Man Is First to Escape From Prison Barge

LEAD: A man accused of burglary became the first inmate to escape from New York City's prison barge when he crawled to freedom in April 1988 through an air-conditioner opening behind the barge's kitchen, city corrections officials said.

A man accused of burglary became the first inmate to escape from New York City's prison barge when he crawled to freedom yesterday through an air-conditioner opening behind the barge's kitchen, city corrections officials said.

The inmate, identified as Paul Buttafuoco, 23 years old, of 204 East Seventh Avenue in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn, was discovered missing from his work detail in the barge's mess hall at 6:30 P.M. yesterday, according to a city corrections spokeswoman, Ruby Ryles.

''Our initial investigation indicates that he escaped through a partial opening that was made in preparation for the installation of an air-conditioner behind the kitchen,'' Ms. Ryles said.

Mr. Buttafuoco, who was awaiting trial on a charge of third-degree burglary, was first imprisoned in the city correctional system on April 9 and had been transferred to the prison barge, which was opened in mid-March, on April 27, Ms. Ryles said.

A total of 191 inmates are currently housed on the barge, a minimum-security jail docked at Pier 36 on the East River near South Street in Manhattan, she said.

Based on the NYTimes article