CONVICTS' DASH FOR LIBERTY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14835, 11 November 1911, Page 2 (Supplement)

CONVICTS' DASH FOR LIBERTY.

DARTMOOR SENSATION.

ONE SHOT; OTHER ESCAPES.

Once more the groat bell of Dartmoor Prison clanged out its warning that a prisoner had escaped, and a knot of civilians had the unusual experience of witnessing the officials pursue a fugitive. On this occasion two men, Lewis and Bruce, made a dash for liberty. Bruce was brought down with a bullet in his leg, but Lewis got away.

Tho scene of the escape was in the neighbourhood of the huge quarries close to the main road running from Princetown to Tavistock, only 500 yards from tho chief buildings of the prison itself. Work had been going on there during the day by a somewhat large party, in two or three separate gangs. When it ceased for tho day, and the convicts were being marched back to their quarters, all passed quietly into the prison until the turn of the last gang came.

During recent years the snapshotting of prisoners by amateur photographers has caused much annoyance, and to stop the practice Iho authorities caused a tunnel to bo built, leading under the main road, and thence across- the ■ fields to the back entrance of the prison. The last gang from the quarries was being marched back about five o'clock, and had just cleared the tunnel and were entering the deep-cut path which leads from it to the gaol when Bruce and Lewis, evidently by a pre-arranged plan, darted from the ranks and bolted at top speed, adopting tho unusual and embarrassing tactics of taking different courses. One dashed off at right angles in the direction from which the gang had come, the second man taking the opposite direction towards the main road. Over a Wall. They were called on to stop, and a rifle was fired over their heads. howover, had no effect, so a warder fired at Bruce, hitting him in the leg. It was not a serious wound, but quite sufficient to stop Bruco, who sank to the ground. Ho was surrounded, and a messenger was despatched for an ambulance to convey him to the prison hospital. Leaving a few of their number to attend to the wounded man, the other warders joined in the pursuit of Lewie, whose plans had been favoured by the temporary check caused by the collapse of his comrade. ......

He made for the wall that divides the prison grounds from the public road, and after one futile effort managed to clear it at the second attempt. Crossing tho highway, and in view of a number of excited civilians, he jumped the watercourse provided for the irrigation of the lands at this part, and disappeared into the wood which adjoins the quarries."'" The warders were after him in a very few minutes, but he had gained the shelter he sought, and they recognised that it would be useless to continue firing. Without loss of time the wood was surrounded, and the warders hastily laid their plans for a search.

Armed parties of officers from the prison searched every yard of the thicket near the road, and gradually penetrated deeper and deeper into the wood towards Petershaven, in which direction Lewis had last directed his steps. It is scarcely possible that he can get out of the wood on to the moors, which were his first' objective, for the surrounding of the wood was so quickly and completely carried out that it is thought he must still be concealed there.

Other warders were told off to various parts of the surrounding country to watch the main roads and bridges. A strong party was also at work scouring the gullies and plantations which are so plentiful near the prison. His Store of Food. . During the evening a thick fog descended, making the search more difficult. Lewis's pursuers believe that he must soon give up the flight from sheer exhaustion, and want of food. His difficulty as to food is not so great, however, as most" people might suppose. Many cottagers, if asked for food, would give it and ask no questions. .. From the wood he could get by a lonely route towards Tavistock, and, perhaps, if good luck befel him, secure some clothing to enable him to discard his prison garb. But he may, just as likely, have taken an entirely different route, and even have tried to work his way down to some of the smaller coast towns, where strangers attract little attention.

He had even made plans for obtaining food. From prisoners employed on the farm he had obtained from time to time handfuls of corn and meal. These he hid in the quarries where he was working until he amassed a fairly substantial stock. The general belief is that he will break into some dwellinghouse by night. All who have houses worth burgling, as well a3 cottagers, are in a ferment of anxiety. A number of them burn candles all night, and many others do not seek rest until davlight. Lewis, alias Potter, is a native of Eastbourne, and is 27 years of age. He was convicted at Maidstone in April, 1910. of theft. He was formerly in the Rifle Brigade, from which he desterted. He is a somewhat desperate, powerful fellow, and was concerned in the mutiny at Maidstone Gaol some years ago. Lewis is a baker by trade, and formerly worked in the prison bakery, but some months ago was transferred to the quarries. He has dark brown hair, and his height is sft 7in. A horse's head, a shoe, and whip, are tattoed on his right forearm.