Somerville High School - Radiator Yearbook (Somerville, MA)

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THE SOMERVILLE RADIATOR 77 TLhc Convict Oi£» va treat», os ARLY in his life Erastus Rawley ac- quired the nickname, “Rat, which was doubly applicable, as it was not only a shortened form of his given name, but was a word that summed up in three letters all his characteris- tics. You have no doubt heard some person spoken of as an “old rat, and Rawley was an old rat, save for the fact that he was only about twenty- eight years old. He was born in Scotland of parents who were good people, who attempted to train their child in the way he should go. But when he was about seventeen years old he departed from them, and took passage as a deck-hand on an out-bound vessel. Rat fell in with an evil crew, and particu- larly one fiendish sailor, who was his clever teacher in the wielding of the dagger and who instilled in his heart a craving for blood. Let it suffice to say that while a boy Rat committed murder, but like a lion who has once tasted human blood his passions were not satisfied but urged him on to further crime. He cleverly escaped detection, and had hardly come from his concealment when he temporarily appeased his thirst for crime by striking down a defenseless man. He dodged arrest once more, and for eleven long, hideous years he wan- dered about the world, now into crime, then into hiding, last into prison. This sort of life is not conducive to physical or moral perfection and Rat in prison was not a pleasant object. His eyes had a cold, wild gleam that made one shudder when they were turned upon him. His checks were emaciated and pale. His head was prematurely bald, and his hands shook and twisted nervously. Such was the pitiful condition of Rat when he started to serve a twcnty-fivc-ycars’ term of impris- onment in the Arkansas state penitentiary at Little Rock. As he showed no great eagerness to en- gage in any one trade, he was put to work in the brushmakers’ shop, where his slender fingers be- came quickly dexterous in sewing in the bristles. He worked industriously for six or seven monoto- nous years, when for some breach of the prison regulations, he was sentenced by the warden to three days' solitary confinement. While he had been at work Rat had had little or no time to think of his previous history, or to plan for his future career, but when he was alone in his dark cell strange thoughts came back to him. The agonized faces of his victims seemed to keep staring at him out of the darkness. He tried to sleep, but shameful deeds perpetrated years before came to his mind as though they had happened yesterday. In the darkness he could not see the cup of water that was given him, and, in his diseased imagina- tion, he fancied that the cup was full of blood and he would not touch it.- On the third morning his fears in a measure left him, and he began to plan how he might have re- venge upon the warden, who had unwittingly been the cause of his disturbed peace of mind. As the warden did not live at the prison, and was rarely seen by its inmates, Rat perceived immediately that he must effect his escape from prison before he could get at him. And thus began his plottings and cogitations as to the best means of escape and then glorious revenge! Rat worked on with the brushmakers for s:x months, when having fully decided upon his plans, he asked the warden if he could change his occupa- tion and work in the stables. The unsuspecting warden was only too glad to grant the request of one who had worked faithfully during his confine- ment. and thereupon Rat began his short term of dutv as stableman. It might here be well to give a brief description of the interior of the prison. The brick buildings were all built around an oval courtyard, at the northern end of which were the offices, and next 4c these, toward the west, were the buildings, extend- ing half way down the southern side of the yard, which contained the cells. Then came the engine room and the workshops on the southern bend, ad- joining which was the chapel. Further on was the prison stable, where Rat daily curried the prison horses: namely, a sorrel colt and a white mare. Lastly came the hospital, next to the big carriage entrance, where the old white-bearded prison doc- tor treated his patients. 'Hie doctor was a precise man, who believed in doing everything bv habit, and just the way it had been done for years, so when lie had finished his outside practice, at ex- actly thirtv minutes after four cverv afternoon, his horse, a fiery animal, which he had driven for ten vears, and buggy, also a victim of a decade's hard usage, could have been seen coming into the prison yard and around to the stable. Here his horse was tied to the identical post that he had gnawed for ten years, and in the carriage were carefully laid' his black coat and felt hat. both of which he had worn since lie had begun to practice. These duties per- formed. lie proceeded to the hospital, where he quickly examined the patients, made a suggestion heie, wrote a prescription there, held a short con- sultation with the matron, and was in his buggy driving out oi the yard beforeone could hardly real- ize that he had been there. Rat worked on day by day performing his tasks as stableman in such a creditable manner that one would hardly have guessed that his mind was full of his plSns for escape. But had anyone watched him closely he would have seen that every morn- ing, while he was rubbing down the white mare. Rat pulled a hair or two from her flowing, white tail and mane, rolled them up. and put them into his ear by way of concealment. Every day this happened; every day Rat pulled out a few white hairs, concealed them in his car.

