The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-08-15
BUSHNELL'S ESCAPE.
Detective Phil Reilly Tells How 1t was Ac.
complished Through Conspiracy.

New YORK, Aug. 14.-Sergeant Phi
Reillys report of his unsuccessful triI
back from Chill to this city with William
H. Bushnell, the thief and forger, to gel
possession of whom he fought the Chiliar
authorities nine months, was submitted tt
thepolice board to-day. The surrender. he
says, was unwillingly and grudgingly made
by the Gillian authorities, so much so that
being apprehensive of trouble, he called
upon the American legation to demand OF
the Gillian authorities some sort of docu-
ment stating that Bushnell was the pris
oner surrendered to him by process of law,
| but the minister refused to give such a
paper as he requested. Bushnell was given
into his hands on July ID without scrap
of writing to show any authority for hold
ing him. This was the entering wedge of
| treachery. A receipt for the surrender
was demanded of Reilly, but nothing was
given him. They were on board the
steamer Imperial, one of the largest South
American coasters, A great number of
| BushnelFs friends were on board; they
seemed to be everywhere and made no
concealment of openly advising Bushnell to
escape. Reilly did not like the looks of
things and went to the captain of the
steamer with request for protection and
| assistance in holding his prisoner The
captain said fatty that he would not have
Bushnell considered prisoner or treated
as one for moment. The captain also in
formed the prisoner that while on board of
his ship he could go where and do what
ever he pleased. Every officer of the ship
was a friend of the prisoner and also at
least one passenger, one Rickelman, who
was apparently there for the express pur-
pose OF aiding Bushnell to escape. At every
point where the steamer stopped this man
received Geographic dispatches and con-
ferred aside with the prisoner; at every
port, too, Bushnell's friends came aboard
in droves. They seemed to fairly overrun
the country and were loud in their demands
that he should go with them and let the
American detective go home alone At Tattal
the last stopping place before Iquique the
governor of the province came on board
with others and added his opportunities to
Bushnell and extended the hospitality of
the province to the thief. Bushnell how
ever, refused to accept the offer At
Iquique friends of Bushnell came on board
at once. By the next morning there Were
more than a hundred of them on board the
vessel Reilly obtained from Mr. Troum-
bull the American consul there, a man to
help him look after the prisoner. Both of
them kept a sharp eye on the movements
of Bushnell. The prisoner remained ap-
III LIS TO
go to New York, and his friends were get
ting ready to leave the steamer. The yes
sci had weighed anchor and was about to
proceed when Bushnell went to the closet
at the stern of the vessel on the middle
deck and two minutes later when sought
he was gone. A thorough search was
made of the steamer, but he could not be
found. There was nothing left for the de-
tective to do but to proceed to the next
port.
EF'rom one of the deck hands the detective
learned that during the voyage that Bush
nell had been seen sliding down the stern
of the steamer on rope, conveniently tied
to the flag staff by one of the ships officers
Under the oVerhanging stern was four
cared boat waiting for him, into which he
sprang and was rowed ashore, while the
steamer proceeded on her way.
At the next port REILLY had to wait four
days for the next steamer back. When
a chance offered he went on to Lima and
saw the authorities, but all hope of captur-
ing the prisoner under the circumstances
was in vain, and he turned back home
empty handed.
Reilly says there was from the first a
regular conspiracy to rescue the prisoner,
and that the captain and officers were in
the conspiracy. After the prisoners es-
cape Passenger Rickelman demanded the
prisoners baggage. Reilly refused to sur
render it, but on the following day it was
surrendered by the captain.
Bushnell is now supposed to be in Bo-
livia, with which country the United States