The Washington times., 1909-09-13
Captured in Water.

Smallwood was wading out into the
Potomac with all the speed possible
for a man who had been in the woods
all night, and who hadn't had much to
eat. Raedy was by his side before he
had gone far. however, and few kind
words were all that was necessary to
persuade him that the land was better
than the water. Fortunately, when
Captain Anderson got the telephone
message from Bellevue magazine, the
patrol wagon was already in front Of
the door read to start. II ambled down
the road and came up 10 the scene Of
action just about the time Smallwood-
dripping with water. and spattered with
mud climbed out on the bank. Ihere
wasn't any further trouble with ihe
negro. for the sight OF hNe or SIX plue
uniforms and determined faces and the
memory of few guns they might have
seen was enough.
hTe three prisoners clsmboTed into
the patrol wagon. took their seats ana
carve hack to Howard hall under the
care of their Captors as rapidly as the
horse could bring them Before that
time. however, Captain Anderson had
telephoned TO the asylum that the three
birds had been SHARED, and huge and
collective sigh OF relief went UP into
the air from that institutions resident
physicians.
About 10 o'clock, the cavalsde came up
the winding gravel road to Howard hall.
few minutes later, the negroes were
back in their cells.
II was discovered this morning that
there was concerted plan foR the
escape. Greene, who was regarded as
a remarkably shrewd and dangerous
man by the authorities, undoubtedly
was the ringleader. About 7:40 last
night he told the guard that he was
suffering from the toothache. and ask
ed permission to enter the wash room
and battle his jaw. Smallwood and
Fork were already IN there, and al
most as soon as Greene entered the
door was slammed shut.
Plans Carefully Laid.
On the outward face of the door there
is no handle. and the key when inserted
in the lock and turned properly is used
to open and shut II. On the inside there
is a small iron handle. Probably one
Of the three men held this door, and
then wire was attached 10 this handle
connecting possibly with the window
near by.
The keyhole was plugged Up. An
other entrance TO the wash room was
treated in some other fashion, and then
the men turned their energies to the
window. There is a heavy iron grating
in all the windows Of Howard Hall,
q re confined. and II SENS almost inn
possible. 10 the authorities, for even
three men 70 have forced II without
having made some preparation before
hand. In whatever fashion Il was done.
however the big grating several feet
tai, fastened 10 the wood sill- by long
screws at four-inch intervals. was
pushed outward, and liberty lay just
before them. Il was only about
twelve-foot drop to the ground, nothing
much for three such negroes as these,
and 4 minute later they were IN the
woods
Guard wilkins. who was on duty on
that floor. tried desperately 70 force the
door found that he couldn't, tried the
other door. and then started out Of the
building to meet the escaped prisoners.
When he had made the circuit of the
building, however. they were gone
From the Anacostia precinct, Lieu
tenant Stevens. with several men, start
ed out at once. Nothing was found Of
the men. however. until today The au-
thorities at the hospital say that no
blame is 70 be attached 10 the guard,
or any one else for the escape. II is
not hard for A man to get away IL he
watches his chances and takes advan-
tage Of them.