Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-06-24
MISCELLANY.
How WE TRAPPED THE BURGLARS
Frcm the Chambers Journa.D

We lived in Terrace at the time IL
which my tale is laid. in what we may
term sub-district of London, for we
were within five miles of Charing Cross,
and the dark month of December was
upon us. Robberies had been frequent
in our neighbourhood, and no less thar
three houses out of the ten in the Ter
race had been entered by burglars and
robbed, and yet no discovery of the
thieves had taken place. So ably, also
had the work of entry been accomplish
ed, that in no case had the inmates beer
alarmed, and il was not until the ser
wants descended in the morning thai
the discovery of a robbery was made.
In two ont of the three cases, an en-
trance had been effected through pan
try-window by removing apane of glass
and cutting a small hole in the shutter
This window was on the ground-hoor
and could easily be reached, therefore
from outside In the third robbery, nj
upper window was entered by means of 1
knife, which forced back the fastening
and of course allowed the sash to bt
raised
So rapidly had the robberies occurre,c
that the whole neighborhood was alarm
ed. The police shook their heads, ant
looked knowingly, but did nothing;and
what was much to be lamented, failed IL
find any clue to the robbers, who, they
at the same time asserted, were evident
ly not regular cracksmen.
I Affairs had reached such stage, thai
we used to sleep with revolver close tC
our bedside, when We happened to have
a friend come TO stay with MS few
days. This friend was an old jungle
hunter, and was az fat at every artifice
by which the animal creation might be
captured. He was delighted at the idea
of .having AN adventure with burglars,
and scorned the belief that they were
more than match in cunning for even
the average bush-hunter. 1t was in
vain that we assured him ii was an axiom
that an accomplished robber could effect
an entrance into any house. and that
instruments were used of such a nature
as TO cut holes in doors without noise,
and, In fact, that through roofs and sky
lights, down chimneys, and mp water
spouts, an accomplished burglar could
easily enter the best defended house in
the Kingdom.
OuA oAiChu diBulAChb Weto, Oudb q
burglar was a man on watch, who took
the advantage of the residents be-
ing asleep and unsuspecting; "but, y
said he, ''let my suspicious be raised,
and will defy any burglar to enter my
house without my having due warning;
because, although may be asleep. still,
/ shall hear his approach, and can then
make my arrangements to welcome
him. ~
Although we were not DESTROYS of hav-
ing our house robbed, yet we wished
much that our friends confidence should
be taken on. of him.
A few days after this conversation, the
police informed us that several suspi-
cious characters had been seen about,
and recommended us to be on the alert.
test my friends skill and wakeftlness
so, having informed him of the police
mans warning, / asked him if he felt
confident to undertake the defence of
the house. $40. &E ~ II aa'
Certainly" he replied; ST only de-
mand dark lantern. and stiplIlate that
you have pair of goloshes beside your
bed. L also must go to bed last, and no
servant is to go down stairs before me in
the morning; nor is any one to walk
about during the night; then Twill defy
the burglars. -. 90 s-... ,...-t-s.
Thus l. was agreed that my friend
should act the part of guardian, and
was 90 commence his charge on the en-
suing night. - - -
Three nights had passed, and no
oI I,ox L -,
ken place; we began to think our alarm
was groundless; hut our friend said that
now was the very time to- he most guard
ed, for that no wise, burglar would rob
when he was expected; besides, he said,
we have not had a. windy night vet; il
is when doors and windows rattle, and
the chimney rumbles, that robberies are
best effected, not when every strange
noise is audible; thus, he said, he did
not give up hopes of yet having some
thing to say To the robbers before his
visit terminated. SssI x asr faass
usually sleep very lightly, and there
fore awoke readily upon hearing tap
at my bedroom door during the fourt b
night of our watch. It was my friend
voice that answered me,-and we were
50 II
"As-soon as i strike a lucifer-match,"
I replied. ieq'al ,svo9 20 ssol y
lea'Nonsense, man; light will spoil the
whole thing. Come in the dark; slip on
a dressing gown and your goloshes and
come at once.
q / was, soon provided as he wished, and
ready TO descend the stairs in the dark.
dl''Now, remember" said my friend,
"there are seven steps to the first land
ing, twelve others afterwards, and the
fourth step creaks abominably, SO be
careful to descend without noise. -
y The night was boisterous, and many
a window and door ratified, SO that the
slight noise we made in descending the
stairs was not sufficient to have alarmed
even the most keen-eared listener. We
descended to the ground-foor,. entered
the pantry, and then, standing perfectly
still, devoted ourselves TO listening.
s In o very few seconds we heard q
grating poiseilon theshutter, thenssan
interval of quiet, and again NOISE; pre-
sently the window was gently raised, and
again all was quiet. The noise Of a
heavy vehicle passing the house seemed
to afford an opportunity for a more de-
cided effort, for while the rattle of the
wheels was loudest, a crack sounded from
the shutter, and we could hear that the
bolt was forced, for the shutter was
gently moved.