, 1884-05-18
SLIPPERY SLOWER.
A Horse Thief Taken From a
Roundup Party.
He Afterwards Escapes and SWims
the Platte,
But is Recaptured After His
Perilous Bath.

Some days ago Sheriff Bangs, of North
Platte, Neb., arrived in Cheyenne on the
trail of Imam named Bill Slower, who
was wanted at that place for the larceny
of a couple of horses. 1t was supposed
that he would be found somewhere in the
vicinity of Cheyenne and the officer came
armed with a requisition from the Governor
of Nebraska, to take him back to that
State in case he should succeed in finding
his customer. While here in Cheyenne,
with the assistance of Sheriff Sharpless
and Deputy Hosford, Bangs succeeded in
getting Il clue to the whereabouts of Sto-
yer, and governed himself accordingly.
1t was ascertained to a certainty almost,
that he had gone north and had joined
No. 81 roundup which separating in the
vicinity of Hat Greek, is the northern
part of the county. Bangs proceeded to
that section of the country. A few miles
from Hat Greek he stopped at a ranch to
get his dinner. 1t seems that the round
up was nearer at hand than he appre-
hended, for before he got through
with his dinner Stoyer, the very
man he was after, came in with
two cowboys, and also sat down at the
table. Bangs arrested him without any
difficulty, and started with him for Fort
Laramie. He had no trouble with him
until he reached the Government Farm.
where in the night Slower attempted to
slip out of bed and escape. He was de-
tected by Bangs who slept with him and
prevented from escaping. He was then
brought to Fort Laramie and confined in
the guard house over night. During the
night Slower in some way unobserved by
the guard, succeeded in getting hold of a
soldiers blouse and cap, and in the morn
ing. with these concealed under his coat,
obtained permission to get outside for a
short time to take the fresh air. MS
he expressed it. While outside, he
stepped into an old stable that was near
by and remained for a short time. No
thing particular was thought of it at the
time, but while in the stable Slower took
Of his coat and hat and in their stead put
on the blouse and cap. When he emerg-
ed from the stable it was not discovered
that he was the prisoner, and he was
taken for a soldier by those who saw him.
lie, therefore, got quite a start before the
alarm was given. Bangs and others at
once started in pursuit, some on foot and
some on horseback, and several shots were
fired, but without effect. Slower
made directly for the Platte river,
and when he reached the bank
to the establishment of all who saw him
he plunged into the cold and swift
running waters, and struck out for the
northern shore. His battle with the
waves was a terrible one, but he succeeded
in reaching the further side but in a very
exhausted condition. In the meantime
his pursuers had gone up the river and
crossed the bridge so that when he gained
the other bank but little difficulty was
encountered in effecting his recapture.
He was taken back to the guard house in
a very d~ilapidated condition and at once
placed5in irons and kept in that state
until Bangs was ready to start with him
for Cheyenne. He had no difficulty with
the slippery prisoner on his way down
and reached here early yesterday morning
where he was at once lodged in jail. Yes
terday forenoon at about II o'clock he
was brought out, taken to the train and
departed in the custody of Bangs for
North Platte. While standing in the
Court house door with his shackles on
watching for the conveyance to arrive to
take him to the train he remarked to
Deputy Hosford, well [ guess | shan't
be able to run very far this time" The
case against him is said to be a very
strong one, but however that may be he is
certainly a very slippery customer.