The New York herald., 1871-02-12
THE LEAP FOR LIFE.
"Curly" Harris, q Notorious Philadelphia
Thief, Jumps from the Cars While Run
ming at Thirty Miles an Hour.
How He Played 1t on the Philadelphia
Chief OF Police and Three Detec-
tiyes-Still mt Large.
PHILADELPHIA. Feb. 10. 1871.

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 10, 1871.
Probably the q, ,eatest exhibition OF ''nerve" ever
witnessed in America was shown by one 'Curly"
Harris, q notorious rough and thief Of this city,
about two O'Clock this morning, in his escape from
General ST. Clair Mulhoiland ana three detectives,
on the Pennsylvania Central Railroad near the
station known as 'Bird in Hand,n a small place on
the line Of the above road. 1t VIII be remembered
that the HERALD published, about two months
since, account OF the conviction and sentence to
sixteen years. Imprisonment OF Jimmy Elliott ana
his pal for assault and battery on Hugh Dougherty
and shooting night Waterman. one OF the par
ties engaged in the assault was this same Harris.
but he has been at large since that time and made
out to evade all efforts to arrest him. The Bulletin
Of yesterday contained the following Item:-
A SHARP GAME FRUSTRATED.
Sn Ha s Sp saS es pn n%a
poughery with intent 70 Kill and with the larceny Of the
CURED q, tavern on Ninth street. above Chestnut in
aDs a s aa .o a"n
with completely in tha! crime. When Harris arrested
Ss lis 70 S'Ss Fox
hold him BY al until h.s sens an ne Mas
him In M and rsaSson upon which ,n to hold
SnS sSA Sssnas V"
trains this time before any officer from Pnladspha
the state of aairs
the sharp dodge Harris He sent Chief Muhoand
lar train and Altoona Then they got locomo
& nd w
speed towards their destination At the depot In Psbnrg
Chief Muhosnd and bis officer entered and thew reached
1ns n
corpus and remanded The prisoner to the custody OF the
This morning the city papers contained compliment
tary notices Of General Mulholanc's Zeal which
was of course very nice. and probably very hatter
ing to General Mulh0land for one viii deny
tnat the General manifested zeal in The perform
ance OF his duties that any one might well initiate;
but the "best laid plans of mice and men aft gang
aglee" and, the sequel win show this was one OF
the plans that Burns refers to-
the Pittsburg authorities Harris and his captors
started on their return trip to Philadelphia. Deec
uyes Gordon: M McGarty and McNrtt took alternate
for mind and body, ana 70 dream Of q
prisoner, while joyful population should
receive him with epen arms, and with their smiles
and IS the
credit would be the greater, as the best
efforts OF his hirelings have not, up to TINS
ton Bank robbers; neither has Reaklrt the
forger been by them induced TO put in an appear
ther chle have pega,nea M Wta saea pleasant
visions the Meeting hours were whIled away, and
nnally Uenerai Muhol!and awoke TO near Harris ask
McCarty to allow him to retire Tor a moment.
McCarty assented The Chief noticed that Harris
walked rather fast, and advised McCarty 10 look out
for him. IAN right, sir: I'll do It," sad McCarty,
and started after '.Curlyn y but, alas too late Hand
CURED as he was the desperate opened the Car door
and rushed out on the platform, and with the tram
rushing along at thirty miles an hour sprung TO the
ground, striking in the centre OF the up track
among the broken stone that is used for ballast on
this road. Mulholland pulled the bell cord, but the
tram had sped for mile before 1t stopped. The
conductor had the train backed up, but to no pur.
pose: instead OF q dead man mangled and crushed
TO pieces they found nothing out McCarty's hat,
which blew Off when he rushed TO the platform TO
stop Curly" Tney secured the adjacent country,
but 10 no purpose. Harris had disappeared
eectually as II he had been received into the bowels
OF the EARTH
Special policemen and the three detectives are
now engaged searching the neighbOrhOod. It does
not seem possible that Harris can go FAR with his
handouts on, and how he got of without injury Is
miracle. Incline to the opinion that he crawied In
under the car when the train backed up. and
slowed himself away on the truck and put his pur-
of the scent by riding TO the SUBURBS OF PhIa
dephia. Arrived at this place, the rest was easy