The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1900-07-25
Zinc and grinding double the wear.
The Clarion Jail Breaking.

Additional particulars of the Clarion
Jail breaking last week by G. o. Thomas,
in for robbing store, and George Cor
don awai ting trial on charge of rape,
are furnished by the JdckSonion of the
10Th inst:
At 2:lO a. IN. Tuesday great many
Clarion people were aroused by tre-
mendous explosion. People in the vi
entity of the county Jail had no trouble in
locating the explosion although the cause
of was not explained for some minutes.
Sheriff Hugus was awakened by the ex-
plosion. He says the noise seemed to
come from the direction OF Main street
and did not investigate the Jail for seve-
raj minutes. Harry Rimer Esq. who
lives across Liberty street from the Jail
saw two men jump from the Jail window
amid the smoke which poured out of the
building. Hastily dressing he reached
the Jail and with Ed M. Bell joined the
Sheriff before he had got the explosion
located. When they tried to enter the
Jail from the front it was found that in
order to give themselves more time
Thomas and Gordon had fasi ened the in
ner wicket. They took the chain from
water closet and with piece of wire and
broomstick made the door good and
fast. The Sheriff could not get in until
helped by the prisoners inside. When
they finally got in and reached the cell
in which the explosion occurred they
found great confusion. Two men had
escaped and third, Murphy, whose
home is at Byromtown VAS evidently
ready to fly. He had his shoes and coat
on when the Sheriff entered the Jail but
soon slipped into his cell and removed
them. Why he did not escape with the
others is a mystery. He was evidently
in the plot to blow up the Jail and was
ready to go with the others but for some
reason he remained. Thomas and Cor
don ran down Fifth avenue toward the
river. They were seen by several people
but made good their escape to the woods
The blowing up of the Jail is most
dastardly and daring trick. The win
dows of the Jail are about inches high
and 81 feet long swinging glass shuts
out the cold in wiuter and is easily OPEN
ed for ventilation in summer. The win
dows are cased with heavy metal castings
nearly two inches thick and over Is
inches wide. Two sticks of dynamite
were placed in the northeast window and
exploded. The concussion was tre-
mendous. A window over at STEMS
restaurant was broken and the noise
was heard at Stranttanville. In the cell
the effect was disastrous the iron frame
of the window was torn to pieces and
the stone VIC * badly shattered. The
hole left easily permitted the escape of a
small or medium sized man. Thomas
coat was left at the window, he probably
was obliged to drop it in getting out. 1t
| is evident the prisoners had outside help.
Their good clothes aud other belongings
were all taken away by somn one. No
doubt this same person was waiting on
some road across the river to give them a
lift or furnish them with provision to
keep in hiding.
Sheriff Hugus is severely criticised for
allowing the prisoners to run in the cor
ridors at night instead of locking them
up in their cells. Had the prisoners been
locked in their cells no dynamite would
have been used. 1t would have meant
instant death to remain in the cell when
such an explosion as wrecked the win
dow occurred.