River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-07-02
VI.
The Getaway"

"HE prison warden desired to In
stall the new machinery at
night so that he could save all
possible loss Of actual working
time of the ~cOnvicts He conferred
with his new foreman and MOntgOm
cry declared the plan feasible. By
having crates and boxes built In the
carpentery division and In readiness
the work of shipping out the displaced
machinery could be rushed while the
new was being put up.
Montgomery busted himself with
these preliminaries and among the
boxes he had constructed was Il
about six feet in length and oblong In
shape. He found ii necessary to make
certain changes in the construction of
this particular box. The top was
screwed down and an opening was
made at one end. The h~eadpiece was
so built that 1t could be closed and
made fast from within.
The last shipment out at night would
be at ii O'Clock. When the whistle
blew half an hour before the call for
SulICl A1OulS(AIGL WILL ~ 1O 49,
to wash I'D. The other conVicts were
being marched from the shops to their
tiers and the stone walls echoed the
tramping OF their feet. Ranks were
broken In the corridors between the
cells in the dormitories
Bill and Montgomery reached their
cell together. The time was at hand
for the attempt at escape. The bur
glar ripped open his mattress and
drew out the gray suit
BE fast now," advised Bill IN
cover the door. Get out of your
clothes and get the suit on. then slip
the regulars owe them"
Montgomery had stripped off his
blouse when the signal for assembly
sounded suddenly.
Both men started with fear. The
signal meant an inspection and had
come. as 1t always does. without warn
ing. For a moment Bill hesitated In
thought. Then he grabbed the suit
of gray from Montgomery's hands and
swathed it about his own body under
his blouse.
The men were already lining up in
the corridor, and they joined them.
The cause for the assembly was soon
made known in whispers and signs
passed along by the convicts. Some
one in the cutting DON had stolen two
pairs of scissors and a bodkin. both
dangerous weapons. The cell Of every
man working in that department
would be searched.
There were only five e including
Bill, in that tier who worked at tailor
ing. Two guards searched their cells
and the five men were ordered to step
to the front Guards searched them
carefully. One of the %searcherS pulled
up Bills blouse aud saw the hidden
suit Of clothes. He looked up with
establishment, for he had expected no
such find.
The warden In charge Of the tier
was summoned. and the suit was e
amined carefully.
'WhO is his cell mater" the warden
asked Of q guard.
mo. 60, 10S," was the reply.
And he didn't know a thing about
it." grunted Bill surlily. I'D have been
out by now but for that milksop in my
cell. He's one of these guys who says
his prayers every night. ! was afraid
he would tell on me and so | never
let him In on it"
Bill had saved his friend and with
no mean sacrifice. The star and disk
on Montgomery's sleeve had helped In
the free acceptance of Bills story.
A guard found the scissors and bod.
kin in another ~convict's cell, and ranks
were broken and the men permitted to
finish the washup for supper.
Bill was sent back to his cell and
Montgomery followed him.
"Why did you do it, Bill?" asked the
young man. "Why did you do it
The penalty is fifteen marks for every
month of your minimum sentence
That means 200 marks against you
and there is an added day of sentence
for every three marks"
Bill had calmly taken 900 days, near
ly two and a half years. added time
to help his companion. But he had nc
time to talk over the matter now. He
addressed Montgomery brusquely. The
minutes were precious.
1.-The suits gone" he said. you've
got to beat it for the Hackensacl