The weekly Shasta courier., 1873-07-26
Men who Face Death Policeman,

Don't you go and make any mistake
The pictures IN the comic papers, and all
the rest of the jokes about policemen may
all be very well in their way, and can laugh
myself at good joke at the expense of the
Force, but for all that there is not as much
in them as some Of the would-be sharp ones
make out. Most Of EN- are as stale as they
well can be, and though for anything know
they-may have been to the point some time,
they ain nowadays, not by long way.
There's saying about life not being all
beer and skittles, and you may take my word
for it, that life amt all cupboard courtship
for policeman. Even if he had the ncli-
nation for it, his superiors would take pre-
cious good care that he didn't spend his
time on duty making love to cooks and feed
ing in gentleman's kitchens That may be
very well in pantomine, but it's about as
much the real thing as pantomine fish and
carrots are and, whatever people may think
policemen don't always come up Just when
afght is over, and it isn't only women and
little boys that they collar-I should like to
see some of them that talk that way have
to tackle some of the customers that we
have to do they'd mighty soon alter their
tone l expect. Why, taking it all through
there's few businesses are more risky than a
policeman's. In plenty Of neighborhoods
he goes on duty with his life in his hand
People read and talk about the dangerous
classes, but it is the policeman that has to
deal with 'em, and it's him as knows hou
dangerous they are. Then know whether it's
women or boys that we collar; they know
who lays them by the heels, and they re
member it with vengeance. Revenge is
sweet is motto with good many of
them, and when they ale loose they will
often go long way to have it on the man
that has been the means OF caging them
that was how l came by the cash you see
on the side Of my face here.
had got customer two years for steal
ing lead, and was one of those that escort
ed him to the van after he was sentenced
and as We passed along he growls out to me
under his breath, d" You We scored this chalk,
but you may lay any odds that I'll score the
next, if l have to die for it..
l could tell that he meant what he said,
and bore it in mind. When he was out
again, kept well on my guard whenever l
saw him lurking about; but at length he
was too sharp for me-
One rather foggy night l was passing the
top OF dark side street, when hearing a
rush, l wheeled round as quickly as could
but it was too late. I just caught sight
OF the scoundrel making hit at me with a
bottle tied in handkerchief, and the next
instant / was stretched senseless. | shall
carry the marks of the blow to the grave
with me, as you may see, and it was pretty
nigh carrying me to the grave | was with
in an halt an inch of death, as you NAV saw.
for if it had been half an inch more on the
temple it would have been an end of me-
as 1t was, it laid me up for about three
months, but beyond marking me, it did me
no permanent harm.
When l got on my duty again | said moth
ing, but made up my mind that there should
be third chalk to the game between me
and the fellow that struck the blow. He
had bolted as soon as he had done it, and
hadn't been heard Of sinca; but for all that
felt quite sure he would turn up in his old
lurk again, sooner or later, for his wife and
all his companions were there. SO I watch
ed and watched aid snre enough at the end
OF couple of years l spotted him again. /
found out that he had only been back a
week when / caught sight Of him. and so T
didn't try to futter the nest to soon. | let
three months go by. so that he might think
he was all right, and then went in to score
my next chalk.
reported him and half a dozen of ms
were told TO take him. Three went into
the house after him, two kept watch in the
front, and I took my stand at the back. the
way he was likeliest to come if he managed
to make run Of it. As it turned out, he
did make run, or at any rate he got a
start.
1t was low built house, and before those
who went in could get up stairs he dropped
ont of the bedroom window, coming down
safely on his feet but before be could take
to his heels i was facing him, my right hand
holding my staff ready-drawn behind my
baek, my left hand ready to collar him.
"Oh. it's you, is it," he grinds out be-
tween his teeth, and before l could say a
word or move an inch, he had whipped out
a large clasp knife. could see murder in
his eye, and SO dashed in at once to seize
him but before could lay bold of him he
had gashed my hand to the bone-and then
it was my turn. He was drawing back to
make a running stab at me, when, quick as
tightening, and with all the strength could