Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 July 1875 — A Struggle for Liberty. [ARTICLE]

A Struggle for Liberty.

A letter from Truckee to the Sacramento Union tells this story of a Pacific criminal: The officer locked Brown in the jail after broad daylight, and two hours afterward returned to find the floor torn up, the jail fairly broken and the prisoner gone, irons and all. It was not so wonderful that the jail was broken, but it was truly wonderful that in the daytime a manacled prisoner could escape from a jail in the center of. town and situated on one of the principal streets. In less than two hours he perfected his plans, found means to pry up the floor, boldly emerged into the streets, and in plain sight of the town walked up the bare hillside back of Truckee and escaped. Men were immediately placed upon his track, but it was all in vain. He concealed himself, and watched his pursuers pass by and over the mountains. One of the handcuffs he squeezed over his hand, though in so doing he tore and lacerated the skin and flesh terribly. With some heavy stones he broke off the shackles from his feet. One of the bracelets defied his utmost skill and this he tucked up into his coat-sleeve. At midnight lie came into town and started down the railroad track afoot. For six days he traveled on foot with only two meals of victuals. These two were obtained from Chinamen. His traveling was done at night and by day he remained concealed. He took no chances. It was very cold weather, and while traveling down the Truckee canon a bitter snowstorm overtook him and he almost froze. On the third day he found a piece of rail which had been broken or cut from the iron track, and with this he pounded off his other handcuff. He walked until he had passed Wadsworth. Considering himself beyond pursuit, lie concluded to ride on the cars. He was safely ensconced between the baggage and express cars of the eastern-bound passenger train on Sunday morning, when Conductor Baylies saw and recognized him. Brown and the officer had gone from Reno to Truckee on Baylies’ train. Two other “dead-heads” were stealing rides on the same train, and the brakeman made these “ get right away off” Brown was suffered to ride, however, and was congratulating himself on his extremely good luck when tlie cars arrived atOrenna and the Sheriff nabbed him.