Democratic Sentinel, Volume 21, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 November 1897 — BANDIT GANG ESCAPES. [ARTICLE]

BANDIT GANG ESCAPES.

Break Down the Prison Bars at Deadwood, 3. D. The notorious Curry sang of bandits broke jail at Deadwood, S. I)., Sunday night, and after exchanging several dozen shots with citizens who intercepted them accidentally made their escape to the mountains. The daring of the escape was consonant with the boldness of the men who accomplished it. The fugitives are “Tom” O’Day, Frank Jones, “Tom” .Tones and Walter Puney. They tore the bars from their strong cells by sheer strength of arm, assaulted the jailer with their fists and reached the open air. The jailer was well armed, but the ferocity and daring of the men was too much for him. The first he knew that trouble was coming was when the side of the big steel cage in which the bandits were confined gave way beneath their united strength. With a roar the men carried the wooden partition before them and burst into the view of the astonished guard. He drew a revolver, hut was knocked down. When he revived an hour later he was covered with wounds, but was able to tell the story. As the jail was a regular armory the men had no trouble selecting a supply of the finest weapons. Each got a rifle, four revolvers and a quantity of ammunition. They rushed boldly front the place, and started on a run across lots toward the hills.- They ran over “Pete” Bella, a special mine watchman, a block away. He was knocked down, but arose, drew a revolver. and, taking in the situation, began shooting. In an instant a wild scene was being enacted. Citizens gathered from all directions, and the outlaws retreated into the dense forests of the mountains, turning and firing as the pursuers gained on them. Streams of fire followed them from a score of revolvers in the hands of as many citizens. That many deaths did not result is due wholly to chance and darkness. Fred Swobe was desperately wounded. Frank Elliott was shot through the body and several citizens were injured more or less. If the outlaws were hurt there was nothing to indicate the fact. They finally disappeared in the hills, making for the region known as the Bad Lands.