Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-01-04
BLISS CAPTURES
DENVER MURDERER.
Former Milwaukee Reporter Wins Pistol
Duel After Man Hunt-Hailed
as Hero in West.

DENVER, Col, Dec. 31.-[Special.l
William L. Bliss, formerly a Milwau-
kee newspaper reporter, has captured
the supposed murderer of Marshall FRS
bic of Lamar after the greatest man
hunt in the history of CoIoraco, and per
hapS of the entire west.
Representing Denver newspaper as
a staff correspondent, he traced the
fugitive to a vacant school house near
Astor. Kas. last night and fought a
pistol duel with him in an attic in which
the man was hiding. He wounded him
and forced him to jump from a second
story window.
Jumping through the window after his
victim, Bliss chased the man for two
miles through the wooded ravine near
there, and finally captured him after
hand-to-hand encounter.
For four days and nights 300 armed
men have been on the trail of the band
of highwaymen which terrorized the dis
trict Once they engaged in a running
fight for two miles, the fugitives escaping
in the darkness.
Yesterday Bliss learned from a small
boy that one of the men had been seen
to steal into the vacant schoohouse.
Bliss had been sworn in as a United
States deputy marshal and Immediately
forced an entrance into the place.
His commands to come out. Hands
up and surrender" were answered by
voIley of shots. Bullets whizzed by his
head, but not 10 be foiled Bliss opened
fire and continued to advance. Finally,
being cOrnered, the man jumped through
a second-story window and ran across
country.
Bliss will claim the reward of $4,000.
The suspect gives his name as Andrew
Jackson, but denies knowledge of the
crime He and his pal are believed to
be the same who several months ago
made Il daring attempt to rob an L. ID.
d Il. G. train at Leadville.
Another member of the band has sur
rendered.
A Soldier of Fortune.
william L. Bliss is a natural Soldier
of Fortune" His love of adventure be-
came marked from the time he ran away
from his home in Chicago at the age of
years and travelled to Detroit and
thence to Montreal by stealing rides on
freight trains and steamers A mere
child, he wandered all through the east
before returning home four years later.
Then he learned the painters trade that
he might have a means of support in
case of a pinch"
He set out again when IS years old
and tramped and worked his way
through the middle and southern states.
AT the age of Is years he Joined the
Illinois National guard, resgning later
to join the regular army as a cavalry
man. He fought for three years in the
Philippines, being promoted to the posi-
tIOn of sergeant. Coming into Milwau-
kee in 1900 to visit a sister, he became
interested in newspaper work, and with
his usual confidence took q position as q
reporter on The Sentinei without hav
ing had previous experience. He made
good. One of the features of his work
was a series of articles o. the Philip
pines and their inhabitants. His work
here was noteworthy for the reckless
courage displayed on several occasions.
To get an Illustration for story on
the art of swimming, he dove from the
North avenue bridge while a photogra
pher took a picture of him.
Headed for the Philippines.
During the flood in St. Louis, he
thought there might be excitement in
sight and he hurried there. Then trou-
HE broke out in Mexico and Central
1nerica, and he hurried south to see the
lighting. Returning, he tramped from
Texas to Minneapolis, stopping there a
while and then coming to Milwaukee for
a visit. He again went to Chicago to
work, and then started west. partially
deciding to again visit the Philippines.
His adventure at Denver was the next
thing heard from him by Milwaukee
friends.
He always has sought the scene of
excitement. He undoubtedly was at
tracted to Denver by news of the man
hunt Billy" Bliss is about 30 years
old, modest and of rather quiet man
ner. He sought few friends here but
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