Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1871-05-05
Recapture of Barton.
ACCOUNT OF HIS ESCAPE.


nouncement that detective Squires had
reca ptured Barton, one of the alleged
Waterbury bank robbers. The Montpe-
lier Journal has interviewed Barton, and
has the following account of the escape
as given by Barton himself:
Barton gives thefollowing outline of
his adventures in the pursuit of liberty,
atterescaping fromjail. Heand McAvoy
first proceeded directly down Court street
thence across the first railroad bridge
below the depot to Montpelier Junction,
where they waited for about half an hour
for other escaped prisoners to join them,
but none coming up they proceeded ON
the track towards Northfield. Barton
says that while running down Court
street, after the alarm had been given,
he met man who hurridly inquired of
them where the fire was Barton replied
g. am sure l don't know, but have just
come out to find it. You go that way
and | will go this" This was the only
person they met that night. In crossing
the railroad bridge near the depot, Bar
ton fell through the stringers of the
bridge, but caught himself so that, with
the help of McAvoy, he was soon re-
leased, but not until he was somewhat
sore and bruised. Barton adds II cross
ed the rest of that bridge on my hands
and knees, and at any time during the
rest of the passage should gladly have
welcomed the sheriff or any body else
who would have taken me to place of
safety"
McAvoy it appears had previously
been employed upon the railroad, and
knew the whole route thoroughly, and to
him Barton ascribes his success in elud-
ing the officers and in finally succeeding
in making his escape.
They arrived at Mortified about twelve
o'clock on Monday night, where crossing
the foot bridge, they went through the
rail shops. and travelled about mile be-
yond Roxbury, and then went into barn
and staid until about four o'clock Tues
day afternoon. They then proceeded on
their route, and at two o'clock Wednes-
day morning, they had nearly reached
West Randolph.
Up to this time neither of them had
had mouthful to eat from thetime they
escaped, and Barton hal no hat or cap,
although it had showed very hard Mon
day night, and the weather was quite Sc
we're. just before reaching West Ran
dolph Barton tainted away, but was
finally recovered through the exertions
of McAvoy. They then went into a
neighboring barn, and McAvoy after
making as much of toilet as the exig-
encies of the case would permit went in
to West Randolph village and procured
some creckers and cap for Barton
They laid in this barn over Wednesday,
Barton improving this opportunity to ex-
tract the glass from his hand, which he
had got in while breaking the window
out of which he made his escape from
Jail. Wednesday night they proceeded
to about mile below Royalton where
they laid in shed, and Thursday night
they walked to White River Junction.
Friday morning about halfpast two
o'clock they took the night express train
and got off at Bellows Falls.
They first saw the bills offering re-
ward of FIVE hundred dollars for their re
capture at West Randolph, and at Bel
lows Falls they laid over one train for
the purpose of getting shaved For
some eason reason or other the barber
shop was not opened as early as usual
that morning, but as soon as it was open
ed they, apparently total strangers to
each other, went in. There was but one
barber in the shop, and Barton was first
shaved, the barber concluding Just in
season to allow him time to jump on to
the train, while McAvov waited, and SO
they we're separated. Barton proceeded
at once to New York, via. CIRCUITS Cor.
ner, Palmer and Springfield, and arriv.
ed home Friday evening without further
accident or incident.