The L'Anse sentinel., 1922-12-01
CONVICTS TAKE RIDE
ON HUDSON LINE


On Tuesday evening L'Anse was
thrown into tumult of excitement
when it was reported that John Du-
guay*s seven-passenger Hudson was
stolen by four convicts, who with nine
others escaped from the branch pris-
on at Marquette Sunday afternoon.
They headed for Houghton and imme-
date pursuit was made.
Sheriff Kotila telephoned Sheriff
Kohlhouse at Houghton who sent out
deputies to intercept the prisoners.
They were caught hidden in the coal
bunkers of the tug Nellie Cotton, the
tug being tied up at Houghton for
the season.
The four men taken gave their
names as Fred Zanger, 21, serving
time for breaking and entering; Cas-
imir Wilwis, 21, in prison for high
way robbery; Alex Montroy, 26, sent
up for robbery while armed; and Max
Krasniski, 49, doing a stretch for
highway robbery.
They arrived in L'Anse in the af-
tcrnoon, having walked fourteen miles
frcr.i the Sturgeon river bridge, where
they abandoned an Essex with a
broken rear wheel which they stole
in Marquette. They camped near the
the river for the night. Arriving in
L'Anse they made several purchases
of food and tobacco.
Tie chase was an exciting one.
Sheriff Kotila with Deputy w. E. Col
Ens, Harold Anderson and Arnold
Johnson started in pursuit from this
end. while Paul Hogan and force of
deputies in the sheriff's high-powered
car started for L'Anse. At Carbon
eau's place, this side of Chassell, a
car looking like the Hudson passed.
The deputies were sure it was the
car they wanted but in the gathering
darkness they could not make the
positive identification. Turning, they
started in pursuit. Had Hogan been
sure it was the Hudson they might
have been able to disable the Hudson
before reaching Houghton, but lac.i-
ing positive information they decid-
ed to abide their time.
AS the two cars raced into Hough-
ton, Hogan was able to place the
other car positively. 1t was the miss
ing Hudson. The two cars passed
down College avenue and onto Shell
den street. AS they neared the Doug
lass House, Hogan saw his opportu-
nifty. He determined to crowd the
curbing near the Douglass House and
SO capture the. convicts.
The slippery pavement made this
plan of no avail. The sheriff's car
skidded and turned around and the
Hudson, tearing down Isle Royale
street at the Houghton bank corner,
got away. {.
The driver, who was probably Will
wis, a chauffeur, saw the lake just
ahead. Accordingly, he turned east
at. the foot Of Isle Royale street and
proceeded along the railroad tracks.
The sheriff's car was stalled on the
street but the officers jumped out and
ran down the hill.
They trailed the Hudson down the
alley, onto the road near the railroad
track, past the Amphidrome to the
South Shore freight depot, where it
was abandoned. Patrols were put
and the yards searched by armed men
and boys, the convicts being found by
John McGunty, Jack Foley, Floyd
Burr and Henry Ruelle, who exani-
ined the tug Nellie Cotton.
The convicts were returned to Mar
quette Tuesday on the noon train.
The Hudson was found to be in
excellent condition, there being no
damage done to it in it's fast trip to
Houghton.
A reward of $3.50 each was altered
by the state for the capture of these
men, the boys dividing one thousand
dollars between them.
The men were fairly well dressed,
wearing lumbermen's clothing.