Escape of Prisoners from Fremantle Gaol.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 232, 10 December 1887, Page 8

Escape of Prisoners from Fremantle Gaol.

A I'iusoxEit named William Thompson, who is undergoing' a life sentence for rape> escaped from the Fremantle Gaol by means of a rope suspended o\ er the prison wall by some pei sons outside. On the following morning Thomas Hughes, the bushranger, and another prisoner named Jarvis effected their escape from Fremantle Gaol by disarming the guard. With the rest; of a party of prisoners, they were employed in excavating a tank in the piison yard. A warder named Craik was present in the tank w ith the men, and on the level ground above a warder named Rogers was stationed. Rogers was armed with a double-barrelled gun, About 9o'clock Jarvis went to the toolhouse, and in returning, when a couple of yards off Rogers, turned round and seized him round the waist, and held him till Hughes came up and t\\ isted the gun out of his hand. They then compelled Rogeis to give up the cartridges and keys, after which they locked him in the closet. They also treated Craik, who was unarmed* in the same way. They were about to get over the wall of the prison yard w hen a convict named Green endeavoured to pi event them, whereupon Hughes turned upon him and fired at him, but missed his aim. Then they crossed the wall. The pii-oners in the yard raised an alarm. The escapees wore pursued by Warder Hawkins, who, with a large number of police, went in chase of them. The affair caused much excitement, both in Perth and Fremantle. Trackers followed them for five miles, but lost the track in a dense bush. The escapees made for the Canning district, where they were seen by several people. Hughes told an old man that he would not bo taken alive. The police got on to the tracks leading to the Canning Hills, where in ln> picvious bushranging career Hughes had his main camp, but that camp was never found by the police. The Government ottered a reward of £200 for the recapture of the runaways. After being at large some days the escapees were finally surprised and captured. It appears that the police received news that the bushrangers broke into a store at Guildford on Friday night. They took possession of a quantity of provisions and a rifle. One porty of police took up their tracks, which they followed. Another paity, under Corporal Hackett, had, with Constable OHara and two black trackers, ridden out from Perth. While scouring Ihe bush, the black trackers suddenly called upon the constables to stop. They listened quietly for some minutes. The four dismounted, and stole silently to a spot indicated by the motions of the trackers. When within range, Hughes and Jarvis were seen quietlyeating their dinner. They were immediately " cohered with the revolvers of the police, and called upon to "bail up." With a startled, hunted, yet desperate look, both men saw they were covered. Reluctantly, up went their hands, and the handcuffs were slipped on by one of tbe constables, while the others kept their shooting irons levelled. The men had two "breechloaders" and a large quantity of cartridges, besides a large swag of provisions, etc. Their feet were bound with rags to escape detection. Hughes still shows a deal of br.iwido.