Three men saw their way out of an Arizona jail using a large spike in 1902. They made their escape hole next to a previous one made by several men who escaped.
I thought this was the stuff of childhood cartoons, but apparently people really did saw their way out of jail.
Three Men Broke Out of Jail Sunday Night
Early Sunday night three men sawed a hole in the south side of the city jail and escaped. Nothing has been seen or heard of them since.
The escape was not discovered until near midnight, and officers at once began a hunt for the men. No one could be found who was able to give any clue to their whereabouts.
A large spike was used to saw through a board wall four inches thick. It is said that three or four nights must have been spent in the work.
The hole is not more than twenty inches long and about ten wide. It was made alongside a hole through which several men got away some time ago.
Yesterday the plumbers bolted on a heavy piece of sheet iron to cover the opening.
None of those who got away are wanted for serious crimes. The man worst wanted was arrested by Officer Doyle on a charge of wife beating. The others were common drunks.
None of the escaped prisoners, if convicted on the charges made against them, would have received heavy fines. Should they be captured now their chance of getting a year at least in the county jail will be good.
“I am positive,” said an officer yesterday, “that it has taken several weeks to cut this hole in the wall, through which the men got out.
“Others who were in before those who escaped, put in a part of their time trying to cut the boards with nails.
“I saw the hole today, and it looks as if part of the cut was burned with a candle.”
Source: Bisbee daily review. (Bisbee, Ariz.), 06 May 1902.
