In consequence of Jack Sheppard's desperate character, it was judged
expedient by the keeper of the New Prison to load him with fetters of
unusual weight, and to place him in a cell which, from its strength
and security, was called the Newgate Ward. The ward in which he was
confined, was about six yards in length, and three in width, and in
height, might be about twelve feet. The windows which were about nine
feet from the floor, had no glass; but were secured by thick iron
bars, and an oaken beam. Along the floor ran an iron bar to which
Jack's chain was attached, so that he could move along it from one
end of the chamber to the other. No prisoner except Edgeworth Bess
was placed in the same cell with him. Jack was in excellent spirits;
and by his wit, drollery and agreeable demeanour, speedily became a
great favourite with the turnkey, who allowed him every indulgence
consistent with his situation. The report of his detention caused
an immense sensation. Numberless charges were preferred against him,
amongst others, information was lodged of the robbery at Dollis
Hill, and murder of Mrs. Wood, and a large reward offered for the
apprehension of Blueskin; and as, in addition to this, Jack had
threatened to impeach Wild, his next examination was looked forward
to with the greatest interest.
The day before this examination was appointed to take place--the
third of the prisoner's detention--an old man, respectably dressed,
requested permission to see him. Jack's friends were allowed to
visit him; but as he had openly avowed his intention of attempting
an escape, their proceedings were narrowly watched. The old man was
conducted to Jack's cell by the turnkey, who remained near him during
their interview. He appeared to be a stranger to the prisoner, and
the sole motive of his visit, curiosity. After a brief conversation,
which Sheppard sustained with his accustomed liveliness, the old man
turned to Bess and addressed a few words of common-place gallantry
to her. While this was going on, Jack suddenly made a movement which
attracted the turnkey's attention; and during that interval the
old man slipped some articles wrapped in a handkerchief into Bess's
hands, who instantly secreted them in her bosom. The turnkey looked
round the next moment, but the manoeuvre escaped his observation.
After a little further discourse the old man took his departure.
Left alone with Edgeworth Bess, Jack burst into a loud laugh of
exultation.
“Blueskin's a friend in need,” he said. “His disguise was capital;
but I detected it in a moment. Has he given you the tools?”
“He has,” replied Bess, producing the handkerchief.
“Bravo,” cried Sheppard, examining its contents, which proved to be a
file, a chisel, two or three gimblets, and a piercer. “Jonathan Wild
shall find it's not easy to detain me. As sure as he is now living,
I'll pay him a visit in the Old Bailey before morning. And then I'll
pay off old scores. It's almost worth while being sent to prison to
have the pleasure of escaping. I shall now be able to test my skill.”
And running on in this way, he carefully concealed the tools.
Whether the turnkey entertained any suspicion of the old man, Jack
could not tell, but that night he was more than usually rigorous in
his search; and having carefully examined the prisoners and finding
nothing to excite his suspicions, he departed tolerably satisfied.
As soon as he was certain he should be disturbed no more, Jack set
to work, and with the aid of the file in less than an hour had freed
himself from his fetters. With Bess's assistance he then climbed up
to the window, which, as has just been stated, was secured by iron
bars of great thickness crossed by a stout beam of oak. The very
sight of these impediments, would have appalled a less courageous
spirit than Sheppard's--but nothing could daunt him. To work then
he went, and with wonderful industry filed off two of the iron bars.
Just as he completed this operation, the file broke. The oaken
beam, nine inches in thickness, was now the sole but most formidable
obstacle to his flight. With his gimblet he contrived to bore a
number of holes so close together that at last one end of the bar,
being completely pierced through, yielded; and pursuing the same with
the other extremity, it fell out altogether.
This last operation was so fatiguing, that for a short time he
was obliged to pause to recover the use of his fingers. He then
descended; and having induced Bess to take off some part of her
clothing, he tore the gown and petticoat into shreds and twisted
them into a sort of rope which he fastened to the lower bars of the
window. With some difficulty he contrived to raise her to the window,
and with still greater difficulty to squeeze her through it--her
bulk being much greater than his own. He then made a sort of running
noose, passed it over her body, and taking firmly hold of the
bars, prepared to guide her descent. But Bess could scarcely summon
resolution enough to hazard the experiment; and it was only on Jack's
urgent intreaties, and even threats, that she could be prevailed on
to trust herself to the frail tenure of the rope he had prepared. At
length, however, she threw herself off; and Jack carefully guiding
the rope she landed in safety.
[Illustration: 184]
The next moment he was by her side.
But the great point was still unaccomplished. They had escaped from
the New Prison, it is true; but the wall of Clerkenwell Bridewell,
by which that jail was formerly surrounded, and which was more than
twenty feet high, and protected by formidable and bristling _chevaux
de frise_, remained to be scaled. Jack, however, had an expedient
for mastering this difficulty. He ventured to the great gates, and
by inserting his gimblets into the wood at intervals, so as to form
points upon which he could rest his foot, he contrived, to ascend
them; and when at the top, having fastened a portion of his dress to
the spikes, he managed, not without considerable risk, to draw up
his female companion. Once over the iron spikes, Bess exhibited no
reluctance to be let down on the other side of the wall. Having seen
his mistress safe down, Jack instantly descended, leaving the best
part of his clothes, as a memorial of his flight, to the jailor.
And thus he effected his escape from the New Prison.