I I - American Memory

[54]
in the Morning when the Keepers came for the five
Malefaftors who were to die that Day, they could not
get in till about Two o'Clock in the Afternoon, and
then the Prifoners themfelves removed the Stones from
the Door.
This Attempt was judged to be Burivworth''s, and he
was removed into another Apartment called the Bilboa
Room, afid additional Irons were claped upon him.
While he was here he procured Files, Saws, iSc.
with which he faw'd off his Irons, and then broke
thro' the Wall of the Bilboa Room into the Women's
Apartment, and with his Saws fell to work upon the
Iron Bars, in the Windows of which there are three tire
one within another, the firft of which he foon cut quite
out, and was working upon the others, when one of the
Women difcovered his Attempt, upon which he was
taken from his Work, brought back to the Condemned-
Hold, and there chained down to the Floor, where we
jhall leave him whilft vye make fome little Enquiry
after his Companions.
William Bleni-itt was born in the Parifli of St. Gileses
Crifplegate, his Father was a Porter, and his Mother
fold Herbs, i^c. in the faid Parifh, where flie is yet
living. His Parents was in very mean Circumllances,
and he (at the Charge of the Parifli) was bound an
Apprentice to a Perfumer of Gloves; but he foon be-
came acquainted with a Crew of profligate Wretches,
by whofe Advice he ran into all Extreams of Wicke^l-
nefs, as picking Pockets, Shoplifting, l^c. which he
prafticed fuccelsfully for many Years, till about two
Years fince he happened to be catch'd in the Faft,
was fent to Neivgate, and convifted for Tranfportation,
when with divers others of the fame Profeffion, both
Males and Females, he was fhip'd off for the Planta-
tions ; but a Defign having been form'd by the other
Criminals to make their Efcapes (to which Purpofe
their Friends had fupplied them with Saws, Files, i^c.
which were concealed in Cakes of Gingerbread) he be-
ing admitted into the Secret, refolv'd to purchafe his
own