The San Francisco call., 1897-08-20

legs protruding. He was crying, Please
don't hurt me, mister Il won't, my dear
boy, l said, and l picked him up and
started for the carriage. The others fired
their guns, and then getting no trace OF
the abductors we left the spot"
The rescuers started back to Albany at a
dead gallop. The kIdnapers mad recov-
cred from their panic, ceased their flight
and returned. They began shooting, but
the bullets flew wide. At the first tele-
phone station the carriage stopped and
the police were telephoned TO send all the
mounted men available TO hunt for the Kid
napers. a CORDS started on a special en-
CINE.
Father Morrissey of ST. Joseph's Church
had been notified OF the expectation OF re-
covering the child, and when 1t was
known the boy had been found the priest
had telephoned to the residence of the
Conways. They had no intimation OF the
work that had been going on during the
night to rescue the boy, and upon Father
Morrissey developed the happy duty OF
telling them the whole story.
The thousands gathered in the vicinity
of the Conway home made way for the
bearer of the tidings. When Father Nor
rissey entered the parlor he met the
mother of the child, and, clasping her
and, he said simply: MRS. Conway, lit
tie Johnny is safe" The mother stag
gered, sighed and then exclaimed: MY
God can this be true2" The father en-
tered the room at that moment. Father
Morrissey told him of the safe arrival OF the
boy. Conway sank into a chair and could
not utter word. Neighbors and relatives
gathered in the parlor and seemed to be
affected almost as deeply as were the
parents. There was silence for three
minutes, and then father and mother
broke down and embraced each other and
sobbed loudly.
The rescuing party reached the office OF
the newspaper that planned his recovery
at O clock. There more than 1000 anx-
ious men and women had congregated,
for the news that the boy would soon be
rescued had spread like wildfire. Com
missioner Phalen quickly lifted the boy
from the carriage and carried him on his
shoulder into the office, where the police
had made a passage. The boys hands
were grasped on all sides as he passed
through the crowd. and mighty cheer
arose as he passed into The building.
After short rest he was taken to police
headquarters, where his mother found
him.
Mamma, Pm so glad to see you," he
exclaimed as she caught him up in her
arms. They sobbed and laughed togeth er
in turns. Conway soon came in, and
there was another affecting meeting. The
boy had been away three nights. He
slept in Schoolhouse evidently the first
two mig hts and then was removed to an
other place. His legs, arms and head
were covered with mosquito bites, evi-
dence that one night he was exposed to
the air. In his trousers pocket several
pieces of peppermint candy had melted
into one chunk.
Did you like your home in the country,
Johnny ?" reporter asked.
mo, you can bet | didn't; cause there
were no boys nor girls around"
'What kind of bed did you sleep on 2'
II didn't sleep on any bed. l slept on
the floor. l guess they did not have any
beds out there. The men wrapped me up
in blanket and just only let my head
out"
He told his mother and father when
pressed for more detailed story that 8
man came up to him on the street Mon
day morning and asked him if he would
not like to take ride. The fellow said he
would get the boy pony if he would 20
along with him in the carriage. Johnnie
got in. He says the man covered him VI
with a blanket SO he had only his head
out. He said he went out into the couu-
try to a house, where he slept every night.
The men gave him candy, bananas and
cake, and he did not mind staying with the
men, because they said all the time they
were going to give him pony. At nigh
he cried and wanted his mamma, but the
men told him to keep still, as another
man was coming and would take him
back to his mamma. The boy says the
men dug I'D things out of the ground for
him to eat, and that his candies bananas
and sweets came out of a hole, which
shows the careful preparation the men
must have made in advance for the job.
John will be years old tomorrow.
1t is understood that after Hardy was
placed under arrest. he confessed that it
was decided that the boy was to be placed
on the Central tracks and ground TO pieces
by the express train last evening 1t is
supposed they weakened or postpone the
horrible crime. Just why the diabolical
plot was conceived is not yet clear. but it
is supposed that Hardy ana Blake were
hard pressed for money and conceived a
plan to get $4,000.
Both Blake and Hardy have shady repu-
tations. At one time to-day when the
crowd caught sight of the prisoner going
into the police station there were cries Of
Lynch him, lynch him." An extra
guard was placed in the station all day.