A Jailbreak, Stolen Horses, and a Bedside Capture Near the Canadian Line

Waterville, March 12.—Special.—Last Tuesday night Sheriff Valentine received a dispatch informing him that two prisoners, William Gibbons and Delos Woods, who had broken jail at Sprague several days before, had stolen horses on Crab Creek and were heading for British Columbia. The sheriff, accompanied by Deputy Friel, started at once for the north, crossing the Columbia River at Bridgeport Wednesday morning. The officers continued up the Okanogan River and struck the trail of the fugitives Thursday, and also learned that Woods had a brother living on Palmer Mountain, a few miles from Loomiston and only fourteen miles from the line.

The officers reached Loomiston late Thursday night, and there, procuring a guide, made a descent upon the Woods cabin early Friday morning, capturing the escaped prisoners, the stolen horses, two revolvers, a shotgun and a Winchester rifle. The men had no opportunity to make resistance, as the officers secured entrance to the cabin by strategy and caught their prisoners in bed, covering them with revolvers before they had an opportunity to make a gun play. Woods was held in Lincoln County on a charge of cattle stealing, while Gibbons was in for burglary. After their escape from Sprague they had a running fight with Deputy Sheriff Cody, during which much ammunition was wasted without injury to any of the participants. The men were considered desperate and determined criminals, and the report had gone out that it was their intention not to be retaken alive. Under the circumstances the arrest made by Officers Valentine and Friel is considered a very clever and plucky piece of work. The men will be held here until called for by officers from Lincoln County.