The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-27

DENVER, Jan. ga special to the News
from Canyon City, Col. says Thomas Rey-
nolds, the convict who. with three others.
| escaped from the penitentiary after mur-
dering Night Capt. VIM. c. Rooney. was
captured tonight near Florence and
brought to Canyon City in a wagon, where
he was taken from the officers by mob
and hanged to telegraph pole.
How the Capture Was Made.
Night Captain of Police Connor, at Flor
ence, assisted by Policeman Powell. made
the capture on the bridge Of the Florence
& Cripple Creek railroad. near Florence.
When word was sent to Canyon City Of the
capture special train with seven guards
and bloodhound was dispatched to the
scene. In the meantime Capt. Connor had
started overland with Reynolds.
Taken From His Guards.
Immediately on receipt of the news at
Canyon City the firebells began to ring and
the town was out en- masse.
II was just 10:45 when the carriage car
rying the bound form of the murderer
crossed the First street bridge under
guard of four armed men. AS the car
riage passed beneath the electric light at
the center of the bridge dark forms
emerged from the darkness at either end.
closing in rapidly and silently. Before the
guard comprehended what was intended
they were overpowered and disarmed. Not
q sound broke the stiffness. There were
several hundred men in the crowd. but
apparently not one had weapon.
Brought to . Telegraph Pole.
/ The doomed man was dragged from the
vehicle and had. no more Than struck the
ground when a moose was SLIPPED around
his neck and he was led to the nearest
telephone pole. man climbed the pole
and. throwing the rope over the cross
arm, shouted: Pull away
Went Up without a Murmur.
Immediately the moose frightened under
the chin of the convict. Before he was lift
ed from his feet an opportunity was given
him to make statement He made no
offer to speak and the signal was given
and Reynolds was jerked into eternity.
He was game to the last He went into the
air without a anurmur.
1t was then that shout broke from the
mob. When Reynolds was being bound in
Florence it is said he asked the guard to
put a bullet through him before turning
him over to the citizens of Canyon City.
Warden Herit Was Helpless.
Warden Herit was helpless. He had sent
his best men to Florence retaining only
enough at the prison to guard 1t here. Ex-
pecting Reynolds to be brought in on the
special train in charge of Deputy Warden
Sargent, he had stationed extra guards at
the depot to render aid in case an attempt
was made to take the prisoner. All the
guards he could have mustered, however,
would have been powerless against the
mob of determined men, Ut is stated that
Wagner, another escaped convict, was with
Reynolds when he was first discovered, but
he escaped.
How. the COnvicts Escaped.
Reynolds and Wagner, with Antoine Wood
and kid Wallace, made their escape from
the penitentiary last Monday night. Elab-
delivery of the prisoners, but it was frus-
trated by the action of one of the guards,
who succeeded in giving the alarm. Night
Capt. Rooney was stabbed to death and
two other guards had been overpowered and
bound when the alarm was given and the
four convicts made a hasty escape without
liberating their fellow prisoners.
other Convicts Recaptured.
Wednesday nigh. Wood and Wallace,
who are mere boys, were captured near
Victor.
Reynolds Is understood to be the man
who stabbed Capt. Rooney, Wagner holding
the officer.