The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-04-20
HEAVY MuFFLEp REPORT.

accompanied by jar, as of one blasting
rocks under the surface. was up in
an instant, and wide awake. 1 had
heard that sound before. Once when a
heavy robbery was committed on Cort-
land street, the safe being charged with
powder and blasted, / had then heard
such a sound, and several times since,
and always with result. Passing has
tily around, and finding nothing dis
turbed, I began to hope that it was not
on my post, until came to very large
stand in Centre Row, running through
from one avenue to another, and en-
tirely open to both, winter and summer,
The owners were heavy dealers in poul-
try, game, beef, etc., and had in the Gen.
tire of the stand large Office, enclosed
by glass, and in which were two large
iron safes, supposed to be fire and bur-
glar proof" As threw the light to-
ward the Office door, saw brass key
in the lock, and intuitively turned it
away again, and after pretending to
look at some matters near the entrance,
whistling carelessly the while, I saun-
tered slowly out. But the mind was
busy. had taken in the situation and
summed the matter up. 1t was a re-
mote point and would be impossible to
procure help without alarming whoever
was inside; to leave the vicinity entire
ly dare not. I remembered that at the
lower edge of the sash (about breast
high,) was a narrow ledge, over which
the cashier inside received money and
transacted business with those who pur-
chased outside. The distance from where
l must first come in sight, 1. e., the en-
trance, was perhaps twenty feet. AS I
have intimated, 1 was scarcely outside
before had resolved upon my course,
and ready to re-enter. / turned the full
light on my dark lantern, which had a
powerful reflector, that no person could
look at without being blinded and tax
ing my revolver at full cock, 1 made a
dash for the office door. Clapping the
lantern on the window ledge, so that it
shone full in the office, I quickly turned
the key, and holding on by the knob of
the door, looked through the glass just
by me; never was game more complete
ly bagged; they had no doubt been
aroused when entered at first, but see
ing me pass carelessly on, felt more Sc
cure than ever, and the second time l
entered took them by surprise. There
were three in all-one a mere STRIPPING,
such as burglars often use to pass
through small apertures, fanlights, pan
els, etc., to admit the more bulky opera
tors.
One murderous looking outlaw, red
shirted, Garibaldian looking fellow, had
apparently started up when dashed
i'll, and expecting me to come through
the door, was prepared to receive me on
the point of a "bowie" about foot
long, which he held in readiness; how
ever, declined this delicate little atten-
tion, and stayed outside; the other two
were still on the floor, by the safe, which
was blown open, and the contents scat
tered about in great profusion. l man.
aged that my head and my revolver
should both appear at one and the same
time. "Don't move a limb" 1 ex-
claimed; "don't stir a peg; 1 cover
every movement; hold six lives here
it's no use, gentlemen, you're in limbo
"Put back your hand" said I to the
young man, as saw stealthy move as
if for a weapon, you're not ready to
die yet" He quickly drew back, or the
next instant should have shot him, for
it was my only safe course, but then the
spell would be broke, and wild work
would follow. "Now, gentlemen" said
I, facetiously, "you're bagged, there's nc
denying that, and know Just what you
can do, and just what you can't do
Three of you can not get out of there
alive. Two of you might, and give me
lively turn; but that one that moves
first dies as sure as fate. Who shall il
be" They were demoralized from tina,
moment. This was putting the matte,
in an unpleasant shape, which they die
not relish. Not one stirred, but glared
at me like wolves. At last my brigand
near the door proposed that should
come in and arrest them. "No, gentle
men," said 1, "seeing that the hour il
untimely, and there are three of you, il
will be but showing you ordinary cour
tesy to have Others present. l shall now
call for my comrades, and in the mean
time don't fear that I'll neglect you
you can sacrifice yourselves at any mo
ment, only make up your minds who i
to die first, lit was my policy to keel
it before them in this shape and if yol
all desire to live, don't do anything tc
disturb my nerves, for if my fngel
should by mistake give twitch on thi
trigger, 1 may do that I shall be sorry
for"
expected break when I called, bu
with steadfast look inside-a look so in
tense that it caused my eyes to ache ant
my sight to blur-I called, "Watch
Watch |" Soon 1 heard them come
first, sturdy Joe Scott, from Vesey street
thep the Stringhams, from the inne
market, Barney" from West street
and, indeed, there was help enough
Upon entering, my " Garibaldian" (wh
seemed to be the leader,) made a lung
at Stringham, but he was too wary al
old fox to be caught easily; he parriet
the blow with his club, and then intro
duced the toe of his boot under the fel
lows chin, and sent him sprawling back
ward. This was favorite move of hi
(Stringham'sl, upon which he pride
himself greatly. Eventually the tw
elder burglars did the State some SCI
vice; being recognized as old offender
their sentence was heavy; one of ther
was a noted cracksman," from Liver
pool, of whose arrival the police ha
been apprised. The younger of th
three was sent on the island for one yea
and six months, but he was off again i
less than two months, for saw hin
and he told me how he had escaped b
swimming. He also told me that ono
on that night nearly caught thel
when endeayoring to fit a key to tt
door that they had been inside abor