Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1902-01-23
ELEVEN DESPERATE MEN.
They Make a Clever Escape From
the United States Prison on
McNeil's Island, Wash.
THE GUARDS WERE NEATLY HOODWINKED
u L. believed. From the Character
of the Men. that Their Recapture
WIN Involve some Desperate
FiEhtInE, Particularly a. They
succeed Ia Securing some Arms.

/
! TocamD, Wash, Jan, 90 Eleven Of
the most desperate prisoners In the
United States pcnitentiary ON Me-
Ncirs island made their escape be-
tween one and two o'clock sunday
afternoon.
IL was the most daring and success
ful jail break ever attempted In this
state. and the character 81 the men
implicated makes IL doubtful wheth-
or they will bc rctaken without a
loss Of life. The men are;
W. u. snyder. sent up from Idaho
Tor robbery.
James Campbell. Nome; pickpocket.
| Thomas Morton. Nome; burglary.
Frank Ainsworth, Nome; larceny.
Mike Williams, spokane; counter
fcitcr.
Harry Davis. Nome. Alaska.
Frank Morton. true name I'D O'Neil,
Spokane; counteyfcitcr.
James Morarity, spokane; counter
fciter.
J. T.. stewart. Idaho; counterfeiter.
Bruce Kcnwright. Nome; man
slaughter.
James Carroll. Alaska: murder.
\ Ledger reporter who visited the
island. Sunday night brings the fol
lowing particulars - the escape;
\ hole In the brick wall 81 Cell No.
10. occupied 10y convicts Syndcr and
Davis. reveals the method 81 escape.
The wall II about a foot In thick
ness. covered with concrete.
The tunnel was dug at the junction
az the floor and the wall. sloping out
wardly until II formed q connection
with the air chamber about two feet
below aud foot outwardly from the
corridor wall 81 the cell. Through
this air chamber the prisoners
crawled about forty feet To where IL
opened into the boiler room. the
opening being covered hy an iron
grating. This obstacle was overcome
by the use Of saws. and the prisoners
had then only To- walk out of the back
door 81 the boiler room. across the
ward aud scale the board fence. \
few yards FROM the prison grounds
and she dense growth ~ timber AZ.
fordcd them. temporarily. safe re-
treat.
The prisoners took advantage ~
the latitude allowed them during the
dinner hour To- consummatc their
plans, which had been carefully de-
signed and boldly executed. The
guards, with the exception Of two.
who were on duty on the wall over
looking the corridor. were eating
dinner In the dining room. The tables
were being spread in the corridor for
the prisoners dinner. IL being GUS
tomary To serve them Immediately on
the conclusion Of the guards rcpast.
\ dinner gang was at work putting
the tables in order and the other con
victs had the privilege 81 the cor
ridors. One by one the men slipped
into cell No. 10 and erawled through
the hole unnoticed. When the
guards came out and lined the pris-
oncrs mp for dinner. II were missing.
a brief search resulted in finding TN
hole in the wall, and the guards at
once ran 20 the boiler room where
the steel door swung ON It's hinges.
showing that the men had already
flown.
Warden Palmer has not had time
go make thorough investigation,
but is unable Co realize how the work
could have been done without dctec-
| ton.
I'VE inspect the cells regularly
once each week." said the warden.
"rhc last inspection was made Sat
urday, and ordered the guards who
made the inspection To make care
| full examination. They reported ev-
crything all right. The work must
have occupied several days, and how
| they could have concealed the brick
and dirt which they took from the
wall until they had reached the air
| chamber is more than ! can under
stand"
The plan which n il most feared
will be pursued by the convicts will
be 10 raid some Of the numerous
farmhouses ON the island, secure
guns, clothes and a boat and then
row To the mainland. Among the es-
caped prisoners are many desperate
characters, who would not hesitate
at murder 10 accomplish their pur-
pose. With so many at large the
farmers would be- at their mercy,
and should they once get possession
OF weapons IL is believed 10y the Off
GERS of the prison that they will
fight To the death before they are
captured.
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