Year: 1871

Chatham street yesterday by Detective FIh' VI 'he
Sixth precinct after a desperate struggle.
HERALD reporter came upon the scene shortly aiter
the arrest ana The convict told HIM the loiiowing
story OF his escape, night and capture;-


..You see when The tugboat towing the canal boat,
came along there was a gang or US, about twenty,
working at the kilns.'


They get wood there during the summer and fall
to feed the kilns win, and we were down on the
river side pinng II up into cords never thinking OF
ANYTHING Weller and his party were lying around
the dock, fishing and smoking. They were privi-
lodged set at the prison, ana could do as they ked
You sec they had money and influence so that there
was very little difficulty in getting permission TO do
W hat they pleased. We had no idea there was any


JOB PUT UP TO GET AWAY,
but when cav the steamer coming close up to the
dock it struck me would make push for 1t. She
came quite close up towing the canal boat. She
never stopped, nut passed along quite near and as
soon as the fiys who ysre Yallea got on board sSe
turned head righ. out again for the MIedle Of the
stream when ! saw thet / made tor her,
and All q four four other fellows iolioweS me. they
ran little faster than could so they just caught
the barge as she swung round. was not going to
be baked, SO jumped anyhow and caught with my
arms on .he stern. l scrambled up and then got on
the tug. The keepers all rushed down TO the water
and took out their pistols but they never offered TO
fire. BY this time we were all on board the tug, and
as there was no. time to spare we got into the
cabip to Ak our clothes. Weller and tho four other
fellows for whom the boat came up had


PLENTY OF THINGS,


and changed as soon as they got into the CABIN. We
had to take whatever we could tind lying about the
boat got an old ,S coat ;sG@ and "a cheek sh %
had been up, a, the the prison the ," same ln,s ,Ims
and shoes, and did SIX OF the others, but we
could not get any trowsers so we had TO go without
gang wanted to get rid OF they told ms 20 get
ready and they would give MS small boat that was
with. They wanted to steam further down the
stream, they had a particular place TO land at
where everything was ready for them we got the
they cast on the barge, which hghtened them con-
sderably and tney were able to go faster down the


PUTTING PISTOLS TO THE HEADS


of the fellows on the boats are nonsense. There
was no such thing. We had not time and there
not want but the fellow that had the boat had been
prisoner himself and was an old friend OF mine
from him, but that would be LOO mean. and let it
60. When they cast us of from the steamer
we pulled right into the shore and made for the
mountains The first one we climbed almost
straight up and Ii was pretty hard work. tell you.
feet. t We %p managed mana IT, however. and then the
travelling was pretty easy. After we got on the top
my own account. As was going along good bit
after dark, with


THE BRIERS AND BRUSHWOOD,


tearing my snins earfully, heard low, deep sound
come out Of clump Of laurel trees. went over
and two Of the gang were lying down there CON
! was for keeping on by myself and hghtinG
ny own way, but they asked me to JON
river and leave the WOODS as we would be sure to
get surrounded. thought that was good advice,
stopped with them ana we lay aGwn 10 IRE rest G
and crepf down into the valley, Indian fashion, TO
t,fph U
at once struck path leading right
down by the side the mountain and skirting the
lake 10 opened on the river. went back. told the
boys about II ana three started for the wafer.
We had gone within about quarter OF mile OF the
spot we wanted when We heard party


SECURING THE WOODS


and the loot OF the mountain for us. We dropped
hands, passed close to us. we lay still for awhile;
but, Knowing they would double on us In u short
time, we made all haste for the river. We got
all" all wing right before us. We jumped
in and pulled out into the stream. Then
we headed for New YORK, and KEPT right on for The
city, Every now and again bad to put nv legs
out The water for they were bleeding so hard that
] could not work at the oars from the pain OF them.
I managed to get along. however, by wetting
them, ana we pulled along IKE that for about
eight or nlne miles: Then we met M an
gave a rope We hitched TO them and got down
10 The Christopher street slip comfortably forgot
10 Tell yoD ina. when We were passing outside the


DROPPED INTO STABLE,





clothes, We thought, and we were gong
iDere " Was big bag Of rags, and, turning them out,
we found TWO Old pairs OF pants. The otner fellows
divided them between them The best way they could
and was Obliged 10 put my old coat over my legs
when the barge took MS IN tow, so that they
could not see had nothing on, for
then We would be arrested sure. When the
boat cast us OF at Christopher street saw young
fellow The dock and told him TO go and get Inc
q pair OF pants and some shoes. We pulled out into
h, Drought


COUPLE OF FAIRS OF SHOES


fWo rno ~ non a. NS were All nxed win these rtnss
came ashore, left the boat where she was.
and divided 10 secure our way through the city. !
my way 10 Jersey when | got nabOed. us All
inlernai shame, amt H. after going through so much
TO get pinned like tilIs jus. az was getting away.
tel You II once got on tlat Terry BOAT they never
could put Their hand. again on me.


You say Weller ana ms parry can do as incy


''Wny, these fellows can iish, smoke, drink rum
and play cards Just whenever they like. Weller is
able as If he was at home. only
OF course, he's locked up piece
cnce up there aud they know be IS the right sort Of
cnap there Is 10 difficulty in getting away TO
tue CIV Tor couple oI dass or week


''Aiter having escaped 30 well how was u that you
got caught , -


ina was HE greencst hing ever dld in my fe.
the Jersey terry. II was a stupid way 10 go
ana ought 10 have known better.





things aiong. just was gong 10
break across the street Finn came along ami lust
caught eight Of me about half "a block o. He IDade
lGmp Tor me and pulled up my cap, shouting
Halo 1hOmpsonl" | struggled with MIN an I
could but ne grabbed me py me throat aud showed
me INTO


TIE HALLWAY or A PAWN OFFICE.
] fought hard, Tor ! knew 1t was my last chance,
but he was 100 much for me; stlll did all could:
ana had ~ pretty neavy IN the hallway for about
ten or fifteen mnu'es was getting a lille the
hettcr OF tllm, when nc called for assistance and
I Dutchman came up and helped him so mere am.
Detective Finn afterwards stated that he saw
Thompson during The scuffle endeavOr 10 slip hJs
hand into The breast pocket Of his coat ana thar,
supposing ne had weapon tncrc, he called for aid.
when Thompson was searched AT the station house
an oid silver Ork was ound IN his pocket Tnis yOun
man, who - now but twenty three years ot age was
arrested Tor robblng some guests at FreDch's Hote
! IN the night time. He TOOK room III the mouse adj
JOINING some nights before he committed the robbery
and climbed Up an apparently bare perpendicular
wal iO get INTO The lioei. The detectives say mat
ihis feat alone q most astonishing one and
the mon mat could do ~ Is almost capable OF any
thlng


q nj iou Al,