Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1913-07-25
An Escape
By LUCY K. wYNKooP

Joe Nfeen, )pl Ten years Oiu, toS
his father. then his mother and wa
thrown ont upon the world at an axe
when he should have been subject e
the necessary training to direct bin
IN an honorable career
Joe was q bright boy and fitted for a
better life than robbery and passing
the principal part Of his life in jail and
the rest Of II 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 fare had placed him When
he was fifteen ne and some other
youngsters attempted to rob a man
who defended himself till a policeman
arrived. and the boys were all caught
in the act
Joe, who was the youngest Of the lot,
was sent to reformatory. II was one
OF those prisons where boys are taught
some trade by which to earn an hon
orable living. There was Il power
house. with an engine to drive the ma
chinery I'm the other buildings joe
was interested in this engine as soon
as he saw il and succeeded in getting
himself assigned MS helper to the en-
gineer He began by shoyeling coal
into the furnace. but showed such APP
titude for mechanics that be was ad
vanced TO the post OF assistant engi-
neer
10 bo mara ,v,,Igoit obort Tna's INIT
tude, he was full OF resource Where
another person would take an ordinary
way to accomplish a mechanical re-
suit he would take 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. 1t would require
some time to procure the broken part,
and ii seemed that the work it was
doing must stop Joe suggested a way
by which 1t 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
chlnery that he was anxious to get
out into the world and become a ma
chinist. He was not 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 so 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 II 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:
rhe power house was built against the
prison wall Besides the engine. II
contained a broad leather belt turned
BY the shaft. the upper end running
over gearing attached to the ceiling.
Beside this gearing was a window.
which was usually kept open In order
o let out the heated air OF the engine
md furnace room.
One morning II occurred to Joe that
he belt might possibly be used as a
conveyance to carry one to the win
low. whence he might lower himself
o the ground outside the prison wall
But no one could jump from the belt
o the window without running the
isk of being dashed against it or fall
ng 10 a brick yard pavement below ,
I. or both There was but one time
When such n ride could be taken
That was when the steam had been
hut or and the belt was slowing up
'revious TO stopping its revolution
his was attended TO by the engineer
imsef at Q o'clock every workday |
vcnIug. aud there were usually other
ersons. prisoners or officials about
urins the closing hour: therefore the
eat must be performed In presence OF
Tiers
Joe found time when he was sup
osed 10 be studying 10 calculate
Oint where he could jump on to the
cit. be carried to the window and
top there. though the basis OF these
was obtained by watch
lg the belt revolve previous TO stop
ing. noting especially the position of
Re lacing with reference to the point
! which the belt must be boarded !
He was months making these nota-
ons and calculations and at last was
labled TO fix a point which many no
tions at the closing hour showed al
avs stopped nj the window
One evening when there was no one
II the engineer and Joe In the engine
'om the former saw the boy seize
coiled rope that be had kept ready
r his purpose. jump on the belt. hold
} to each edge. ride 10 the window
I'd disappear The engineer was too
itonished TO give an alarm. and
neither he gave one at all was not
tiled at the investigation that fol.
wed the daring feat
II was midwinter when Joe Green