New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-07
PRISON ABLAzE
ASTWO YOUTHS
TRY TO ESCAPE
rs Inmates in House of
Refuge Imperilled by
Fire Set by Plotters.
WOMAN GUARD is
LOCKED IN ROOM
Pair Planned TO Gain Freedom
During Excitement Capt
ured in Cellar.

ured in Cellar.
Henry Samara and George Jacko
slNteen-ycar-old inmates Of The House
OF Refuge on RandalI's Island
scrubbed the floor of a classroom on
Saturday. Their heads we're close to-
gether, and not once did they glance
through the barred windows at the
storm. Their guard congratulated him
self on having at least two Industrious
boys
purpose hid behind their zeal.
Whispers flew back and forth They
were planning trip to San Francisco
to see the fair.
Yesterday the plot hatched above
the scrubbing brushes bloomed, and
last night Henry and George were
locked up for arson. In ;he third floor
of the building which they admitted
setting Are to were seventy-ive other
boys, scrubbing floors. In telling the
story to Detectives Quaine and Muir
ply, the danger in which he had placed
his companions was the one thing that
touched Henry to the quick. He said
he did not know they we're there. and
tried TO pass it off as something OF
little consequence. But he WINGED as
he did It.
eve wasn't thinkin' about them" he
ea;d Gnoliv "We was thinKiu' about
ourselves
Fire Plot 70 Aid Escape.
Both bows were members Of squad
of dozen who were at work in the
ironing room Of the laundry under the
eve of Miss Louise Croly. While Miss
Croly was profering indignant instruc-
tions 90 a careless lad George and
Henry sneakci away. Their trip to
Frisco had started.
The ironing room is in the north
wing Of the building. BY means Of
adjoining rooms used for storage pur-
poses the two boys got into the south
wing. which contains ciassrooms. Both
wings are south Of the main building
of the House Of Refuge, where $50 boys
are held.
Under the stairs in the south wing
the boys found On accumulation OF
rubbish. % which they added as much
paper as they could lay their hands on.
il was the beginning of their trans
continental tour.
on their return to the ironing room
both boys we're carrying ironing boards
as if they had stepped into the next
room TO get them. That, too. was part
of the plan they whispered to the
scrubbing brushes.
AT the next favorable moment Henry
slipped up TO the stove and thrust IN
niece Of waxcd paper. When 1t was
well lighted he backed toward the door
leading to the south wing. signaling
George as he did so. George joined
him.
Woman Guard Locked In.
Miss Croly's back was still turned
as they edged out of the door and
closed II in breathless silence. AS the
door closed George had removed me
kew from the inside. He inserted IL
in the outside and locked Miss Croly
and her charges in the ironing room.
Their torch afamc, the travellers
hastened to the pile Of kindling be-
meath the stairs in the south wing:
Henry flung the torch into the mass OF
PAPER and the two boys dashed up the
stairs. They climbed down tife es-
cape from :he second floor. whhe above
them the scventy-tive scrubbed IN lgno-
rance Of tho blaze that was slngeing
the ceiling of the closet beneath inc
stairs.
George and Henry dashed across an
areaway that separates the south wing
a chisel from his waistband as he ran:
George picked up club that he nad
secreted i'm tho areaway on Saturday.
With the chisel he smashed a cellar
window Of the main building. The
club was to be used on any who op-
posed their passage.
Squeezing through the cellar win
dow. the boys found that all the win
dows on the opposite side of the build
ing. overlooking the lawn and the river,
we're barred II was for that Henry
carried the chisel.
With it they set TO work to loosen
the cement in which the bars were set.
As they worked they heard the whistle
sound the fire alarm, heard the pound
ing footsteps of the emergency tire
corps of 100 as they answered the
alarm. heard the whistle of the fire.
boats as they ploughed the East River,
and-if they had thought-the cries
that might soon come from the third
floor Of the burning building would
have rung in their ears.
Feycrishly they Clipped at the ce-
mcnt. Their scheme was TO rush across
the lawn while the fire held the atten-
tion Of every inmate and Official of the
luiiding and conceal themselves in the
tops Of tres until darkness fell. They
knew where two logs were lodged on
the west shore of the island, and after
all was quiet and dark they would
make for the logs and paddle across to
New York.
"Thcn," said Henry, "it was the first
freight for us and Frisco
Foilcd by Tinsmith.
But il happened that Thomas Collins