The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1913-10-17
An Escape
BY LUCY K. WYNkOOP

Joc 1Iecus 10y Ten years OlO, IOSt
his father, then his mother, and was
thrown out upon the world at an age
when he should have been subject to
the necessary training to direct him
in an honorable career.
Joe was bright boy and fitted for a
better life than robbery and passing
the principal part of his life in Jail and
the rest Of it undergoing the risk of
Jail or something else. But the time
had not come for him to show
strength of character enough to en-
able him to break away from the path
in which fate had placed him. When
he was fifteen he and some other
youngsters attempted to rob a man
who defended himself till policeman
arrived. and the boys were all caught
in the act.
Joe, who was the youngest of the lot.
was sent to freformatory. 1t was one
of those prisons where boys are taught
some trade by which to earn an hon.
orable living. There, was a power
house, with an engine to drive the ma
chinery in the other buildings. Joe
was interested in this engine as soon
as be saw 1t and succeeded in getting
himself assigned as a helper to the en-
gineer. He began by shoveling coal
into the furnace. but showed such ap-
titude for mechanics that he was ad-
vanced to the post of assistant engi-
neer.
To be more explicit about Joe's apt-
tude. he was full of resource. Where
another person would take an ordinary
way to accomplish q mechs nical re-
suit he would take a short way. The
first notice that was taken Of this fac
ulty was one day when a machine
broke. A piece of work that was due
to be finished at certain time was
dependent upon It. It would require
some time to procure the broken part.
and 1t seemed that the work it was
doing must stop. Joe suggested way
BY which It might be temporarily re-
paired and the work go on. His sug-
gestion was acted upon and the work
finished In time.
Joe became SO infatuated with ma
,hinery that he was anxious to get
tut Tito the world and become a ma
.hiD st. He was not a patient boy
'ew persons whose abilities are of the
tld called genius are-so his inventive
rain turned toward method OF es-
ape from the reformatory that he
might go to some place where his past
would not be known and enter upon
career connected with machinery. He
thought over number OF plans by
which he might get out of the prison,
but none Of them were practicable.
But Mt last he hit upon an original
one that was allied to the
science. of mechanics. Some mathe-
NAUTICAL knowledge was required to
put 1t Into practice, but there was q
school in the reformatory which the
boys were required to attend, and Joe
showed a considerable aptitude in a
way.
The suggestion came In this way:
The power house was built against the
prison wall. Besides the engine. 1t
broad leather belt turned
by the shaft. the upper end running
over gearing attached to the ceiling.
Beside this gearing was window.
which was usually kept open In order
o let out the heated air OF the engine
md furnace room.
One morning 1t occurred to Joe that
he belt might possibly be used as a
to carry one to the win
low. whence he might lower himself
% the ground outside the prison wall.
But no one could jump from the belt
% the window without running the
'isk of being dashed against It or fall
ng to brick yard pavement below
t. or both. There was hut one time
when such ride could be taken.
That was when the steam had been
shut Off and the belt was slowing up
previous to stopping its revolution.
This was attended to by the engineer
himself at 6 o'clock every workday
.veninG. and there were usually other
PERSONS. prisoners or officials. about
Turing the closing hour: therefore the
eat must be, performed In presence of
,thers>
Joe found time when he was sup
,osed to be studying to calculate a
Joint where he could jump ON to the
,elt, be carried to the window and
top there. though the basis Of these
calculations was obtained by watch.
ng the belt revolve previous to stop
ing. noting especially the position Of
he lacing with reference to the point
It which the belt must be boarded.
He was months making these nota-
Ions and calculations and at last was
'nabled to AZ point which many no.
ations at the closing hour showed al.
Ways stopped at the window.
One evening when there was no one
tut the engineer and Joe in the engine
DOM the former saw the boy seize
coiled rope that he had kept ready
or his purpose. jump on the belt, hold
N to each edge, ride to the window
md disappear. The engineer was too
to give an alarm, and
whether he gave one at all was not
ettlpd Mt the inyoStioa Hon TINT fol