The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-07-24
An Escape
By LUCY K. WYNKooP

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
iRFhich fate had placed him. When
he was fifteen he and some other
youngsters attempted to rob 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 reformatory. 1t was one
of those prisons where boys are taught
some trade by which to earn an hon
orable living. There was power
house, with an engine to drive the ma
chinery In the other buildings. Joe
was interested in this engine as soon
as he saw 1t and succeeded in getting
himself assigned as helper to the en-
gineer. He began by shoveling coal
into the furnace. but showed such ap-
titude for mechanics that he was adj
vanced to the post of assistant engi-
neer.
To be more explicit about Joe's apti-
tude, he was full of resource. Where
another person would take an ordinary
way to accomplish mechanical re-
suit he would take a short way. The
first notice that was taken Of this fac
ulty was one day when machine
broke. A piece of work that was due
to be finished at a certain time was
dependent upon it. 1t would require
some time to procure the broken part,
and it 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
chinery that he was anxious to get
out into the world and become a ma
chinist. He was not a patient boy
few persons whose abilities are OF the
kind called genius are-so his inventive
brain turned toward method of es-
cape from the reformatory that he
might go to some place where his past
would not be known and enter upon a
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 at 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 a /
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 /
contained a broad leather belt turned |
by the shaft, the upper end running
over gearing attached to the ceiling.
Beside this gearing was window,
vhich was usually kept open in order
30 let out the heated air of the engine
and furnace room.
One morning 1t occurred 10 Joe that
The belt might possibly be used as
to carry one to the win
low, whence he might lower himself
10 the ground outside the prison wall.
But no one could jump from the belt
TO the window without running the
risk of being dashed against it or fall
Ing to brick yard pavement below
It, or both. There was but one time
when such a ride could be taken.
That was when the steam had been
shut off and the belt was slowing up i
previous TO stopping its revolution.
This was attended to by the engineer ]
himself at o'clock every workday I
evening. and there were usually other I
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 q
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 fix point which many no
atoms at the closing hour showed al {
Ways stopped at the window. c
One evening when there was no one /
Tut the engineer and Joe In the engine
DOM the former saw the boy seize r
cooled rope that he had kept ready d
or his purpose, jump on the belt. hold
N to each edge, ride to the window
nd disappear. The engineer was too
stonished to give an alarm, and A
whether he gave one at all was not
ettled at the investigation that fol
owed the daring feat. h
1t was midwinter when Joe Green 5
made his experiment. and it was not I
My dark without. but a snowstorm P
7as raging Joe was never heard OF t
gain, but much respected and =
7ealthy contractor for machinery ,
AIMED Joseph Greer is living in Rio de
aneiro. He never talks about his =
oyhood but has given away a for