The Tale of Red Nose Mike
By 1886, railroads were prevalent throughout Wyoming Valley. The Lehigh Valley Railroad decided to build a “cut-off” line from Mountaintop to Scranton, thus bypassing the entire track that slowed the shipments between the two points. By October 1888, the line was nearly complete, except for the “arch”, where masons were completing two tunnels, one for Mill Creek and the other for wagon traffic. Approximately 800 immigrant laborers, mostly of Italian descent, worked for a period of two years completing this line. The tunnel, often referred to as the “arch”, is still in existence today. It can be found at the intersection of Jumper Road, Westminster Road, and Bald Mountain Road in Plains Township.
On October 19, 1888, the rain was steady and work on the railroad was at a standstill. The paymaster, J. B. McClure, decided to prepare the payroll one day earlier than normal. He asked that stable master Hugh Flannagan to accompany him, as the other man who usually traveled with him was not available. Due to the rain, the railroad workers were cooped up in their shanties near “Hairpin Curve”, along Bear Creek and Pittston Boulevard. Many of the workers were also on foot with umbrellas, traveling between their camps and Miners Mills. J. B. McClure and Hugh Flannagan left the work camp just north of the “arch” early, and arrived at Miners Mills in very little time. Leaving Miners Mills, they headed to Wilkes-Barre, passing Quigley’s store and the post office, arriving approximately fifteen minutes later in their one-horse carriage.
McClure, age 21, was to be married within a few weeks at Philadelphia, and first stopped at the tailor to get his suit before heading to Wyoming Bank to get the payroll. Flannagan tended to the horse and buggy. Upon entering the bank, McClure presented his satchel, which was filled with bills and coin totaling $12,000.
They promptly left Wilkes-Barre, making the return trip in about the same time, waving to some of the workers as they were walking under their umbrellas. Nearing Fox Hill, they passed Mike Rezzelo, who worked in the company commissary at the camp. Upon reaching an area on Wilkes-Barre Mountain near the present Wilkes-Barre Area Vocational Technical School, McClure and Flannagan received a volley of shots from the brush. Flannagan fell dead off the buggy. The horse darted, and McClure fell from his seat. His foot caught in the hardware of the buggy, the fleeing horse dragged his dead body. The satchel filled with money was still on the footboards of the buggy, when one of the bandits, catching up with the fleeing horse, shot it in the head.
The sound of gunshots rang out, and were heard at the work camp down the road. James McFadden, a contractor, hurried in his buggy down the road, where he found the dead horse and the mangled body of his paymaster, J. B. McClure. The lifeless bodies of McClure and Flannagan were taken to the grocery store at Miners Mills, where the coroner could examine them. It was not long that a group of people gathered from various directions, all pointing fingers of suspicion. Upon examining the body of Flannagan, the coroner found $7,000 in Pennsylvania government bonds sewed within his clothing.
Many suspects were rounded up, including the Mock brothers, who were well known hunters, and Mike Rezzelo, since he was seen nearby. Eventually all were excused by the police and county authorities.
The last rail was placed over the “arch” and two brass plaques reading “1888” were affixed at each end of the wagon tunnel. The job was now complete. McFadden and his men proceeded to another railroad job at Poughkeepsie, New York. During the course of the new job, Mike Rezzelo befriended another Italian immigrant like himself. On one occasion of celebration he presented this friend with a crisp fifty-dollar bill. Soon after, the friend, a Pinkerton detective, placed handcuffs on Mike. Red Nosed Mike, as he became known in the sensational news writings of the time, was returned to the courthouse on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre to face trial on the charges. Mike Rezzelo was tried and convicted, and was sentenced to death by hanging. On June 25, 1889, at the age of 19, Red Nosed Mike was hanged during a public execution on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre. His two accomplices fled to Italy, and on November 20, 1889, a letter was received that they were caught and punished.
For his part in the crime, Red Nosed Mike received three fifty-dollar bills. Prior to fleeing the country, his accomplices stashed the remainder of the money from the “Mountain Murders Robbery” somewhere along the railroad between the “arch” and Oliver’s Mills, perhaps in one of the many natural caves that adorn the mountainside.
Good luck.
Try it again.![:-\](https://www.treasurenet.com/smilies/undecided.gif "Undecided :-\")
The Italians gave Mike $160 for his part and promised him more after they returned to Italy. Of course when Mike sent them a registered letter, it went unanswered. (imagine that!) Upon his capture, Mike showed the authorities where the guns had been buried and wrote out a full confession to the crime. Lastly, his hanging was gruesome - taking his body a full 43 minutes to die.
