Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1876-08-18

CAPTURE OF IDAHO BILL,

Marshal stokes came into Beaver late
on last Sunday afternoon, with Idaho
Bill and Nat. Hanson as prisoners. The
Marshal got wind OF IDAHO last week. the
latter having passed through San Fran
cisco district on the old Phoebe and Salt
Lake stage road. This was sufficient in
formation; the Marshal OWNED at once
his plan OF operations, and taxing
Alma VIM. who had just surrender
ed
HIMSELF PRISONER,
struck out for Hansons ranch in the
western portion of this county, about l25
miles from Beaver. They arrived at
Hanson's Saturday evening just before
shutdown and from an emineDce on the
opposite side of the canyon from the
ranch. discovered Idaho Bill and o
number OF others lounging about the
premises. At the time they supposed
the crowd to be
NUMBER OF BILL 8 FRIENDS,
and calcu lated on a lively time. While
they were watching the crowd and try
ing to mature plan OF operations, Idaho
struck ont over the hill in an opposite
direction from where the Marshal and
his assistant were stationed. He re-
turned, however, in short time leading
horse and continued to travel
down the valley, passing near
enough to Stokes and VIM to
render his capture feasible. They
penetrated his purpose at once-he was
removing his horse to fresh grass, and
awaiting his return, rushed down the
hillside and nabbed him. They were
oil thn Marahal and W,,a
ing LETT their horses behind in order to
reconnoiter. Idaho knew them at first
glance. and on being ordered to surrend-
er, threw up his hands without return.
ing word.
The Marshal having warrant also
for Hanson, went to the house and find
ing the latter at home arrested him like
wise.
This was rather critical position for
an officer. Here he was with three 'pris-
oners, but he felt confident of Wiun's in
tegrity and the sequel has proven that
be had not mistaken him. Al. stuck to
the Marshal like little man and made
his appearance in Beaver assisting him
to bring in a couple OF his former con-
freres. Notwithstanding the public have
any amount of confidence in Marshal
Stokes, it created some establishment
when be rode into town with the three
prisoners, and everybody was anxious to
know how the thing had been epgi-
neered.
Bill says he had hard time OF it for
the first seven or eight days after getting
out of the penitentiary. he had on
iron shackles which completely hobbled
him. His first success was the securing
of horse on which he rode sidewise,
behind fellow prisoner. Being pur-
sued, they were compelled to desert the
horse and hide in bushes. At this time
he says he got sight OF Marshal Nelson.
who was in pursuit of him. He found
his limbs swelling and very painful, and
his only hope lay in his ability to break
off the letters. He finally succeeded in
getting into blacksmith shop and Sc
curing cold-chisel and hammer
Hobbling along to the railroad he laid
his irons on the railing and commenced
to cut away at the rivets. but speedily
desisted as noise was produced that
frightened him. He said it seemed to
him that the ringing sound could have
been heard to Salt Lake City. He soon
after found stone that answered his
purpose and the sbackles were thrown
aside in less than no time. His limbs,
however, were so sore that he could
scarcely walk. During all this time
(seven days) he had subsisted on little
bread and meager supply of carrots
and onions. He soon found loose
horse when the distance between him
and the state prison was doubled and
quadrupled in time that would have
astonished Gilmer Il Salisbury's stage
stock.
He was not expecting Stokes and ap-
pears more depressed than usual. He
pretends to believs that he will be &C.
quilted of the charges against him. and
says he would not have attempted an
escape II he had had decent quarters.
The room or cell was badly ventilated
and he did not like to jeopardize his
health.
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