The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-20
4 NEW MEXICAN EPISODE.
Dave RudebnuRh's Ate n,pt TO Rescue His
Partner from Prison.

Partner from Prison.
ut was In 1879. the year the railroad came to
Las Vegas. that Dave Rudebaugh and a man
named Allen made their famous attempt to
rescue Dawes partner. Webb. from prison."
said the New Mexican In the office of the Fifth
Avenue Hotel last evening. For careful plan
ming and reckless execution l reckon there Is
nothing In the stories OF Jack sheppard or Dick
Turpin to beat II. Webb had killed somebody
In an irregular way, and was held for trial In
the old adobe Jail on the north side of the plaza,
with the prospect of a severe sentence By the
courts. II he wasn't taken out and hanged
meantime by the vigilan,es.
Dave Rudebaugh, as I remember him then.
was n handsome young follow, with soft black
eyes and smooth. pleasant voice. Beneath this
attractive exterior were nerves like steel, des-
peratc courage. and absolute unscrupulousness
in the taking OF any human lifo that stood be-
tween him and his purposes. Having decided
to try to get his partner out of prison, he set
about the business very systematically. Every
afternoon he came TO the Jail with delicacies
and newspapers for the prisoner, and. being al
lowed to talk with him throug. the grating Of
the cell, he gained II full knowledge of the inte-
rior Of the place and the time and manner Of
posting the guards. The Jail. modelled on the
plan " the Mexican c%alabozo, had a courtyard
in the centre, and the covered passage con-
Meeting IL Win the Street WIS ohrTcd uS u Rrdtcu
gate. In the courtyard were two arched cells
closed oy grated doors at one end. and in one of
these cells Webb vas confined. Armed officers.
prompt to shoot when occasion demanded.
guarded the jail.
"On the day set for the rescue an emissary Of
Rudebaugh's cane into liouGhton's store, on
the street leading from the plaza TO the open
PLAIN Oh the east, and houGht three Winchester
rifles and u large supply Of ammunition which
WAS packed in IL box. The box and rifles, at his
request. were placed near the door, the pur-
CHASER saying that he would call fer them later
In the day. In tile afternoon Rude baugh and
Allen drove up to the entrance OF the Jail In q
hack drawn By Il pair Of livery horses. and
asked permission to visit Webb. The one guard
Ga duty at the time, II Mexican named Pine. adj
mittcd them. No sooner were they in the jail
yard, out OF view from the street, than Rude
baugh and Allen drew revolvers and demanded
OF Pine that he release Webb from his cell. This
Pine refused to do. and Allen at once shot
him dead. The dcsperadoes seized his keys and
tried to find the one that lifted the lock OF
Wcbb's cell, but before they could do this the
citizens about the plaza, hearing the shot. had
begun to gather round the jail. Seeing that the
jig was up, rs far as rescuing his partner went,
RudcOaush Hung the bunch OF keys :nto Webb's
cell, and, with Allen, made a rush for the hack
and spraug into IL. Allen seized the reins and,
flashing the horses. they dashed across the
plaza. swung round tho corner ut Bridge street
the plains, and were beyond gunshot before the
people AT the plaza realized what had happened.
At iIouShton's store Allen pulled the horses up
short, kulchangh Jumped out OF the hack
and put aboard the rifles and AMMUNITION In
waiting there, and then the drsperadoes were
were out of town and well on. their way up the
mesa. on, the trail leading to the Peeos country.
before the news OF the attempted rescue OF
Webb and the killing or Pine became generally
known In the heart OF the town.
An unorganiZcd pursuit by cltizens was
begun al once, Every man and boy, who could
get u horse aud II lircnrm of any kind started as
quickly MS he coa!d nh the tran OF the outlaws;
until the impromptu posse numbered several
hundred. The foremost OF the ,pursuerS soon
came within rifle shot u the hack, and shooting
ut long range began on both sides. The running
fight continued through the remainder Of the
AFTERNOON without injury to either party. for,
p~eradocs. none Of the pursuers was DESTROYS at
ms mi poinh OF 1essen;ng TIE gap between him
them, escaped in the darkness, and an organized
pursuit by, The Sherlif's posse, though quickly
pecO= country, then practically a region beyond
tho pnle of ne law, and dominated by despera-
although tho pursuit OF them was not slackencd
for :, long time,
long light from. pursuit. was the death OF Allen
1t was told by Rudeheugh himself. To Allen,
and was sorcly afflicted with rheumatism. the
pain and discomfort from the exposure and
hRrd riding TO which he was forced berRme un-
bearab!e, ana he often entreated his companion
TO put an END TO his misery by shooting him.
One dny, as they were riding along together,
Rudc btugh took him Mt his word, and, putting
his pistol 70 Aliens head, bleH his brains ont.
lie buried him by H. e waysidc and rode on his
way unhampcred, with an extra horse to reward
his act Of friendship.
1t was soon after this occurrence that Rude
came the chosen friend and lieutenant OF that
torlni,dable youpg outlaw. 1t was in association
with him that he won his greatest notor!cty AS
a rObber and Desperate. and lie was one OF the
three companions OF Billy when sheriff Pat Gar.
a night In IN adobe house at ojo Hed!onda. and
took Them IN irons 70 Santa Ee, Both Billy and
Rad 'OauEh, at different times, made their
escape from prison after this capture,
and Hndcunugh continued his career OF out
lawry after his chief had fallen At Fort Sumner
before Slerin HarreEs pistol. When 1t became
too hot FOR Inn in New Mexico, lie won't across
the border mo Mexico and became the fore
maa 9! ~ tatt!e ranch Mt Parral In Chihuahua.
Here his acts OF ierocity 60 incensed tho people
,hat az last they as rose against him, OsteSdksd
head on . pole about tie town In triumphJT