The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1901-03-08
Thrilling Dash For Freedom.

Among those who watched Inc
wrecking company raise the Arm
strong line steamer Talisman, which
sank recently close to Blackwell's ISL
and. was an old. weather-beaten ma
riner His proximity TO Blackwelrs
Island brought to his memory an inter
estng story of how the first OF a long
list of convicts escaped from the isl
and prison in the year 1912. Although
the weight OF years is Fastening the
old man 10 his last port" he told
with a great deal Of enthusiasm how
away back in ~ he shipped as cook
on the two-masted schooner Lady
Clinton. Captain Joseph Cranmer,
bound from Philadelphia 20 Black
wells Island with coal. lie described
the schooner as being one OF 140 tons
"a big vessel in that day., and a good
sailer. according TO writer in the
New York Mail and Express.
Il remember" began the old salt.
when we were just about over the
spot where the old Talisman now lies.
1t was my first experience IN the vi
cinity of New York. and | had my eyes
open TO see everything of interest.
Upon nearing the island / saw six con
victs in their stripes, accompanied by
a guard, walking out on the dock.
They helped us make the schooner
fast. and the guard, short man with
wicked-looking horse pistol in his
belt. gave the captain all the news.
with these preliminaries over the
gang set to work unloading the coal
| stood around watching them for
some time. and later padded around
the docks in our long boat, with one
oar At last. tired Of this amusement
made the boat fast out on the schoon
er's bowsprit and went below. Not
more than ten minutes had elapsed
before | heard the sharp report of q
pistol and the shouts of our friend, the
guard Coming on deck a strange
sight was before me. One Of the con
victs was padding for dear life to.
ward the Long Island shore in our
boat. the guard was wildly fiourishng
his big horse pistol and shouting You
come back and the five remaining
convicts were calmly looking on. Three
times the guard fred in the direction
of the striped boatman, and three
crease the speed of his boat and shout
back I'm only going out here a little
way. I'll be right back
The shore was only 500 yards away.
Liberty could not be denied him.
Shortly before the boat grated on the
sands we saw him discard the prison
stripes and throw them into the boat,
and then with a few more strokes of
the oar and one farewell wave Of the
hand. be struck across the country.
The only obstacle he encountered as
long as | could see him was two wom-
en-. whom he unceremoniously ran into
and threw into Mysteries. Their wild
shrieks were carried to us across the
water.
"Nes, he got away. With no boat,
no telegraph, no telephone, what could
the poor guard dof He simply stood
there and swore like a trooper. |
don't remember the cOrvict's name
but at the time | know tLat half adj
nired the fellow for his daring. How
useless an escape under the eyes OF a
keeper would be in these days! \ fell
low convict was the only person who
saw the man preparing for his escape.
He told how the fellow suddenly dis
appeared behind the forecastle hatch,
ran out on the bowsprit like a cat and
dropped down 10 the boat