, 1872-12-26
SANGUiNARY AFFRAY.
Desperate Encounter Between Two
C010red hen.
The Dining-Room Of a Hotel the
Scene Of the Occurrence.


In theAyenue House, at the corner OF Twenty
second street and Wabash avenue. colored
nan named Robert Hill, who offciated in the
:itchen IN the capacity of meat cook, got up in
the morning in q 6aTage state OF mind, and
threatened that he "wou1d kill two niggers
before night" He conducted himself in such
an outrageous fashion that, to avoid trouble,
Mr. Danolds, the proprietor, told his partner,
Mr. CLARK, to employ 3 substitute Immediately,
and discharge the offender. Mr. Clark went
out for that purpose, about II o'clock,
and Mr.. Dano1ds was absent from the
house on other business. Another colored
man named John Anderson, who had been
threatened in the morning by Hill, WAS in the
dining-room engaged with his contemporaries
laying the table for the Christmas dinner. Hill
entered the room, armed with clcayer, which
he brandished around lke an Indian with a
tomahawk, and WAS looking around Tor his in
tanded victim. Anderson saw him enter and
knew what he wanted. Hill did not observe
Anderson, who WIS just inside the door, in the
shadow Of the stove. Determined that Eill
should not have him at dis
sdvantage, he precipitated the encounter
by grasping Hill around the waist, at
&he came timo holding up the hand which
'grasped the cleaver. They fell, and the next
thing that was known, Hill WAS bleeding freely
from several wounds. No one seemed to know
what instrument waa used to infict the cuts,
which we're deep, long, and cleanly done. The
back was gaahed distance of fifteen inches
from the right shoulder-blade, parallel to the
spine, and two OF three inches from it. The
muscles we're severed, and the flesh lay orer On
each side of the cut. Another cash
Was bleeding near the left 6hou1der-blade.
This WAS Elk inches long. There we're
also two wounds on the top Of the head, prob
ably made with the Bsrle weapon, whatever it
~as. One Of these cuts WAS four inches long,
ard the other two. They penetrated the skull
'The occurrence occupied but q short period, the
result being TINT Anderson escaped rnhurt,
while Hill, who proposed to kill Anderson was
lalmost dead himself. One OF the walters took
the cleaver from ELL, and he walked down to the
kitchen, and, ar1ming himself with murderous
butcher knife, came up stairs again in
search Of Anderson, whose existence he
vowed he would terminate. Rapid loss Of
blood caused him to fall insensib1e cn the floor.
He was then disar1ned, aud DR.. G. 8. E1dridge,
one Of the guests Of the house, examined his in
juries. The wounds were dressed, and he vas
taken to the County Hospital, where he now
lies in precarious condition. His recovery is,
1o Say tue 1eas1, uAeefta1a. AnneFson R2a ar
rested.
The strangest part Of the affair is that 20 one
seens to know what wespon WAS used by An der
6on, but the character Of the wounds indicate
that it was razor or sharp pocket knife. It
is supposed that, anticipating an attack by Hill,
he made arrangements to defend himself. An
derson, who II young man Of about 20, bore
IN excellent character in the house. and WAS re-
Earded By the proprietor and guests as one Of
The most accomp pliehed OF walters Hill, On the
other band, is described as ugly at times, and
perfectly uncomfortable when under the in-
duence OF liquor. He is supposed to have been
drinking early in the morning.
The affair did not create much excitement in
the hotel Tho hour Was fortunate. There
were no ladies' in the dining~room. The propri-
etors regret that such unfortunate event
ehou1d have taken place in their house, but they
could not help it. Another cook was put in
Hills place, and the Christmas dinner did
suffer BY bis absence.