The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-12-08
IRON &c rror,d.nc, .1,urnnl |
aAidtstagaatss AtlEalluEeso OF o SaInnambu-
1IsE-KW0rnan Mired ON the Ffuts of
the Hfver-DarfnE Conduct or q
pollanu7nx,. 49,, .,s#

Eti'f lic THE.t'Hr' d lU.nlI
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Of. q Salnnambu.,
1IsE-Ew0naan Mired on the Ffuts Of
the Hfver-Dnrfng Conduct or .
Pollecmnn. aa
About 2 O'Clock yesterday morning, as
Officer Augustus r. TalIman, of the Fifth
Police District, was on his way home, after
his seven hours beat, he heard the cry.
"Poliee !'' Murder!" borne on The night
air la a woman.s voice. Although tec6ni-
cally "of duty" the true policeman is never
"off. duty" when his services are required,
and Officer Tallman belonging to this
class. he followed the sound as rapidly
rs he could, which led him to the
foot Of Henderson street. Stopping here
to make certain, he still heard the
cries of 4 woman in distress somewhere
ont in the lnud-tlats, but be could see nothing
in the intense darkness. Twas time fcr
prompt action, SO, not knowing what he was
10 encounter, he sounded his whistle as q
signal for help in case lie should need it,
hastily took off his clothes, with the excap-
ton OF his shirt and hat, rolled them upoin
bundle and laid them On the shore. and
rnlling bis shirt up under his arms, he boldly
plunged into the mud and the darkness.
Think of an excursion in the cold mud Oh Il
dark night in December, with no clothes on.
you who lightly value the services of the po-
|'licttndn. or who enjoy so heartily any stage
satire on them. Guided by the sounds
only. which were growing fainter, and
occasionally shouting as an encourage
mcnt to whoever might he there, the
| officer calamity kept on his way, the
| mud growing deeper and deeper, ard stick
Ter and stickier, ill he found himself up to
| his waist, his progress all the time. growing
| ut
| Ing him to fear bis own life was in danger.
! Indeed, he did get stuck in the mud once
or twice, and twas only with great difficulty
that he managed to get along at all. He
could by this Time hear the tread OF the Off
GERS coming to his aid, in response to his
whistle. but that was little encouragement
just at that time. Finally, sitter wat!ins
| long distance he reached 4 Woman'> head
and arms lying on the flats. her body beiG1
entirely submerged in the mud. He didn't
stop 10 ask questions then, but cheering her
as we'll as he could, he infused new life
| into her by his presence, and succeeded
| in getting her cut OF the depths,
and the two started shOrcWard. The re-
! turn was at first even more hazardous than
| had been his trip cllt there. for now he bad
two 10 look after, but ~ the md grew III re
! shallow her courage grew stronger and tIcll'
progress easier, and in due course OF time
| both arrived on terra ttrl0. Here other
| officers were in waiting, who took charge OF
her and carried her to the Richmond->trcet
station, where she was cleaned. dried. and
warmed. She gave her name Us Mary Quinn.
said she was stopping at the house OF Michael
| Kelley, on Plane street, and that she went 20
bed as usual Wednesday night, and the next
thing she was aware Of she WAS ilorlndcring
i'm the mud, and all her efforts to get out
only served TO lead her in deeper. She had
on nothing but dress and chemlSe, and
thinks she must have cot up in her sleep. put
on her dress. and walked out there, waking
only when the mud began TO chill her
through and make walking require Il great
effort.
Now comes The ludicrous part Of the ad
venture, though twas anything but ludl'
crous to the officer at the time, however
much he may have laughed 1t it since
When the officers took the woman to the
. station they left officer TaIlman in shirt and
hat, covered to the waist with a thick coat
ing of dock-mud, and bis clothes rolled up
in bundle. Here was pretty plight. His
clothes were all right; but how would they
bc if he got into them in that condition
lie would need n new suit sure, which was
not 10 be thought OF Ill these nara llulcS'
His house was only half Il mile or 50 away
50 he took his clothes under his arm and
started for home As he was. Imagine stout
policeman bcatin" along the street under
cloSc-reefed top->ails so early in the morn
ine. Aside from the di>comiorts attcndln.
: the situation, there WAS danger even in
that. Suppose lie should meet any one
was there not liability of arrest for indie
cent exposure? Who would rccoguiza him
in that plight, or believe he was 4 police
officer? Such lodging up lanes aud by
WAYS rs he went through when lie heard
footsteps approaching (and he did meet
several persons even At that early hour
: must have given him some idea OF the feel
ingS OF wrong-doerS when he gets after
them, so perhaps he can sympatllze Il little
with such in future. However, we are glad
; to chronicle the fact that at last hc'arriveJ
: home in safety, anu that yesterday he suffered
no i'll effects from his mcritcrouS, danger
: Gus, lie.Siying, udicrous adventure, but can
: laugh rs heartily as any one at the appear
ance he must have made while going VI
Lockwood street in Il state which WouG
have been uakcdnc3s only for dock-mud. He
certainly deserves great credit for his pronp
and energetic action, As but Tor thar Tat
woman must have persisted in very short
time