There has been but one successful escape during the eighteen years that
Warden Wolfer has had charge of the prison. A capture was, however,
effected a few days later. The escape was neatly planned, and the
“loophole” through which he crawled could only have been detected by one
who was constantly looking for a chance to “fly the coop,” using a
prisoner’s expression. Opportunity came to him in the following manner: It
was the custom of the captain of the cellhouse to unlock the doors
immediately after the men had left their cells. In the fall of the year it
is still quite dark when the prisoners march into the dining room to
breakfast. On the morning that Mr. B. made his escape he simply remained
in his cell, and as soon as the captain of the cell house unlocked the
side doors and went back to his desk came out of his cell, cautiously made
his way out of one of the side doors and made a beeline for the wall near
the railroad gate, negotiating the same near this point. The wall guard
imagined that he saw some one go over the top of the wall and fired
several shots in that direction, but it was still very dark and he was
uncertain just what it was. The prisoner got away without a scratch, but,
as previously stated, was recaptured a few days later. Shot by a farmer
whom he tried to rob and received a bad bullet wound in one of his ankles.
The farmer, however, was not aware of his identity,—had ordered him off
his premises, but the prisoner acted in a threatening manner and was
thereupon shot.
About seventeen years ago another attempt to escape was made by a
desperate young fellow and two companions. They evaded the guard, slipped
out of the shop near the wagon gate and then waited where they were not
observed; then a dash for freedom through this big double gate as it swung
open to permit a team to pass out. All three were apprehended shortly
afterwards under the warehouse building of the Minnesota Thresher Co.,
where they had sought temporary refuge. This was just opposite the prison.
It is very improbable that any more attempts will be made through this
gate, a guard now being stationed on the wall above the gate and one
across the street. Formerly there was but one guard in charge of the gate,
which had a tendency to invite attack at this quarter.
[Prison Band ]