The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-02-05
|6[ECH OFFICER ESCAPES
IRON PRISON AS C[EvERtY
As OID MONTE CRISTO
captsin Lux Had Been Convicted
as Spy and GandemaeA-
To Fortress.
FRIENDS USE SECRET CODE
send Him Money, Maps, Saws
and Other Things by Scheme
Carefully Planned

+ LONDON, Feb. 5.-The romantic
escape OF Capt. Charles Lux, the
French miltary officer from the
Strongest and most carefully guarded
. Of German prisons may result in COM
Dlications between France and Ger
1.llluy. The French are hilariously
joyful over the daring escape; the
Germans would wiring the captains
neck II they could get him back.
Lux was caught in Germany, con-
victed as a spy and sentenced TO a
six-year term in the German fortress
81 0latz.
In Paris were staunch and true
[riends of the imprisoned officer,
. headed by DR.. Greeley. They wrote
interesting. unsuspicious letters 10
Lux. These were read by the prison
warden FIRST and then sent to the cell.
Words written with invisible ink came
10 light as the captain held the paper
near the bars OF the white tiled stove
- his room. Just few words in each
letter, planning for his escape; Lux
answered them by writing a word or
E two on the gummed flap of the en-
re1ope.
The citadel OF Glatz overlooks the
little German town Of that name. The
prison cells are high up inside the
xortress. A wall surrounds the cita-
Rtlel: beyond that Is deep moat; just
one road leads away, and that IL
xuarded night and day. Hitherto no
prisoner has ever escaped from Glatz.
Two hours In the morning and two
+ IN the afternoon saw Lux In company
Of . guard pace the ramparts for
fresh air: the rest OF the time he
spent behind double locks.
Papers and books, strictly censored,
were brought into his cell, the gifts
Of Paris friends Lux noticed that
the strings binding his daily package
of newspapers looked stronger than
the ordinary cord used for that pur-
pose. On the flap of an envelope just
received he read the words: "Gardex
Gcellet" keep string). He picked up
the cord-it was waxed.
II shall never forget that moment.
A. tightened the strong, serviceable
cord against my fingers realized that
my escape was no longer a dream,
but o rapidly approaching reality"
nays Capt Lux.
Then he got another word of direc-
ton from his outside conspirators. IL
was "reliure" (binding). He started
ITO examine the bindings OF the books
sent him In some he found German
money, Just piece or two OF silver
each day. After that Lux grew so
fond OF his books that the warden
joked about 1t.
Such great bookworm he is re-
marked the German officer.
Teyerishly l awaited the coming
'cf brooks, Lux says, land when they
came could hardly endure the time
the warden remained-in my room and
chaffeu me about my great desire for
knowledge At last when the lock
EnaI,ped on him, ] hurriedly tore
apart the bindings; and my supply OF
German money grew. Twice there
we're strong thin files hid there"
map of the country outside the
foItress with possible avenues OF
escape to the Austrian frontier was
conceaied In the back OF calendar.
La beautiful bath towel was really de-
signed to be torn into strips for a
rope ladder, and IL was.
Then came the moment for escape.
ON the afternoon OF Christmas day
while the officers of the fortress were
gathered In celebration, Lux picked
the lock Of his cell. crept stealthily
Ms q shadow TO another door. where
the Jock was much harder to break,
but he did II. and then crawled
fhrough a window and was out of the
prison, but still In the fortress. Dodg-
ing the alert sentinels. Lux came TO
fhe barred window of the fortress.
For four mortal hours the captive
sawed at the iron bar, stopping every
minute TO listen for approaching foot
steps, disseminating when sentineis
PASSED AT last the big bar gave way.
LIN fastened his rope ladder TO Ii
and slowly climbed down To the flag
Stones.
While in prison he had persuaded
tho warden TO let him get green !
mackintosh and cap, worn oy the Ger
man moor people. These he now put |
ION ard was Oh his last lap toward
liberty obviously he couldn't swim
(, the moat. for hundreds of eyes were
or Il. The closely guarded bridge aud |
read was the only way. Scaling the
high iron gate, Lux lay on top while |
1.-THE guard walked below him. Had |
the German but glanced upward the !
french officer would now be dead I
man. but the sentry kept his eyes !
straight ahead. AS he turned about |
Lux dropped TO the ground, and hur-
fieA TO n shelter within few feet of
the guard II was done in the twink
ing OF an eye.
When the guard turned again, Lux
boldly started down the road in his
peasant's garb and passed by unchal-
-. -