A DASH FOR LIBERTY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11253, 25 October 1898, Page 6

A DASH FOR LIBERTY.

ATTEMPTED ESCAPE BY TWO PRISONERS.

Yesterday morning a somewhat serious case of prison-breaking by two convicts, named James Northey and Henry Jeffard, occurred at the Otago Heads. Part of the artillery barracks erected within tho fortifications has for some time past, been used as a gaol, and affords accommodation to the convicls sngacod in road-making and fortifying that part of the Peninsula. The prison.gang left tlio gaol at the usual time, and proceeded to their work at the Harrington Point battery and at the jetty just below, which is being strengthened with now piles. At 9.30 a.m. the convicts were working in three parties. One, in charge of the senior warder, was pile-driving on (he jetty; a second was making a. road into tho fort; and the others were working inside the fort. From the latter party the men escaped. About the time above staled the black nag indicating the escape of the prisoners was hoisted. The Government launch s.b. Gor-. don, bringing a relieving senior warder, two artillerymen on furlough, and the clerk of the works, was just rounding the Spit. The report rapidly circulated that two " longtimers " hadeffected an escape. The Gordon •was soon at the jetty, and all hands scattered over tho hill, along the beach, and through the bush, in diligent search. Meanwhile the other' convicts, numbering about a score, had been sharply mustered, and were being marched back to their gaol, under guard. The search party consisted of four warders, "line artillerymen, two of the Torpedo Corps, and as many of the pilot's crew as could be spared, and four or five others, the whole force numbering about 25 able-bodied men. Corporal Riehdale collected the artillerymen from different (run-pits, where they were at work, and started them off within 10 minutes of the alarm—at 9.40 a.m. Most of the pursuers were armed, some with rifles, and some with revolvers, while others were provided' with axe-handles from the. prisoners' workshop. It was considered necessary to tako theso precautions, owing to tho dangerous charactor of tho men they had to capture. The s.s. Gordon kept out in the channel, taking a course which commanded a view of the beach and of the hill above. Very soon Kins, tho engineer, spied two men in caol clothes creeping through scrub on the hill above the point, and indicated the direction to Mr Sharp, who commands the launch. He quickly got his glasses on them, and blewthe steam whistle. This alarmed the convicts, who instantly dived into tho tliicker bush. Unfortunately, tho sound of tho whistle drew away the attention of Warder Murray, v,-ho,

armed with a loaded rifle, was within a few yards of the spot whero the escaped prisoners were seen. . On tho top of the hill there is a farm owned by Natives, and hero tho artillerymen concentrated their attention. They were to be seen hurrying hero and there searching the Natives' dwellings and outhouse 3, and scouring tho open country. Mr Riordan, tho senior warder, fortunately, had instructed Gunner Lynch to haston to a particular point, and, in accordance with his directions, ho and Gunner Edward Portoous kept along tho western slope, making for a high point on the narrow part of the Peninsula, where the sand drifts havo J reached the highest point. Hero they came I upon the convicts crossing tho high, weatherbeaten knob wliich forms a prominent, landmark there. . They, were making for the sea beach or settlers' houses at Pipi Karat. Convict Northey assumed a threatening attitude, holding a heavy stono in one hand; but Gunner Lynch called out, "Now, drop that, drop that, and como along; we'll stand no humbug." Thereupon Northey dropped ,the stone, and both gave themselves up without resistance. The party was soon reinforced by three more artillerymen and a warder. Under this strong escort they were marched back to gaol, the artillerymen marching two in, front and three behind, and tho warder, with loaded rifle, at the sido. This smart capture having taken only an hour, and having been accomplished without discharge, of firearms, reflects much credit on all concerned, and it is felt that Corporal Richdalo and his men desorvu recognition in the matter. Tho black flag is always hoisted at.the place where prisoners are working when a man is found to bo missing. In this case tho flag is in view of the signalman at the heads, who is in telephonic communication with the prison authorities in Dunedin. Mr Phillips, the gaoler, was. immediately informed of the escape, and, communicating with tho police, ! starch parties were organised for tho Peuinsulr. i and other parts, and had already started off ! wii'jn nows of the capture arrived. Trie escnue was skilfully made, considering } tho fact that both men were always kept under close watch. At tho time thoy got away one v.'as engaged boiling tar, and went a few yards away to get chips for tho fire, and tho other, a few minutes before he was missed, had been seen, getting grease to lubricate .the axlo of his wheelbarrow. Immediately niter dinner, the gang returned from tho gaol .to their work, and the culprits, handcuffed together, wore brought by the Government launch in Port Chalmers, and came on to Dur.edin by tho 4- p.m. train. James Northoy, who is quite a young man, was; born and brought up in Lyttelton. As a boy he was very much neglected, and from want of parental control soon acouircd bad habits. 'Ho was sentenced on May 31, 1897. to throe years' imprisonment for housobrpakins;. Only last year Northey's sentence was lengthened by 12 months for a. similar olfer.ee. lie had boon fighting in the gaol, and was i-on-.----n-.itted to tho " digger " —i.e.,'solitary roniinrment in n dark strong coll. In tho dead of night, with a knife that ho had successfully secreted about his person, he tried lo cut his way through the solid woodwork that holds the iron bars above the door. The night watchman, hearing a faint noise of cutting or chipping of wood, something like that of a rat at work, took off his boots and with noiseless tread crept to the door of tho cell, and opening the trap door, flashed in his lan torn, wliich there rovealed evident tokens of the ir.dustry of (he unwilling occupant. Northey is considered quite a desperate character. Henry Jeffard, the ether prisoner, is under a sentence of five years' imprisonment for the robbery of over £100 from a schoolmaster named Bell, who was residing at the Leviathan Hotel.