River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-12-25
THE CHARLEY ROSS BURGLARS.
Detailed Account OF Thoir Death.
from the New York sun, Dec. i5.l

forty feet from the Shore road, at Bay
Ridge, and nearly mile above Fort
Hamilton. The building is two stories
high and is painted white. 1t is old.
fashioned and roomy. 1t has front
and rear porch, and in the centre Of fine
grounds. The house is known as the
country seat Of the Judge, but he has
not occupied il for tN o or three seasons
He and his brother, John Holmes Var
Brunt, and many Of their heirs, were
born in it, John Holmes Van Bruni
now lives on a farm adjoining the
Judges place, and has much more
stylish dwelling. In the winter The
Judges dwelling is unoccupied. a ser
want, William Scott, has room over
the stable, about hundred yards from
the house, and watches over the premi.
ses. The house is elegantly furnished
aud contains other property Of great
value. An electric burglar alarm was
arranged to connect all the windows
and doors Of the Judge 5 residence with
the brothers.
THE DETECTION OF THE BURGLARS.
Mr.. John Holmes Van Brunt has
been seriously i'll for many days. Or
Sunday evening he complained moro
than usual. and his wife sat by his bed.
side and cared for him. About two
O'Clock the burglar alarm from ne
Judges house startled them. Thewi(e
called their son Albert, who hastily at.
tired himself and hurried into tic sick
room. Tho father thought thu proba'
bly, the wind had blown with Nich force
against some Of the windowsds to start
the alarm. lie told Alberto 90 to the
house and see what was wrong. The
young man put a revolver his pocket
and took a lantern With him. The
wind was blowing a gale and there was
a cold, drizzling rain. 1t was very
dark. When within two or three feet
Of the house he saw light in the
kitchen. Next lac saw 1t disappear
from the kitchen ard brighten up a
room adjoining. 1t vas plain that he
needed assistance, ald he went to the
lower barn where Scott was sleeping.
Scott took the laut'rn and Albert got
two shot guns. Hermann Franks, a
hired man. was also awakened, and he
and Scott were each given gun. Then
Albert told his iaeher burglars were in
the Judges house. The elder Van
Brunt was scarcely able to rise from
| his bed, but he insisted on arming him.
self with shot gun, and giving one to
his son they started out. The light
was still moving through the house
The ground was very damp, and MIR
Van Brunt was chilled, but he would
not go back. lie discovered that the
cellar door in the rear of the house was
open, and he and Scott took up posi-
ton about twenty-five feet away. They
stopped near big tree aud awaited tn,
coming OF the burglars through the
cellar way. Albert and Frank station
cd themselves at the front gate.
THE ANBuscADE.
About thirty seconds elapsed, ana
the watchers plainly saw the light fit
ting from room to room. The elder
Va pr"nt honaura impatient. ant
thought of the great risk lIe was rua
ming in exposing himself to the night
air. lie approached the house and
stepped upon the porch. SCOTS Ian.
tern was hidden behind a little summer
house, and all was dark without. Mr..
Van Bruut looked through the shut.
tiers and saw two desperadoes One
was carrying light, and the other had
something heavy before him. 81 could
have shot them then, said Mr.. Van
Brunt afterward, but | hadn't the
heart to do it. lie went back to
where Scott was, and stopped as before.
Thirty seconds more probably passed,
and Mr.. Van Brunt lost all patience.
He ordered Scott to so to the kitchen
door and unlock it, while he kept
watch at the opened cellar door.
Scott put the key in the lock, which
was rusty, and the harsh sound must
havebeen heard by the burglars, as in.
stantly their light was .xtinsuished.
Scott fell back to where Nr. Van
Brunt was STOPPING, and "a Y saw
something like tho ignities d a match
IN the cellar.
They are coming" whispered Scott.
Mr.. Van Brunt raised his gun. In a
moment two dark objects emerged from
The cellar way. The white background
Of the house made plain the forms Of
the burglars. They ascended the steps
slowly, and their heads were seen 20
turn.
"Stanj," shouted Mr.. Van Brunt.
The command was scarcely uttered
before the fire from two pistols was
seen and loud report was heard. The
balls whzzed past Mr.. Van Brunt. lie
pulled the trigger Of his shot gun, and
one Of the burglars clutched at the eel
lar door and br0cod himself. This wa,
the one afterwards learned to be Doug
las. Mosher, the taller and more pow
erful. starred wildly for the side OF thC
house. and Douglas started after him
Albert Van Bruut and Frank were al
the front cato. They saw the burglar,
coming. Albert raised his gun.
stand, or I'll shoot YOU r. Albert
yelled
uANp-ro-HAND FIGHT.
The answer was a pistol shot that
grazcd the Young mans coat. Albert
fired and missed the foremost burglar
who drew nearer 10 him. The Young
man had no time 70 lose. The desppr,
ado was fast closing on him. and wa,
n ~ HHEHH L. - q