Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-08-15
Sergeant II eiIly Tells ny W He Did Not
Bring Home Forser Bushnell.

Sergeant II eiily Tells ny WHe Did Not
Bring Home Forger Bushnell.
New YORK, August 14th.-Sergeant Phil.
Reilly's report of his unsuccessful trip
back from Chile to this city without Will
liam H. Bushnell, the thief and forger, to
get possession of whom he fought the
Chilean authorities nine months, was sub
mitted to the Police Board to-day.
The surrender, he says, was unwillingly
and grudgingly made by the Chilean au-
thorities-so much so that, being appre-
hensive of trouble, he called upon the
American Legation to demand of the Chill
can Minister some sort of document, stat
ing that Bushnell was prisoner, surren-
dered to him by process of law; but the
Minister refused TO give such 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
treachery. A receipt for the surrender was
demanded of Reilly, but nothing was given
him.
They were on board the steamer Impe-
rial, one of the largest South American
coasters. A great number of Bushnell's
friends were on board. They seemed to be
everywhere. and openly advised 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. That
while on board his ship he could go where
and do whatever he pleased. Every officer
of the ship was friend of the prisoners
TOO, and also at least one passeDger-one
Rickelman-whow was apparently there for
the express purpose of aiding Bushnell to
escape
Wherever 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 de-
mands that he should go with them, and
let the American detective go home alone.
At Taltal, the last stopping place before
Iqueque, 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, however, refused to accept the
offer. At Iqueque Ban, friends of Bush
nell also came on board. But next morn
ing there were more than a hundred of
them on board the vessel. Reilly obtained
from Mr.. Trulsbull, the American Consul
there, man to help him look after the
prisoner. Both of them kept sharp eve
oEer remained apparently inflexible 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 to closet at the stern of the vessel
on the middle deck.
Two minutes later, when sought, he was
missing.
thorough search was made of the
steamer, but he could not be found
There was. nothing left for the detective
but 10 proceed to the next port. From one
of the deck hands the detective learned
during the voyage that Bushnell had been
seen sliding down the stern of the steamer
on rope which had been conveniently
tied to the flagstaff by one of the ships
officers.
Under the overhanging stern was four
Dared boat waiting for him, and into which
he sprang.
Reilly had TO wait four days for the next
steamer back. When a chance offered it.
self he went on to Lima and saw the au.
thoriues, nut all hope of capturing the
prisoner under the circumstances was in
vain, and be turned back home empty
handed. Reilly says there was from the
first regular conspiracy to rescue the pris-
oner, and that the Captain and officers were
in the conspiracy. After the prisoner 8
escape passenger Rickelman demanded the
prisoners baggage. Reilly refused to sur
render it, but on the following day il was
surrendered by order of the Captain
Bushnell is now supposed to be in b.
ivia, with which country the United States
has no treaty.