The San Francisco call., 1906-04-05
PRISONERS
PUT To SEA
IN A TUB
Alcatraz Soldiers
Try to Escape
Captivity.
In an Old Butter Vat
They Vainly Seek
Freedom.
Wind and Wave Beat Them
Back and Are Captured
and Put in Irons.

Early on Monday morning four des-
perate Alcatraz prisoners broke the
locks from their cells. crept by the SEN
tinels and guns Of the fort and put to
sea in tub. But wind and tide were
against them and they were forced
back to the shore OF their island prison.
where they were soon captured and
put in irons. When found they were
hiding in an abandoned magazine on
the west side Of the island.
It was about o'clock Monday morn
ing when the officer OF the day. Lieu
tenant Edward Z. McCammOn. started
on his rounds OF verffication and. upon
opening the cell of Arthur Armstrong
he was surprised to find the prisoner
gone The prison guard was tmme-
diately called out and sent IN search
of the missing prisoner. while the lieu
tenant continued his rounds and to his
amazement found that the cells OF
George w. Davis. Thomas Stinnatt and
George W. Brossman were also vacant,
the locks having been forced from -ths
outside. In the next cell tAs- Lock had
been broken. but the prisoner was still
fast asleep IN his bunk and upon be-
ing questioned pleaded Ignorance as to
how the lock had been broken.
PRISONERS ARE TRACED.
The missing prisoners were readily
traced TO the bakery. where a large
butter tub. used for mixing dough. had
disappeared, and a trail from there to
the waters edge showed where the
rude craft had been launched in a vain
hope TO reach the main land shortly
after that the prisoners were found
hiding in an abandoned magazine on
the western side OF the island and Inn
mediately sent TO solitary confinement
They are now sent to their work with
a ball and chain The vat was found
beating against the rocks near by. and
in il were several loose boards which
had evidently been used for oars.
The prisoners were taken before Ma
jor Abner Pickering. commander OF the
prison. They refused TO make any
statement except that they attempted
TO escape and were driven back by the
tide when they left the shore. They
also admitted that they were afraid
of the frail craft in which they had
embarked.
1t was later found that the prison.
ers had effected their escape through
the instigatiOn Of Arthur Armstrong,
who evidently carried some heavy in
strument into his cell and after veri-
fication at o'clock set TO work prying
OF one of the boards OF his cell. Once
the board was of II was an easy mat
ter for him to walk down the line. and
with one stroke of the same instru-
ment to knock the locks from the cell
doors and. one by one. TO free their
occupants. Upon reaching the NTH cell
the prisoner evidently refused to ac-
company them and the four started out
alone.
Securing a barbed wire they threw it
over the high board fence and. pulling
IL down into a crack between the
boards until one OF the barbes caught,
a 60 h. for.
and dropped down on the other side
while the unsuspecting sentinel slum-
bered upOn his beat unmindful or what
was taking place under his very nose
once over the fence and past the SEN
tinel it was an easy matter for them
TO reach the bakery and embark upon
their journey The men were SO sure
of their liberty that they deliberately
emf the large "P' from the seat OF
their trousers and the back OF their
coats. An effort was also made TO
erase the number from their hats with
mud and sand. but In this attempt tney
were unsuccessful
Arthur Armstrong. although he was
among the second class prisoners. was
considered one Of The most desperate
characters on the island He was sent
to the island some time ago from
washington State. where. IL is alleged.
he committed a brutal assault upon y
voune girl Ever since his arrival at
the prison he has been the source OF
continual annoyance TO the authorities
and has more than once been punished
for bad conduct. From now on. how
ever, he will be compelled TO wear the
hall and chain The other prisoners
were serving time for larceny and de-
sertion-
A board OF officers was appointed TO
investigate the case. The prisoners re-
fused to tell the time OF their escape.
however, and as there were three men
upon the beat throughout the night, the
board failed TO come 10 any agreement
as TO whom to- blame and was dis
missed