The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-02-14
A STRUGGLE IN MID-AIR.
Terrible Fight Between Merchant
and Thief on the Roof Of a Three

story warehouse
The Detroit Free Press has a sensational
story about thrilling adventure undergone
by merchant of that city On leaving his
store at night, he thought he smelt cigar
smoke, and made hasty search, but found
no one. On thinking over the matter after
reaching home, he was still uneasy and a
remark made by his wife increased his fears.
So he determined to return to the
store. On doing so, and finding
everything all right on the outside, he
hesitated about going in. After a moment
he saw policeman block and half away,
and he unlocked the door, passed in and
struck a light The odOr of cigar smoke was
strong enough now so that there could be no
doubt. The merchant had no firearms, and
as he looked up the dark stairway he picked
up the coal shaker for weapon. He heard
no noise on the second floor His wife's words
forced him to ascend the next flight of stairs.
There were but few goods on the third floor,
and sometimes it is not visited for two
days at time. Everything seemed to be all
right but as the merchant cast his eyes aloft
he saw that the scuttle hole in the roof was
open. A ladder led to the roof as fire es-
cape, and one could traverse a whole block
on the roofs. The man placed his light on
the floor and assembled the ladder, thinking
perhaps some careless hand had left the
Scuttle open. He had not the least fear
now, and went boldly ahead. The door was
thrown back on the roof so that he
must needs 90 clear up. As he stepped out
on the roof and rose up he staggered or
slipped, and this fact saved his life. A pow
erful blow from a club just missed his head,
and so great had been the force exerted by
the striker that the club flew from his hands
and rolled along the graveled roof to the
water trough. The slip, the blow and the
discovery that there was a stranger on the
roof were made at the same instant and be-
fore the merchant had fairly Strengthened
up the assassin had clutched his throat and
bent him over on the roof. The wonder is
that the sudden surprise did not entirely
unman the citizen, who is over fifty years
old, and has had little or no physical exer-
else for years. But he seemed to realize
everything in an instant, and as he was bent
backwards upon the roof he began fight
for life. Neither he nor the assassin will
ever fully realize the peril of the next tlf-
teen minutes The merchant threw up his
hands and caught the fellow by the hair, and
his sudden jerk was followed by an exclam-
alton of pain. The robber broke his hold
and started as if he would escape, but the
other had only reached his feet when the
fellow returned to the attack. They clinched
each other without a word. The assassin
was the stronger, but the merchant the more
agile. They were below the scuttle, and
naturally worked toward the caves. Indeed,
that it was his plan to throw the merchant
into the alley. He could pick him up, but
as he attempted to move along the merchant
would trip his legs. They struck each other
with their fists-they seized new holds-they
strained every nerve for an advantage,
and twice they rolled over and over on
the roof All this without a word. One did
not dare raise a cry, and the other knew
that his life depended on his own desperate
off 4 IN no txxyn mo or nm,
the very edge of the roof, straining and tug
ging. If one went the other must 60, and
after a glimpse into the dark alley below
they both instinctively drew back. The as
saSsin now began to breathe heavily, as if
losing his wind, and the merchant forced
the fight. Had he been little strong
er he might have captured the fell
low, as he tripped him twice in sue
cession, but could not hold him down.
As they were struggling up from the last
fall the merchant received a blow in the
throat, and that for a moment made him
weak and almost helpless. This Opportu-
nifty was seized by the assassin to escape.
He ran off over the roof, but which way can
not be told, as the merchant was al
most in faint 1t was full half
hour before he was able to leave
the store, and then private Waterman
called carriage for him. 1t was found that
the scuttle cover had been forced up with an
iron bar, and it 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. 1t is said that
he is certain of the identity of the rob-
Der, who is, others say, relative and EN-
ployed in the store until few days ago.
That he did not murder the merchant is no
word in his favor. He meant to do it, but
pluck and strength deserted him at the same
time His victim is badly bruised and bat
tered and will not be out of bed for a week
His clothing was so torn in the conflict that
the entire suit was rendered useless for fur
Their wear, while valuable watch was pulled
out of its pocket and crushed under their