We took advantage of the peals of thunder in a
storm that came over us in the afternoon to break one of the gun ports
on the lower deck, which was strongly barred with iron and bolts. * *
* When a peal of thunder roared we worked with all our might with the
axe and crow-bar against the bars and bolts. When the peals subsided
we ceased, without our blows being heard by the British, until another
peal commenced. We then went to work again, and so on, until our work
was completed to our liking. The bars and bolts, after we had knocked
them loose, were replaced so as not to draw the attention of our
British gentry if they should happen to visit the lower deck before
our departure. We also hung some old apparel over and around the
shattered gunport to conceal any marks.
"Being thus and otherwise prepared for our escape, the ship was
visited by our Captain Whipple the next day after we had broken the
gun-port. To him we communicated our intention and contemplated means
of escape. He strongly remonstrated against the design. We told him we
should start the ensuing evening. Captain Whipple answered:
"'How do you think of escaping?'
"I answered, 'By swimming to that point,' at the same time pointing to
a place then in our view on Long Island, in a northeasterly direction
from the prison ship. We must do this to avoid the sentinels who were
stationed in the neighborhood of the ship.
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