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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 28, 2016)
C4 History Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, September 28, 2016 Trio of teenage fugitives caught following sensational jail break STOLEN CARS, ARSON, ARMED ESCAPE AND A HIGH-SPEED CHASE Sept. 15, 1944 Blue Mountain Eagle Last Friday witnessed a rather sensational jail break at Canyon City, which was staged by three boys awaiting sentence for larceny of automobiles and other articles. They were Rob- ert Duane Briggs, 17, Clifford Elwood Robinson, 16, and Al- bert De Lonzo Wyatt, 15. The would-be Baby Face Nelsons irst attempted to dig through the stone wall of the jail corridor using a 20p nail and stick of stove wood, and they had a rather large open- ing almost through the wall. However, they decided this too slow a procedure, so they piled some bread wrappers and other papers and stove wood around one of the wooden posts sup- porting the ceiling of the jail, and started a ire. When it was blazing almost to the ceiling, they called the janitor and jail- er, James Finlayson. He opened the jail door, threw in a section of hose and, as he went to turn on the water, the boys escaped, whooping like school kids. The break occurred at about 8:30 p.m., just after dusk. Sheriff I.B. Hazeltine and State Police H.C. Snyder were on a larceny case in the north- ern part of the county and did not arrive until about 11 p.m. The boys were seen climbing the hill toward the golf course and local oficers had searched the area. These oficers im- mediately notiied all outside points where roads left Grant H O R S E D A R K Group Uniques U niques Chock-full of treasures! Plus Wonderful Booths s Collectibles: Linens, Glassware, Silverware s The Boutique s Furniture s Jewelry s Pictures, Prints Major Credit Cards accepted Open Mon.. - Sat. 10 am - 4 pm 600 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day • (541) 575-2404 Contributed photos/Grant County Historical Museum A newer courthouse in Canyon City, circa 1900. The present day courthouse, shown here circa 1960s. The first courthouse built in Canyon City in 1864. County, and local deputy sher- iffs placed road blocks within the county. State Police oficers Lar- son and Zumwalt of Burns came over to offer assistance, as they had heard of the break over short-wave radio. It was thought that the fugitives might have gone east or toward Prai- rie City, so the sheriff and po- lice oficers started patrol of this area. Oliver gives irst real clue The irst real clue as to the whereabouts of the escaped prisoners was furnished by Herman Oliver, who was at his ranch home 5 miles east of John Day and, upon hearing his dogs bark at about 11:45 p.m., went out to look around. He saw a car on the highway head- ed west and headlights’ beam showed the three boys walk- ing toward Prairie City. They jumped over a fence to avoid the light and, after the car had passed by, continued on their way up the highway. The sher- iff and Police Oficer Snyder were informed by radio of this clue and, a few minutes later, they contacted Oliver, then pa- trolled the highway until they were called to Bates to investi- gate a ire, which had destroyed the mercantile store at Bates. Car containing guns stolen At about 8:10 a.m. Satur- day, the oficers were notiied that L.D. Fleming’s car had been stolen at Prairie City, that it contained three riles, a 30-30 carbine, .25 Remington auto- matic and a .22 repeater. The deputy sheriff and the city marshal at Prairie City had noted a car leaving there at excessive speed at about 3 a.m. and gave chase, but could not overtake it. The sheriff and police oficer decided to follow after having notiied oficers at Ontario, Baker and Vale of the license, serial number, etc., of Fleming’s car. Chase Ends After Car is Wrecked On Dixie Mountain, they received a radio message to the effect that the Fleming car had been found wrecked about 1 1/2 miles east of Austin Junction, that no one was apparently hurt and that the guns were missing. The oficers were joined by two State Police from Baker, and they found the tracks of the trio and commenced to fol- low them, inally apprehending them at about 11:45 a.m., some 7 miles east of the wrecked car. The escapees had been sur- rounded in a clump of second growth pine and, when taken had the stolen guns loaded, with two of them cocked and ready for action. They admit- ted that it was their irst inten- tion to resist arrest and that they had taken a bead on the sheriff and another member of the posse, but as they had but little ammunition and the oficers were armed with high power riles, they decided that to surrender was the safest action. The Fleming car was the second automobile stolen by this trio in Grant County. They have now added arson and armed escape to their list of criminal offenses. Sheriff Hazeltine has previ- ously warned people through these columns to remove the ignition keys when leaving their cars out at night, or at any other time. “To leave loaded guns in a car and the ignition key, too, might result in the killing of ar- resting oficers as well as inno- cent persons who might resist giving up their cars or valu- ables,” the sheriff stated. “A car with the key left in ignition lock only invites larceny and a gun murder.” Gardner Enterprises 195 NE 2nd Ave. • John Day • 541-575-1410 Contributed photo/Grant County Historical Museum In 1912, men could stop in at R.A. Clark’s barbershop in Canyon City for a haircut or a shave, and a drink. In the front chair, Lewis Allen is being shaved by Clark, and in back, Guy Durham is shaved by Henry Guernsey. To the left, Calcite Kid is at the door. Information by Charles Brown. , Boyd, Bonnie Ty, Clarence & Levi. Eagle owner’s son commits barbershop prank Blue Mountain Eagle R.A Clark owned a bar- bershop in Canyon City in the early 1900s. He was known for wearing a derby hat. He also wore a toupee. Clint Haight owned the newspaper, the Blue Mountain Eagle. He had a son, also named Blue Mountain Surgery Plumber Gary Teel CCB# 205644 GREAT WELDER? Dr. Keith Thomas specializes in a wide range of procedures, emphazing minimally invasive and advanced laparoscopic surgeries including: Fabricate & weld steel, aluminum & cast iron. Keith J. Thomas, MD, FACS 161 E Main St., John Day 541-575-0632 Open 7 days a week Clint, who grew up here. One afternoon, Clint stole into Clark’s barbershop and removed the derby hat from the hat rack and applied a cir- cle of glue to the hat’s crown. The next time Clark took off his hat, along came his toupee. 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