Once fairly away, Vincent had no fear whatever of being detected, and could travel where he liked, for outside the prison there were not ten people who knew his face throughout the Northern States.

It would be difficult for him to make his way down into Virginia from the North, as the whole line of frontier there was occupied by troops, and patrols were on the watch night and day to prevent persons from going through the lines.

He therefore determined to go west to St.Louis, and from there work his way down through Missouri.

After two days' railway traveling they reached St.
Louis, a city having a large trade with the South, and containing many sympathizers with the Confederate cause.

Vincent, having now no fear of detection, went at once to an hotel, and taking up a newspaper, one of the first paragraphs that met his eye was headed: "ESCAPE OF THREE CONFEDERATE OFFICERS FROM ELMIRA.
"Great excitement was caused on Wednesday at Elmira by the discovery that three Confederate officers had, during the night, effected their escape from prison.