A Desperate Dash from the Marshal
A United States prisoner attempts a daring escape from a carriage in Spokane, leading to a high-stakes chase.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Sam Vincent, chief deputy marshal for Eastern Washington, arrived here tonight with seven United States prisoners, most of whom had been convicted of selling liquor to Indians. O'Brien, who attempted to escape when captured, being among the number. He made another desperate break for liberty again this morning at Spokane, and although Marshal Vincent tried his prettiest to kill him he only shaved off a little of the skin from O'Brien's thumb. Vincent was driving to the train about daylight this morning, and had all the prisoners in a carriage. They were not shackled. Upon reaching a dark spot O'Brien leaped out and ran like a deer. Vincent gave chase, but it seemed the prisoner was gaining. Sam could not see O'Brien, and had to fire at random, aiming in the direction of the rapid patter of O'Brien's footsteps. The third shot brought O'Brien to a halt. The bullet had grazed his thumb and frightened him. He is considered a desperate character.
“Sam could not see O'Brien, and had to fire at random, aiming in the direction of the rapid patter of O'Brien's footsteps.”
The transportation of prisoners through Washington territory and statehood was often informal and high-risk, relying on individual officers like Deputy Marshal Vincent. This account captures the lawless, improvisational nature of early law enforcement in the Inland Northwest.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.