Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-08-15
HOW HE LOST HIS MAN.
Detective Reilly's Report on
His Trip to Chill.
HOW BUSHNELL MADE HIS ESCAPE
Friends of the Prisoner Swarm the
Ship and Spirit Him
Away.

Associated Press dispatches 10 the HERALD
New YORK, August 14.-Sergeant Phil
Reilly's report of his unsuccessful trip
back from Chill to this city with William
H. Bushnell, thief and forger, to get pos
session of whom he fought the Cbilian
authorities nine months, was eubmitted
to the Police Board today. The surren-
der, he says, was unwillingly ard grudg-
ingly made by the Chilian authorities, SO
much 30 that, apprehensive Of trouble,
he called upon the American legation
to demand of the Chilian Minister some
sort of document stating that Bushnell
was prisoner 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 18th, without scrap of writing to
show any authority for holding him.
This was the entering wedge of treach-
cry. A receipt for his surrender was de-
manded of Reilly, but nothing was given
him.
They were on board the steamer I'm
perial, one of the largest South American
coasters. A great number of Bushnell's
friends were on board. They seemed to
be everywhere, and made no conceal.
ment of openly advieing 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 f1sly that he would not
have Bushnell considered prisoner
/. that while on board his ship he could go
where and do whatever he pleased.
Every officer OF the ship was friend oi
the prisoner, too, and also at least one
passenger, one RicKelman, who was ap-
parently there for the express purpose oi
aiding Bushnell to escape.
AT every port where the steamer
stopped this man received telegrapbi(
dispatch and conferred eside with the
prisoner. At every point, too, Bushnell'f
friends came aboard in droves. They
seemed to fairly overIun the country
and were loud in their demands that he
should go with them, and let the Ameri
can detective go home alone.
At Taltal, the last stopping place before
Iquque, the Governor Of the province
came on board, with others, and added
his opportunities to Bushnell, ard ex
tended the inequalities of the province
to the thief. Bushnell, however, refused
to accept the offer.
At Iquque bay the friends of Bushnell
came on board at once. BY the next
morning there was more than one hun
dred of them on board the vessel
Reilly obtained from Mr.. Trumbull, the
him look after the prisoner. Both Of
4 har 10, ohar ha re
of Bushnell. The prisoner remained ap'
parently infexible in his determination
to come to New York, and his friends
were getting ready to leave the steamer.
The vessel had weighed anchor and was
about to proceed when Bushnell went tc
a closet at the stern of the yes.
sci on the middle deck. Two
minutes later, when sought he was
missing. A thorough search was made
of the steamer, but he could not be
found. There was nothing left for the
dete ctive but to proceed to the next port.
From one Of the deck hands the detec.
tive learned during the voyage that
Bushnell had been seen sliding down the
stern OF the steamer on rope conven-
iently tied to the flagstaff by one of the
ships officers. Under the overhang oi
|
for him, into which he sprang and was
rowed ashore, while the steamer pro.
J ceeded on her way.
At the next port Reilly had to wait
four days for the next steamer back
When chance offered he went on te
Lima and saw the authorities, but al
hope of capturing the prisoner under the
circumstances was in vain, and he
turned back home empty handed.
Reilly says there was from the first 6
regular conspiracy to rescue the prisoner
and that the Captain and officers were in
the conspiracy. After the prisoner
escape passenger Rickelman demanded
the prisoners baggage. Reilly refused
to surrender it, but on the following day
it was surrendered by order of the Cap
tain.
/ Bushnell is now supposed to be il
Bolivia, with which country the United
States has no treaty.