then only his lower limbs are
aimed at our readers VIII remember ine
severe censure which the press next day
passed on the authorities for this disaster.
Undoubtedly Ii was due to an accident that
the shot proved fatal one. No. 2 wander
ed about the moor for days, unable 10 ind
his way or to get anything TO eat, ana
finally gave himself up to a farmer why
marched him back TO PrincetoWn am
claimed the Go reward.
The fate of the third was more roman
tic. He wandered for six miles over Il
frozen moor, then, crossing the old X
man bridge, he came in the early daW
of Christmas morning to the little hamL
of Pool Bridge. Here he broke into
dining room of a Quaker gentleman
house, and, as the rooms appearance te
titled next morning to the astonished MAJ
helped himself generously to the goC
things with which the family had bee
celebrating the festive eve. Going into IN
hall, he exchanged his tell-tale cap &c
a silk hat, and his yellow jacket for
fashionable Chesterfield overcoat of con
venient length. An umbrella and a pal
of kid gloves completed his costume. Bu
whether his sampling of the Christina
fare had been too Well or not, when ne
left the house in the early morning NJ
foolshly set his face back toward Prince
town; nor did he discover what he hat
done till warder rode by and inquire
of the fashionably dressed gentlema
whether he had seen anything" and tn
tower of the church came into view. Iei
ritied, he struck away to the right, an
hid throughout Christmas day upon To
moor Afterward, it is current in Primo
town, where the doings of that ChristmS
eve are still much discussed, he confessd
that many times he lay down among to
rocks and bushes as he saw the glass
of the search party pointed in his dire'
ton. When night fell he came to Tavj-
took, where he broke into house at te
back of the one in which this accomt
is being written. Ultimately he got cler
away from the dangerous neighoorhod
to Davenport, and would undoubtedly nov
be beyond the water but for most trivial
and foolish failure of his indiscretion.
Walking along a road in the outskirtsh
the seaport he met a policeman, who was
accompanied by a small terrier dog The
constable nodded good morning" md
passed on, but his dog turned around and.
as little dogs will do, began snuffine &C
the convict's heels. He, not daring to ooK
around, imagined that he was being toI-
lowed and Immediately set off to run. Tnd
policeman turned to iook for his dog, found
1t In hot pursuit, and, of course, joined
in the chase. Capture followed easily.
and number whatever he was soon found
himself back at Princetown
The most celebrated escape Of the past
and, II is said, the only one which wos
finally successful dates for three weeks
IN peat cutters cottage, almost uHdeF
the shadow of the prison walls The grand
mother who lived in the house was dan-
gerously III; but when the wardens came 10
search the house she got UP from her BED
and gave 1t, together with her nghtcaPs
TO the convict, who most successfully sus"
tained the role of an asthmatical old W0-
man of 90. When the excitement had SUP
sided he quietly left the house at night
in the peat cutters clothes and escaped TO
America.
Turning the Tables-.I hope my exc