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76 THE SOMERVILLE RADIATOR if he would tow his vessel outside this afternoon. ‘‘This afternoon.” repeated Leangle, amazed at such audacity. Then he broke into a loud guffaw at the preposterous request. “But ' said the cap- tain, very much annoyed, but resolved to keep his suavity, I will make it worth your while.” The greedy eyes of the Spaniard glistened. “Mow much will you give me?” he said. Fifty dollars,” said the captain. “Xot by a long shot,” said the Spaniard. Fifty-five.” “Xo.” Sixtv.” Still the Spaniard shook his head. Captain Rich turned on his heel as if to go out. But the Spaniard said surlily, I’ll do it.” Then the captain added: “Re- member. you must tow me across the bar.” It was as bad for the outward bound vessels as for those going in the opposite direction. Leangle would take them as far as the harbor bar. and there leave them in the rough water, where the heavilv- laden vessels would roll and toss and strain for hours, till finally they would scrape over the bar somehow and get into smooth water. Even the most hardened sailors would become seasick after hours of such violent motion. Captain Rich had this fact in mind when he made the last provision. Before sundown he was standing off the mouth of the river and soon his ship was but a speck on the horizon. The night was a beautiful moonlight one, and the captain lingered on deck, enjoying the scene, and feeling its softening effect on his thoughts, lie had never had a better trip. Al- though he was nearly thirty-five, he was going to be married in a month, and consequently it meant a great deal to his prosperity that he should be able to serve his employers in their hour of need. Just before he turned in. he passed an auxiliary yacht, that is. one with both sails and a motor attachment. He thought nothing about it. little knowing that the whole course of affairs at Jacksonville was to be changed by that same yacht. 'I'he next morning Leangle was somewhat sur- prised to see a yacht sailing along in a manner showing that some accident had happened to the motor. Soon a launch came ashore, and the mate in charge said that one of the blades of the propel- ler had been broken, and the owner, who was aboard cruising in southern waters, wished to put into Jacksonville for repairs. Leangle refused to tow her in unless the yacht was considered as sal- vage. which meant that the owner must pay what she was worth, just as if she were a helpless wreck and he were rescuing her from certain destruction. Leangle was deaf to all remonstrances, as was his habit, and finally the owner, Mr. Drexell, a wealthy Philadelphian, was compelled to accede to his mon- strous demand. One morning a week later, Leangle was as- tounded to sec a fine, large, first-class New York tug lying inside the harbor. But that was nothing compared to his speechless amazement when a sis- ter tug came towing a vessel up the river, a ship which had been waiting at anchor ever since the previous morning. He was of course much dis- turbed. but he was more so when, as the day pro- gressed, the tugs towed the vessels in as fast as they arrived. Finally, when the Spaniard could stand it no longer, he put his dignity and self-impor- tance. which had been accumulating for ten years, in his pocket and went out to interview the captain of one of them. The captain had been carefully instructed what to sav. “Do you remember a certain Mr. Drexell, and the unheard-of demand you made of him just because you had a dead open-and-shut on him?” he asked Leangle. Yes,” said the Spaniard, a light breaking on his mental horizon. “Well, Mr. Drexell is a man with plenty of money who, as he goes about in his travels, incidentally looks for peo- ple like you. who think they are monarch of all they survey, and he always teaches them a lesson they never forget. He has chartered these tugs, and told Captain Gray, of the other, and myself to tow all vessels up the river. We are to charge the reg- ular price, forty dollars, if we can get it, but we are to take anything, or even do it for nothing rather than let you get the work.” Ruin stared Leangle in the face. More than that, instead of getting sympathy for his misfortune, everyone rejoiced that the tables were turned, and did not hesitate to show it. The vessels went to the new tugs from choice. The Spaniard often found himself going forty miles and more up the coast to catch the vessels coining down. Finally, after struggling for a couple of weeks, Leangie took time and money to go to I'hiladclphia to en- treat Mr. Drexell to withdraw the tugs. Mr. Drexell received him with a smile. Leangle stated what he wished in a manner so different from that which he had used to the same man a month before that it was impossible to recognize it as proceeding from the same source. Well,” said Mr. Drexell, “as a righter of wrongs, I cer- tainly am a great success. Xow. Mr. Leangle, the terms on which I withdraw the tugs are as follows: You must pay back to me what I gave to you when you unjustly demanded salvage, pay what 1 have paid for the service of the tugs, and promise to act decently in the future, for I shall keep my eyes on you.” And how much will that be?” said Leangle with a sinking heart. 'I'he millionaire named a sum which was so large that it took the other’s breath away. But every cent I have in the world docs not amount to half of that,” said he. “Well, you can pay what you have, and I will take a mortgage on your tug and the rest of your property for the balance.” Leangle reflected for a moment. There was plainly no way out of the difficulty except to accept Mr. Drexell’s terms. There was no chance for a lawsuit, for anyone might compete with him for the towing. I will do it.” he said quietly, although the beads of perspiration were standing out on his face. Meantime. Captain Rich was sailing northward as fast as possible. About five o’clock one morn- [ Continued on pjige 87.)

