GAOLBIRDS OUT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19504, 3 February 1926, Page 7

GAOLBIRDS OUT

FLIGHT FROM RANGITOTO IN STOLEN DINGHY STILL AT LARGE [Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, Feb. 2. Two prisoners, Charles Wahle and Samuel Rattray, engaged in road-mak-ing on the Rangitoto Island, escaped from custody about midnight. Up to a late hour to-night no trace had been discovered. It appears that after midnight the two men crept silently from their hut and made their way to the water’s edge. A bright moon assisted them to find a dinghy, and in this craft they made good their escape. They fitted this boat with an outboard motor taken from another boat. It was not until some hours later that the warders found that the total of twelve prisoners had been depleted. After hurried search had been made no time was lost in acquainting the authorities on the mainland of the prisoners’ escape from captivity.

It was 20 minutes past 7 this morning when the eagle eye of the signalman on duty at Mount Victoria observe cd a signal on Rangitoto. This conveyed the information from the prison warders on Rangitoto that two prisoners had got away. After acknowledging receipt of the message the signalman telephoned to Sergeant Rowell, of Devonport. At 9 o’clock Deputy Super intendent Leggett, of Mount L'defl Prison, and Constable Mallabond left in a launch for Rangitoto to search for Wahle and Rattray. However, this search proved fruitless, so the two officers returned to Auckland.