Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-09-03

Escape from Portland! You could
as easily Hog back the llooding ti,ic"
The old gray-bcardcd cX-wardcr
shrugged his still broad shoulders con
tcmptuouSly. ''rhc man who can gc.
clear away from Portland hasn't yet
hccn born he added.
And SO il would seem To The most
unobserving visitors. There is no
point of vantage upon which Il war.ci.
with gun loaded and cooke |. is not
stationed: there Is no single rrisonc'
upon whom is not conferred tho steel.
hucd glitter of ii score or jealous. IN.
firing official eyes. The favored con.
vict who Is privileged to enter an Of
liccr'S house. there To execute some
necessary repairs in masonry or wood
work, carries out his task with an arm
cd wardcr standing mt his elbow.
Should Il prisoner, wcaricu tn DIES
peration by the uncn,liny round Of M
willing service. and longing u break
the silence to which he is condemned.
make bid for freedom, the black
flag is hauled mast high and the boom
Of cannon rolls down from the heights
to the town below. The connections
between the Verne Barracks ana tie
tclcGraphic and telephone
arc utilized so that Il Gordon Of soldiers
lis ut once drawn around the island.
Wardcrs, soldiers, townsfok are at
once OH the alert, and the chase. in
which the wrctchrd human quarry has
no ghost of II chance. begins. and is
sustained until the too daring con-
Wet is again within prison walls.
I'll Is the wholesome dread III pun.
shIncnt that accounts for the few at
tcmpts that are made to escape" said
the cX-war'icr already referred To.
No legal quibhlc can pull the culprit
ont of his trouble.
Lighter diet is one Of the penal
ties of his 0ilcnsc. and that is no mean
thing in this appctiic-rcviving locality.
Then the convict r'ust don n livery
of bright canary yellow and wear ten
pound irons day and night. These
irons are fastened 10 the ankles. while
chains pass up his legs and arc linked
to Il belt around the waist.
lie may he logged. too. /; is prob
able that he will be. Thirty-siX lashcs
laid on by II muscular marine are ~
joke"
The cx-wardcr is proud of his prison.
lie cX,lts in its ahsolutc security
Whatever people may say, there
never has been an escape from Port
land" said my old friend. who has
over score of years of service to his
credit
There is Il rumor that Il Frcnchmnn
cncc crcpt away in Il thick haze
cambcrcd down the cliffs TO Il waiting
boat, and thence sped over the chan
mel To his native land But there is
nothing of this in the official records
Another story tells how Il prisoner
a Inc f,,, ;,,t,
chaplan's house and stole n suit of
hroadcloth which he sent back six
months later. Personally doubt the
truth of IT,
"rhcre was one fellow who managed
TO gain the Dorchester road, Wcy-
month-scvcn miles away. That was
In 1873 His name was Beaumont
and he was really one of the most
daredevil men ever consigned to Port
land.
When he first got away he mnn-
aged to conceal himself in Il church.
There he stole a surplicc. which he
somehow rugged into respectable
Imitation of Il smock. Creeping eau
tiously down the road, he came across
a couple of milk cans, which he
promptly Communicated. With these
he proceeded boldly on his way. pass
ing scores of people, who had not the
faintest notion of his identity.
He did not long enjoy his liberty,
however a superintendent of police
was driving aloong the Dorchester
road when lie caught glimpse of Il
whitc-smockcd man running rapidly
out OF sight. He drew the attention of
the constable, who accompanied him
to the circumstance, and together they
gave chase. The issue was never in
doubt. The tired. hungry. footsorn
convict was rclakcn and suffered SO.
verely for his tcmcrity'
The latest recorded attempt occur
rcd January 16, of the present year.
Two men-John Wilkinson and George
Ninccnt-burSt through the ceilings of
their cells. crawled along the corridor.
and by means of length of rope
which had been dcftly struggled. gain.
cd the exercise yard Thence they
broke through four gates, all fitted
with patent locks. They made the at
tempt scawarl at spot which was
pointed out to he by courteous OF.
iiccr Vincent. while trying to descend
Il prccipitous wall face, fell and broke
his ankle. Both were then captured.
How fares the prisoner at Portland?
Does the system in vogue make bet
ter man of him; is it reformative as
we'll as penal?
suppose these questions will be
asked and asked again with tircsome
reitcration. My friend. the ex-wardcn,
had responses. as ready as emphatic.
Look here he said, Criminals