The morning call., 1890-10-31
A TOUGH STORY.
Harvey 7. RugeIes' Great Career as
Western HOrse-Thief

Harvey =. Ruggles' Great Career n
Western Horse-Thief.
News comes from Weeping Willow, Ariz.,
of the death of Harney P. RuggleS. The
chances are that the reader will not recog-
nize the name, though its bearer perfected
one of the most ingenious inventions of the
age. Indeed, he would have died several
years ago had it not been for his invention.
Nothing ever more clearly heightened life.
In the first place, we should say that the late
Mr.. RuggleS was not particularly honest
man. Not to put any point on it at all,
Harvey z. Ruggles was horse-thief. He
followed the vocation from his eighteenth
year till the day Of his death, but it is
not to be concluded from this that his
taking off was one of violence, as he
died calmly of peritonitis Ten years ago.
when living in Deaf Smith County, Texas.
Mr.. Rugges was taken one night by the
efficient local Vigilance Committee and
hanged by the neck to mesquite tree.
The purifiers of Deaf Smith society then
rode rapidly away. Ruggles hung for some
few minutes, when the limb broke and he
fell to the ground in an insenSible condition,
He recovered. however. and made his eS-
cape, but the incident rendered him thought
full. He could not seem to forget it. Even
after the decorations made by the rope on
his neck had healed he would frequently
speak of it. The result was that for six
months he did not follow his profession, but
devoted the time to thought and study. But
little came of it, however, until he one day
read in Memphis paper of doctor insert
ing a silver tube in child'S throat for it to
breath through while suffering from diph-
liberia. Instantly great light rushed N on
the mind of Ruggles. He would have a silver
tube put in his throat below the rope zone
The next morning he was in San Antoni ,
where he gave doctor named Blake 500
tn q sill = 10 lnIn nj
When Hnrney p. Ruggles rode out of San
Antonio the next day all doubt had van
ished from his face and serenity and conf
dence were in its place.
Mr.. RuggleS now returned TO the scene of
his tormer triumphs, and again took up his
work with a vigOr which surprised both
friends and Vigilance Committe alike. He
stole horses right and left and sold them
openly in the nearest market. After two
weeks the committee again ook him in
charge The hung him to the cross-arm of
a telegraph pole, and, as he had escaped be-
fore, sat down and waited beguiling the
time with pleasant stories. When he had
hung thirty minutes they cut him
down. He got up from the ground, shook
hands all around, thanked them in few
brief but well-chosen words, got on the lead
er's horse and rode away. The committee
were dumfounded. They were powerless to
offer any resistance. They plucked up cour-
age, however, to make one more attempt a
week later. This time they allowed him to
hang all night. The only complaint that
Ruggles made when cut down in the morn
ing was that they had disturbed him before
he had finished his sleep.
From that time till he was taken i'll week
ago Ruggles' history has been one of con-
tnued prosperity. He operated all over
Western Texas. New Mexico and Arizona.
Over 100 different committees had him in
hand at different times. Their usual course
was to lynch him after supper and then
retire, the intention being to take him down
in the morning. RuggleS would help
himself down shortly after midnight,
secure few good horses and pass on
10 another community. A handsome full
beard always concealed the silver tube
and his secret was never discovered
by the committees. On one occasion the
Willing Workers Vigilance Committee of
Saints Rest, N. NJ, kept him suspendedItwo
days, but, though he suffered somewhat
from hunger, that was all. He accumulated
fortune during the last ten years and died
worth over half a million. Though we may
not honor our men of genius as we should,
the fact remains that if they are willing to
work they may be very successful in a
financial sense. Mr. Ruggles left son,
Frederick S., to carry on the business. This
son is already in San Antonio completing
the necessary preparations.-N. Y. Tribune