The daily gazette., 1881-11-21
A POLICEMAN NEARLY KILLED,
Oncer Chambers Terribly Beaten
by South Side RuHians-His Re.
cOvery Doubtful.

gang Of iuffians, Saturday night, while |
engaged in the discharge of his du.
ties.
Three of his assailants, Hairy But
Ter, Arthur Emerson and John Bliz>
zsrd. have been arrested and are held
at the police station to await tho re-
suit of policeman Chambers injuries.
These three, with seme oher boon
companions, were on o drunk, Satur-
day evening, and had thrashed man
at Second and King streets only about
an hour before their trouble with the
officer.
At Fourth and Market streets, about
nine o'clock, Butler committed an un-
provoked assault upon two colored
men who were quietly passing by
Officer Chambers witnessed The as
sault, and started after Butler, who
ran around on Fourth street and into
the Swan Hotel. The officer followed
him back into the reading room and
there arrested him, Butler first resist
ing, but afterwards submitting on be-
ing thrown to the flaor. On reaching
the pavement, however, and seeing
his friends awaiting him, he again ie-
sisted, and in the struggle that ensued
both fell into the gutter, Butler falling
on top. Chambers clung to his priso-
ner, notwithstanding Buffers friends
al once commenced kicking him vi
ciously, and succeeded In regaining
hls feet. BY this time large crowd
had collected, but no one offered to
assist the officer, although by this
time it was evident that the whole
gang was making q concentrated at
tack upon him. They forced him
around the corner into Market street,
and again tumbled him into the gut
ter, Butler falling on top. Again
Chambers rolled over, and again But
ler's friends attacked him moro saw
agely than ever. They kicked him
brutally IN the side and back, and one
of them-Chambers says it was Ar.
thur Emei son-struck him q violent
blow on top of the head, either with a
stone or black jack, inficting nasty
cut.
All this time officer Chambers clung
to Butler with the tenacity of a bull
dog, and refused TO let him 60. He
called on the crowd for assistance, bit
no one responded. Finally Chambers
struggled to his feet, still holding on
to Blu lei, and started off with him,
AS he was crossing Fourth street he
was met and relieved by officers Kane
and Boster, who came down from the
police station, some one having sent
word of the affray going on. Butler
was locked up in one OF tho police sta
tion cells, where, for nearly an hour
he beloved like q baby.
Officer Chambers came up more
leisurely, and at the station had the eu'
OIL his bead sewed and dressed by DR.
Springer aud Chief Maxwell. lie then
walked out to his home, No. lOl7 West
Front street, and retired TO bed.
Between IL aud II o'clock he awokt
In terrible spasm. HIS vile instantly
summoned assistance and sent Tor ply
slcians, but before the latter arrived the
spasms followed each other In quicl
succession. lie ragged terribly aud |
took the united strength Of eight men t.
hold him in bed. Drs. 5. l.. West ant
| /. w. Hazlett arrived about midnigh
aud did all In their power. The spasm
continued at intervals until Sunda.
morning when they subsidized, and h
fell into quiet sleep.
Yesterday he continued in o yer.
critical condition and had several NOR
spasms, the last of which occurred abou
10 o'clock Last night. DR.. j. A. Drape
also attended him at the special reques
OF Attorney General Gray, who
deeply incensed at this outrage upon
peace officer while engaged In the dis
charge of his duty. 1t is the opinion @
The physicians that the trouble come
from an injury to the spine, the cut Of
the head, though severe, being merely
flesh wound. The officer was severel
kicked by his assailants and there is
place along the spine SO sore that b
fiinches In agony at the slightest touc
laid upon it. DIR. West thinks there
a serious irritation Of the spinal cort
caused by the pressure either of seruI
or blood clot. Ii by the former th
trouble will probably pass away In q da
or two, but II the pressure 10 from
blood clot there will be grea. danger
paralysis and consequent death, III
+ morning the patient was rational and
fair condition, though very weak. ID
physicians, however, are not yet pr
pared TO say he is out of danger.
Yesterday Sergeant Cannon al
|. Officer Hardy arrested John Blizzal
. and Arthur Emerson, the former at b
l home In Sixth street, between Pine al
. Spruce, and the latter on Head stree
i between A aud b. They were taken
b the cells in the Chy Hall,an there v /
Q Butler, were locked up to await hes
! ing.
: Emerson and Blizzard are employ
s as helpers at the Old Ferry Mill of /
Diamond State Iron Company and b,
Ter is an employe Of the Lobdell e
Wheel Company. The Morning Ne
d says that "all bear unenViable repu
= Lions and have figured in police court
z, FREQUENT occasions as the principals
d cases of assault and battery, drunke
ID ness and dlsorderly conduct"
re Itmay also be added that notwil
8 standing Emerson and Butler We
Of deemed proper persons TO act Ms pres.
" yers of the peace in the capacity of u.
Of DEPUTY Marshals, al the general FL
~ tion. last year. Emerson is the yot
d Who did such remarkable swearing
es the Government In equally renarkal
election trials that are still pending
the United States District Court.
tries to throw the whole burden Of
ev assault upon Butler, and says that b
ed Ter was "putting 1t to Chambers. so" &
u there was no necessity for Interfere,
", by his friends.
al Officer Chambers has been on
police force since Nov. 8, 1870. when