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■7» THE SOMERVILLE RADIATOR and later in the—ha!—that is the question! what did he do with them? He certainly did something hut not until he had patiently collected many, many hairs. Then at last came the day notable in our story; and even on that day the routine duties were performed as they had been performed on the pre- vious days. Rat worked as he had worked for three vears; dinner was served as it was habitually served; the afternoon wore away in the mysterious fashion that all afternoons wear away: the doctor came punctually at his appointed time, tied his horse to the accustomed post, laid his coat and hat in their usual place and entered the hospital. As soon as he had stepped inside, a fireman from the engine room dashed across the yard and breath- lessly announced that the engineer had been scalded. Thereupon, quite contrary to his habitual course of procedure, he followed the fireman back to the engine room, and as he entered we see the last of him. Thus, by the conspiracy of the hates, on the very afternoon when Rat had planned to escape, the doctor instead of being in the hospital, where he could easily have heard his horse go out, was in the engine room on the other side of the yard, and moreover was so wrapped up in his work that he could not hear his departing horse. It was by this time quite dark, and as it had be- gun to rain, it was net difficult for Rat to skulk over to the other side of the yard unobserved. So dressed in the doctor’s coat and hat with the care- fully collected hair, which it had been the work of weeks to arrange to imitate the doctor’s beard, he went as near to the door of the engine room as he dared, then turning about, he walked boldly across the yard, got into the carriage, and started out. Through the dim light he saw the unsuspecting guard salute as he opened the gate, and as Rat drove out and whipped his horse into a swift pace, he enjoyed a hearty laugh. He rode south for half an hour until he thought that he was, according to a fellow-prisoner’s direc- tions. in the vicinity of the warden’s house. Rat stopped his horse and from a passing boy learned the exact whereabouts of the house, which lie had very nearly reached when he passed the lanky fig- ure of the warden also going that way. He hur- ried his horse, and was already at the house, stand- ing on the sidewalk when the warden came up. Rat itad the carriage whip in his hand and held it so that he could use the handle as a club, which he did in a few seconds with very good effect. With two mighty blows the prison-keeper was stunned and his limp form fell into his assaulter’s open arms. Rat quickly manipulated his carefully prepared gag. and tying the man's hands securely together, he lay him in the bottom of the buggy and drove off. He was still driving at eleven o'clock, but in a few minutes he caught sight of the brewery to which he was bound. This brewery was situated on the shores of the Arkansas river, where ships from the Gulf of Mexico coming up the Missis- sippi could unload. Beside the main brewery was large cooperage, and many thousands of barrels of all sizes could be seen in its yard. Toward these barrels Rat drove, and when lie had succeeded in stealing one he put it into the buggy and turned his horse down the river road to find a spot where he could complete his revengeful schemes unmo- lested. He stopped after a few minutes under a bluff, and tied his horse. Then, laying aside his dis- guise, he was prepared to finish his work. He pounded off the head of the barrel, which was about six feet tall and made of heavy wood so that it was water tight. Then the unconscious warden was carried to the river. Rat appropriated his revolver and then stood him up in the barrel. He stepped back a few paces, and as he observed the warden’s look of returning consciousness, he thought that it would be only expedient to tell the prisoner why lie was being punished. Boss,” he explained, I don’t blame you for not understanding all this. But it’s just this way: When you put me in that dark hole you can't dream how I suffered there. But since you was the vil- lain as put me in there, sayst, you’re the man to pay back. 1 can't bother to tell you how I escaped, but you'll find out when you get where they know everything and everything is known. I’ll bet these white boss hairs that when I sec you again you’ll wish you’d never hear tell of a dark cell. But I must go now. so remember me as your old friend— ha! ha!—Rat Rawley.” lie bowed and immediately began to replace the barrel-head, and when it was securely fastened he turned the barrel on its side and rolled it into the river. This done, he detached the carriage, mounted the unburdened horse, and was off in es- cape. Three months after the deeds related in the first of this narrative the ship on which Rat was em- barked ran into a hurricane. The vessel was bound from New Orleans to Liverpool, and it was just about to sail around the numerous islands that ex- tend out from the shores of Florida when the hurri- can overtook it. The schooner was driven on to the coral reefs known as Tortugas Reefs, and there was pounded to pieces. Rat, and in fact all on board, were tossed into the sea. He was doing his best to keep afloat when a large hogshead appeared in front of him. lie made several attempts to straddle it. and finally succeeded. Then on this as a life-raft he floated at last to the island from which the reef receives its name. When the storm and its attendant darkness had cleared away, Rat was seized with a curiosity to as- certain the contents of the barrel, and after much labor he managed to break through four staves. But, as these did not let in light enough, he tore out four more and eagerly peered into the aperture. His gaze lasted but a moment, a brief second Rat. the hardened sinner, did what he had not done since he was an innocent little boy—he wept. Truth is stranger than fiction; for in that [ Continued on page 80.]