The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-02-12
A Battle on u FHouse-ToD.

A Battle on Housc-ToD.
DESPERATE STRUGGLE WITH A BURGLAR
MYSTERIOUS SUGGESTION FROM AN UNCoS
SCIous INVALID.
from the Detroit Free Press.I
One OF the most desperate and peril
Gus struggles ever engaged in b!
two men occurred within three blocks
night about midnight. One of the
actors is an old citizen. much respected, ant
is at present under the doctors care. Hi:
wife has been dangerously i'll for severa
DAYS, and the name is suppressed at tht
earnest request Of the physician, who ha!
closed the house against callers. The citi
zen is proprietor OF store, and though the
doors are always closed early in the eve
ming he has for the past few eve
ninss been busily closing up the years
business, and has sometimes remained til
9 or 10 O'Clock. Friday he remained at his
desk until 10 O'Clock. As he was ready tc
60 out he thought he smelled smoke, and he
took a candle and aScended to the second
story. Here. while the smoke OF burning
cigar was strongly apparent, he failed to
trace it in any particular direction, and at
length doubted whether he really scented
smoke at all. After a careful search he de-
sccnded to the Office, waited few minutes
longer, and then started for home.
The merchant lives in the northern part
Of the city, and at IL O'Clock he was in his
wife's sick-room, slippers and dressing.
gown on. She was feeling much better that
day, and was sleeping as he entered the
room. AS he sat down.. the doctor, who
had been called to a house near by, stepped
in to see if the change was still for the bet.
ter. The two men were whispering to-
sether when the sick lady moved uneasily
and called out:
"He ought to have searched the thirt
story, tool"
Did the words refer to her husbands
search OF the second story of the store, OF
were they the speech OF some curious
dream? No one knows yet, rs she is too il
to talk. The nurse, doctor, and husband
heard the words plainly, and all heard alike
They made no impression on the first two
but the physician had no sooner departed
than the husband set out for the store, ner
vous and fearful. He reached it in half ar
hour, anu finding everything all right OF
the outside he hesitated about going in
After moment he saw q policeman bioci
and half away, and he unlocked the door
passed in, and struck light. The odor o.
cigar smoke was strong enough now so tha
there could be no doubt. #.
The merchant had no firearms, and as ht
looked up the dark stairway he picked W
the coal-shaker for weapon. He heard NJ
noise on the second floor. His wife's word;
forced him to ascend the next flight Of stairs
There are but few goods on the third floor
and sometimes it is not visited for two days
at time. Everything seemed to be al
right, but as the merchant cast his eyes alof
he saw that the scuttle-hole in the roof wa;
open. 4 ladder led to the roof as fire
escape, and one could traverse whole
block on the roofs. The man placed hi:
light on the floor and assembled the ladder
thinking perhaps some careless hand hat
left the Scuttle open. He had not the leas
fear now, and went boldly ahead. The dool
was thrown back on the roof, so that bt
must needs go clear up. AS he stepped ou
on the roof and rose up he staggered OF
slipped, and this fact saved bis life. a
powerful blow from club just missed hi
head, and so great had been the force ex
erted by the striker that the club flew from
his hands and rolled along the gravellet
roof to the water-trough. The slip, the
blow, and the discovery that there was {
stranger on the roof were made at the same
instant, and before the merchant had fairly
straighted up the assassin had clutched hls
throat and bent him over on the roof. I.
The wonder is that the sudden surprise
did not entirely unman the citizen, who is
over fifty years old, and has had little or nc
physical exercise for years. But he seemed
to realize everything in an instant, and as be
was bent backward on the roof he began 6
fight for life. Neither he nor the ASSASSIN
will ever fully realize the peril OF the next
fifteen minutes. The merchant threw uE
his hands and caught the fellow by the hair
and his sudden jerk was followed by an ex'
clamation OF pain. The robber broke hi:
hold and started as If he would escape
but the other had only reached hi;
feet when the fellow returned to the at
tack. They chnched each other without 8
word. The assassin was the stronger, but
the merchant the more agile. They were
below the scuJtle, and naturally worked
toward the caves. Indeed, the stranger
soon betrayed the fact that it was his plan
to throw the merchant into the alley. He
could pick him up, but as he attempted te
move along the merchant would trip hi;
legs. They struck each other with theil
fists, they seized new holds, they strained
every nerve for an advantage, and twice
they rolled over and over on the roof. Al
this without word. One did not dare raise
a CRY. and the other knew that his life de-
pended on bis own desperate efforts.
At one time the two men stood on the
very edge Of the roof, straining and tug.
eiug. If one went the other must go, ano
after glimpse into the dark alley belo"
both instinctiyely drew back. The assassin
now began to breathe heavily, as il losing
his wind, and the merchant forced the fight
Had be been little stronger he might have
captured the fellow, as he tripped him
twice in succession, but could not hold him
down. AS they were struggling up from
the last fall the merchant received blow
In the throat, and that for moment made
him weak and almost helpless. This
was seized by the assassin to
escape. He ran over the roof, but which
way cannot be told, rs the merchant was
almost In a fainr. 1t was Q full hour before
he yas able TO leave the store, and then O
private watchman called carriage for him.
1t was found tha. the scuttle had been
forced up with an iron bar, and 1t was plain
enough that the robber was coolly smoking
his cigar on the third floor when the second
floor was first searched. He was very likely
In the office on the ground floor when the
merchant first ratified the door.
AS there was but one man the public may
wonder. The merchant does not. Il il
said that be Is certain Of the Identity OF the
robber, who is, others cay, 9 relatiye, and