Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-25

paratus was constructed of old cofeepot connecting
with the spout of which tin and glass tubes fastened
together with pieces OF rubber string and
enting most grotesque appear nee, but capable OF
producing distilled liquor dropt drop quite as deadly
as the most approved Tennessee noonshne The sub
used for the Stlon the drlppngS from the
molasses barrels neighborng of the basement
Indeed it these drppngs that first suggested to the
trusty who had seen rum made IN the West Indies the
possibility of making STILL little premeditated care
essness the part of another trusty whose duty was
draw the molasses for the cook supplied the still
bountifully with material with the result that illicit
liquor of home manufacture became medium OF traffic
among the Citys elect for several months teaspoon
full of moonshine worth good chew of tobacco he
usual basis of City traffic. at any time, and good
business had been carried in all kinds of articles of
exchange.
nNE of the most desperate attempts to escape
- recorded about through gross carelessness in
the kitchen of of the Walled Cities In this nstt
ton the kitchen knives, of them long deadly dag
gere weapons supposed to be chained in place at all
times were detached from their chains and allowed
lie about the because the cooks found
venient to have them
The convict who played the leading role in the trag
edy named Barker, who had been detailed
to help in the kitchen. Like most of the work about
Walled Cities good part of the kitchen duties are done
by inmates. The kitchen of City having thousand
inhabitants is ordinarily under the management of per-
haps three paid cooks and keepers assisted by dozen
inmates. Naturally, these inmates are care
fully selected, and presumably "truSy patients;
but easy understand how mistakes may be made
in these selections since the not only convlcs
and prisoners, but insane.
Although a long-term prisoner, Barker given
position in the kitchen at the request of the chef be-
of the man IS reputation good cook and gen
eral worker. Closely watched at first, he gradually
gained the confidence of the chef and other cooks by
diligence and good behavior until finally he given
practically much liberty about the kitchen as the
keepers themselves
Almost everything about the kitchen under lock
and key-a great inconvenience during the rush hours
of getting out the meals And it frequently happened
that just when the chef his assistants elbows
deep in important culinary operation some
thing would be needed from the carefully locked refg
To stop and wash the hands, get
the keys from the pocket, and open the doors, in
convenient And many times Barker asked to
fish out the bunch of keys from the chefs pocket and
do the errand.
The keys opened only the doors the refrgerators
and storerooms-all but This one, Barker had
observed opened the door leading into the basement;
and there doors leading from the basement to
the outside world he drew the natural conclusion that
this same key would unlock them also.
One day when he was busy scrubbing some pans he
given the bunch of keys and asked to do errand
in the refrigerator. At that time in the dish he
washing cake of hospital soap. which had become
softened by lying the water Picking up the cake of
soap Barker took the keys and started for the reger
ator usual On the way, however, he selected the
key to the basement and he walked along he pressed
it firmly into the sur
- face of the softened
J. SoaD The result was