While visiting the prison we heard a number of anecdotes about the convicts.  Notwithstanding all the vigilance of the warders and guards, several have contrived to make their escape.  On a dark night, during exceedingly thick weather, a daring fellow managed to scale the walls and drop down outside unperceived.  He at once made his way to the shore, where he in vain searched for a boat.  Being no sailor, had he found one, he would have been unable to manage her.  He knew that should he attempt to make his way overland he would, to a certainty, be re-taken.  Finding a piece of wreck, with some broken oars, and other drift-wood, and a coil of rope, he contrived to put together a raft, on which seating himself, he shoved off, expecting to be picked up by some passing vessel.  Instead of this, he was--fortunately for himself-- discovered by the active coastguardmen, and brought back to prison.  Had he succeeded in getting to a distance, in all probability he would have been drowned or starved to death.