The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1903-09-26
A DESPERATE MAN
BURKE, ESCAPED FORG ER,
OVERcOMES OFFICER AF-
TER STRUGGLE.
Robs the Deputy of His Weapons
On Turning Corner He Jumps
Into the Brush by the Road
and Esoapes-Other
News.

and Esoapes-Other
News.
Stevenson, WASH, Sept. d.
Bloodshed may result from the
manbuBt now in progress on the
Washington side of the Columbia
River, between The Dalles and Van
couver. Burke, the forger and es-
capped prisoner from the Hillsboro
Jail, overpowered deputy sheriff
who had ca ftured him yesterday
and secured two revolvers, a rifle
and large supply of ammunition.
His action and escapades of the past
fsw days brand him as being des-
psrate, and should the posse which
is now not on his trail overtake
him, there is little doubt but that
pitch battle will ensue.
Burke's feats of the past week
have shown that he does not intend
to spend his time in Jail. Sunday
he escaped from Sheriff, lotion, Of
Skamania county, who had recap
tured him at the hotel at Carson.
The sheriff sent a shower OF bullets
after the fugitive, but the shots ap.
parently only made the fugitive run
the faster, none of them taking eff
feet.
Sheriff lotion located the escap-
ed man at the hotel in Carson,
Wash, Early Sunday morning, af-
ter having secured the country in
the vicinity of The Dalles, where
Burke was reported to- have been
seen. The sheriff captured his man,
getting the drop on him, and at
once started with him for Steven
son, the sheriff riding with his gun
trained Gn .tre Cd tive, who walked
ahead.
Itwss at a sharp turn in the road
that Burke made his escape. Be-
ing shut out for a second from view
he bolted into the brush without
the least warning. The officer emp
tied his revolver into the brush,
clipping the twigs right aud left,
and ordering Burke to halt, but
there was no sound from the fugi-
tive. Sheriff lotion at once rode
to the different settleme nts of the
vicinity and left instructions that
a sharp lookout for the man be kept.
Every available officer was put
on his trail, with the result that
deputy sheriff from Lower Cascades
came upon him yesterday and ar
rested him in the brush near that
settlement. Burke was unarmed
and did not resist, especially when
the officer thrust gun in his face
and informed him that the least
show at resistance would make him
fit subject for the undertaken.
Burke's eyes were bloodshot, and
be showed the hardships of running
through the forests all day and
night without food. Apparently he
was quite docile, and the officer
started with him for Cascade Locks
to place him in confinement for
safekeeping.
But Burke was merely biding his
chance. When officer and captive
had walked some distance and got
ten on fairly friendly terms, Burke
suddenly seized the deputy and a
terrible struggle ensued.
Both men fought for every inch
there was in them, but Burke's
strength was supplemented by des.
peration, and he fought like de-
mon until be had the deputy over
powered. He then helped himself
to the minion's rife, revolvers aad
ammunition, bade him u sarcastic
adieu and disappeared in the brush
down the river.
This episode as soon as it became
known, convinced the officers that
they have desperate man to deal
with. Sheriff lotion promptly or
ganized and equipped posse and
went on the trail determined to
take the man, dead or alive. They
will scour the country along the
river to Vancouver. A reward of
$3.50 is offered by the Washington
county sheriff for Burke's capture.
Burke is the man who swindled the
Jackson county bank out of about