The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-04-10
waiting for good opportunity 70 slip
up stairs, as the trap door is nev& fas-

hour and this gave Ryan an opport unity
10 get upstairs and into the clothing
room where he donned a snit in which
ne could pass as an ordinary citizen.
Leading from the main corridor on the
LETT centre Is the dispensary which is also
used by the officers for n room In which
TO change their clothes and back of this
room Is bathroom leading from it.
Armstrong always changes his panta-
looms and puts on an old pair while
making his rounds, and just before max
ing his hnal round changes back again.
30 IL was at 2:45 o'clock this morning,
when he was making his usual
change OF clothing that the attack
was made upon him. He had
divested himself of his coat, vest and
trousers. and after laying his revolver
and KEYS dewn on the ledge la front OF
the medicine case. he seated himself on a
chair to put on his trousers.
suddenly Ryan sprang out from the
bathroom aud taking hold OF Arm
strong's wrist. raised a
Heavy Iron holt,
covered with cloth and demanded the
watchman's keys.
Not on your life; I'll die first." said
Armstrong.
Ryan brought the iron bolt down with
terrific force at Armstrong; head, but
he warded the blow with his arm and
Rrappled with his assailant.
Up TO this time Ryan supposed that
the watchman still had possession of the
Keys, aOd the struggle between the two
meh, who are both magnifcently built
was fearful In its intensity.
Suddenly Ryan caught sight of the
revolver and keys on the le ige and by a
desperate effort broke away from Arm
strong, VINO had not yet been able to rise
from the chair, aud secured them. He
then turn an ran for the door, firing
al the Waterman as he ran.
1he inner grated door is always open
at night and so offered no resistance.
Ryan reached the outer door, the one
leading TO she driveway, through which
Visitors are admitted, and inserted the
key.
Meanwhile Armstrong rushed to the
window, which opens into the prison
wing, aud called for help Night Watch
man John Collins heard HIM aud had
a so heard he shots.
lie quickly passed his revolver through
the wlndow, and Armstrong received it
just AS Ryan had got tue door opened.
Ryan sent a parting shot at Armstrong
which missed his head and struck the
biick wall just above him, aud rushed
out through the door.
Armstrong Fired
just as Ryan turned to 90 out, and fol-
lowed as fast as he could run. He fred
twice again. and each of the three bullets
hit the fleeing convict. He overlook
Ryan. and fired again as he turned to
erdpple with the officer, this time point
blank at the face, and so near that the
powder burned his lace.
The men began a struggle, the despe-
rate nature OF which can better be i'm
aQined than described.
al v.fo 4
seized that in the officers hand, wrench
ing IL so that when he pulled the trigger
the fourth time, with the pistol poin, ed
1t the convict's breast, 1t iailed To fire
and the struggle became hand to hand.
ARMSTRONG grippei his pistol and
using the butt or it as billy, he made a
pulp OF the top OF Ryan's head, and
lnally beating him nearly into inseusl-
b.lity he secured him just as help arrived.
The whole encounter had not occupied
more than two or three minutes and the
only reason help had not arrived sooner
was because bolts must be drawn aud
doors unlocked.
Ryan was covered with blood and Arm
undershirt and drawers were
soiled. for IL must be remem-
Lere that he was totally divested of out
side clothing.
Blood streaked tho Walks
where the encounter took place out OF
doors, standing in pools in several places.
The pistols we're Of thirty-two calibre,
and In spite Of the amount of lead that
had put into the man, he had
to exert all bis wonderful strength to
conquer his prisoner.
The first shot had struck in the seventh |
rib just above the heart and glancing
had embedded itself in the fleshy part OF |
the mans side, where IL could be dis
tinctly felt by the doctors finger.
The second bullet had struck the ton |
of he head, evidently as he was STOPPING |
10 dodge 1t, and was under the skin. The |
third fired at close range had penetr ated |
the fugitive's upper Jaw just above the |
incisors aud remained embedded in the |
bone.
DR.. George 4. Keene, the physician at
tie state institution, made an examina-
ton Of the prisoner and found that the
three bullets were still embedded in |
Ryan's body.
DIR. Keene extracted the bullet from
he skin on Ryan's head and would have
got the others had not Ryan asked him
TO wait till he felt a little stronger He
was somewhat weak from the loss of /
blood and the hammering Ee had re-
ceived.
None OF the wounds are dangerous
The bullet found on top of the head
was nearly as fit rs a sheet of paper,
having struck perfectly perpeudcularly |
aud fattened as II 1t struck AN iron wall |
The only injury that Armstrong sui
erred was when one of the bullets from
kyan's pls oil tore off the
Top Of the Forefinger
,f his right hand. Toe wound was
dressed, and after the excite ment had
subsided Armstrong went
% his room and laid down 10 get his
:, gular days rest rs il nothing had hap
,ened. La short time he was sleeping
'oundly.
Ryau's face aud head were bar daetd
iud he was made as comfortable as pos
Ible.
Warden Wall and Superintendent
eastman kindly accompanied the report
'rs to Ryan's cell where he sat up in bed
md conversed freely without apparent
fort.
Ryan claims that he got out of the
lark cell at : o'clock last evening, but
his does not look reasonable, as he could
ave IN de the attempt TO escape TO |
advantage sometime previously ami
would have had more OF a chaucs to get