Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-12-07

on. He was not unwilling while my
captors held me firmly exposed to his
assault. Another second would have
ended my life, when woman spectator,
who stood near nursing child, threw
her arms around him. This, joined to
my indifference, for I continued my
jeers and taunts, changed his purpose,
to my disappointment, for l preferred
death to going back to Havana.
Ten days after sailed once more into
Havana, this time a prisoner. Two
days after my capture, by order of the
captain general Of Cuba, I was put ON
BOARD the little gunboat Santa Rita, q
wretched little tub that steamed four
miles an hour and took eight days going
from Puerto Novo on the south to Ha-
vana
was taken by guard of soldiers to
ihe common prison, where an entire
corridor was cleared of its inmates to
make room for me and my guards Cap
tain Pinkerton was the first man to call.
He of course was delighted to see me.
While giving me credit for nv escape,
he told me he did not purpose to have
me leave him again, and, having per-
mission from the authorities, he or some
Of his men intended to keep me COM
pany night and day. OF course re-
:pected Curtin for his honest determine
ton to do his duty. He really was an
altogether good fellow and showed me
all possible courtesy and consideration.
In fact, on his first visit he brought me
letter from my wife along with box
of cigars and q bottle of wine ON his
own account.
One of his men, of the name of Perry,
used to sleep in my little room with me,
and every morning Curtin would relieve
him, remaining until dinner time. We
had many long talks on all sorts of SUBJ
jects. and he gave me many inside his
tories of famous criminal cases which
he had been engaged i'll. In time we be-
came very good friends, and am happy
to state that Captain John Curtin is to-
day we'll and hearty, a prosperous man
and very generally respected by the citi
zens of San Francisco, where he lives
About ten days after my arrival he
brought me a New York Herald con-
tanning these dispatches:
Especial to New York Herald
MADRID, April II. 1873.
The American ambassador, General Sickles,
has formally notified Senior CASTELAR, that the
American government will consent to the sur
render to the British government of Austin
Bidwell, now under arrest in Havana upon
charge of being concerned i'll the Bank of Eng
land forgery.
Especial to New Yorl; Herald
LONDON, April II, 1873
To the great qualification of the authorities
here official niirmation is given to the ru-
NOR that the Spanish government has con-
cluded to grant the extradition of Austin Bid
well, now under arrest in Havana. There
seems to be no doubt that Bidwell is the mys.
FERROUS Frederick Albert Warren, and there is
very general curiosity to see him. Many
conflicting stories have been published of his
extraordinary escape and equally extraor.
binary capture. The Times report had it that
he was mortally wounded and that he had on
his person when captured diamonds TO an
enormous value, which had disappeared soon
after Sergeants Hayden and Green of the
Bow street force and Mr.. Good of the Bank of
England sail ON the Java tomorrow to escort
Bidwcn to London.
So the web was closing in on me. Of
my daily sad interviews with my wife
l will say nothing here. In due time
Green, Hayden and Good arrived and
were introduced tome. did not give
in, but made, by the aid of my friends,
a hard fight to persuade the captain gen.
eral to suspend the order for my deliv-
cry and succeeded for time.
At last, after many delays and many
plans, early one May morning I was
taken to the mouth of the harbor. There
the boat Of the English warship Vul-
ture was in waiting, and was formally
transferred to the English government,
and Pinkerton, Curtin, Perry, Hayden
and Green went Oh board with me-
Soon after she steamed out of the har-
Dor. Later in the day the Moselle, the
regular passenger steamer to Plymouth
and southampton, came ont, and about
ten miles out at sea was met by the Vul-
lures boat, and and my five guardians
We're transferred to her.
At last was off for England, and it
looked very much as if justice would
weigh me in her balance after all, the
more certainly because found my wife
on the Moselle. I had secretly resolved
never to be taken back, but intended the
first night out Of Havana to jump over
board, possibly with cork jacket or
something to help keep me afioat. The
waters of the gulf were warm, there
were many passing ships, and I would
take my chance of surviving the night
and being picked up. But very cleverly
Curtin decided to send my wife with
me and treat me like any other cabin
passenger, rightly divining 7 would not
kill her by committing suicide or going
over the side ON chances.
/ was well treated all the way over,
but every night my prayer was that we
might run on an iceberg or go down, SO
that my wife might be spared long
years of agony, and the misery and
degradation of prison life.
I had obtained position in Havana
for one OF my servants, but Mum was
returning with me, feeling very bad
and most unhappy over the sure pros
pect OF my future misery. was pleased
to think he had held ON to the money I
had given him. Altogether he was quite
81, 900 ahead, and / wanted to make it
$1,000. He certainly deserved it for his
constancy and affection