Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-01-19
ESCAPE, PURSUIT, RECAPTURE
An Exciting Episode at New
Castle jail Tuesday,
GHRlSTY CLIMBED OVER THE WALL
Warden Bowers at Once
Started In Hot Pursuit..
For Awhile on Horseback aud at Times on
Foot He Traiied His Gaine and ftaa,iy
corner-d linn IN a stnble-Now rhe Pris-
oner WilI Enjoy separate Cell and
Diet of bread and Water for awhile.

New Castle, Jan. Is. Walter Christy,
eolored, an inmate of the iai and
awaiting trial before the Court of
General Sessions on two charges Of
larceny, escaped yesterday. Christy,
with three other men, occupied cell
No. 20. He was placed in the western
yard of the Jail to wash the clothing of
himself and cellmates. Stephen Briscoe,
colored, an inmate OF cell No. "a, was
out on like mission, and the men had
their wash tubs plnced on a long hoard
used as part of a painters scatfold.
Warden Bowers thought the men
were slow and had gone to them several
times and told them to hurry up. lie
then entered the main corridor and
watched the painters at work in the
interior Of the Jail. He was called to
the gate which leads into tho jail and
was gone but a few minutes, and when
he returned Briscoe was coming 10
from the yard. 1t was thought TINT
Christy had completed his work and
had gone up stairs.
Bowers called for Christy and failing
to get "A response went to the yard,
whore he saw long board owned by
the painters leaning against the corner
of the walls of the Jail yard. The
warden then locked all prisoners up
and notified Mrs, Taylor, wife of the
sheriff, that Christy had scaled the
walls and escaped. The ground on the
outside of the Jail showed tho foot
prints of the boots worn by the negro
and they were tracked to Third and
Delaware streets. Bowers then secured
q horse, which he saddled, and started
in pursuit OF the negro, who had
nearly = mile start. The warden sur
missed that Christy would go to his
former home, near Newport, and going
in that direction saw the negro on the
roadway. The latter spied Bowers and
took to the fields. The warden put
spurs to his horse and followed, but
ran up against barb-wire fence and
was compelled to dismouut. Tho negro
then took off his gum boots and crossed
the fields. The warden pursued on
foot but he was unable TO gain on the
fugitive and finally gave up the chase
and returning, mounted his horse and
took the road again.
Bowers was rewarded by seeing
Christy como out on the road about
one-fourth of mile away, and the
latter, finding tho field rather bad,
kept to the road for short distance
Then he entered the wheat field Of
William 4. Stroup. Tho warden fol-
lowed and was nearing the farmhouse
when he saw another barb-wire fence,
which stopped him! He then threw
the relns over post aud went TO the
house, where he asked II they had.seen
the negro. One OF the farm hands
called from tho stable yard that they
had him in the stable. Bowers went
after him and pointing revolver in
his face compelled him to place his
hands behind him while they were
tied and he was walked back to the
jail in this way, tho warden having a
revolver pointed at him. On the
arrival Of the party ut the Jail Christy
was placed In separate cell and win
be given diet of bread and water.