The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1882-03-16
MY RURGULAR FRIENDS.

you that there's certain seasons OF the year
when people refuse to commit suicide,
when there's no victims of murder, when
railroad trains refuse to smash, and
burglars and thieves insist on remaining
inactive. No reporter is required to
furnish just a certain amount of matter
each day, but most reporters are ambi-
tious to furnish all they can; and SO when
these dull times come the journalist takes
longer tramps, writes of matters which
would be overlooked in "good times"
and does his best to keep up his show of
local news.
Years ago, when I was member of
the local staff of a New Orleans daily,
we had bad summer of it. Accidents
were hardly known; few new building
were going up, and we had to "draw
OUT on things to make even half show.
We finally started the interviewing
business. One of the boys gave the ex-
perience of gambler, another the adj
venture of river pilot, and in time we
had worked up everybody but the burg
lars. 1t was left to me to hunt up some
one who could enlighten me on the mys.
teries of midnight visits in search of
''swag" and "sugar." Ibeleived / could
find man, or half dozen of them. 1
had in my minds eye saloon near the
river where suspicious crowd was
always congregated, and knew that two
fellows known as "Big Sam" and "Awful
Dave" had just come out of State Prison
and were hanging around the place.
Were I to enter the saloon, sday or
night, inquire for one of those worthless,
order the drn.ks, and then frankly tell
him who l was and that wanted him to
give me the foundation for a general
article, why. of course, he would do it.
So argued, and when the time came
around that such sketch would "help
out, " | made my arrangements.
went down to the saloon one Friday
afternoon, and L had the luck to find
both men i'll. After beating around the
subject for a spell | came directly to the
point. / did not ask them to criminate
themselves in any way, but to furnish
me an insight into their mode of "put-
ting up" and executing ''jobs."
"Well now, you've got u.s." replied
Dave. "We couldn't begin to tell you.
1t all depends on what you mean to do.
You might go into house by the hall
door one time, by the window another,
and next time you might not go in at all.
We go accordin' to circumstances. Cir
cumstances often knock oil plans on tho
head"
wanted to get them to talking on the
subject, and did not much care what
they said, as calculated to prt my i'm
agination at work and give in some
adventures which would be considered
"tall," even by old professionals. I
learned from the men what articles con-
stituted burglars exit" what they
and thought 1 had secured about all
needed information, when Davis detained
me.
"We can give you some big things in
this line if you will 60 to little trouble
We know where there's 'cracky' lying
low just now, who can talk to you all
night, and he'll give you some almighty
big points,"
replied tnat I would go to considera-
BILE trouble to interview the man, and
asked how the meeting could be brought
about.
easiest thing in the world" lie con
tinued. "Come back here at ten o'clock
tonight and we'll go with you. Mind,
now, if you go to blow on us to the
detectives you'll get yourself into a
muss!'
[ was an innocent ass, eighteen years
old, and, though living in the city sew
eral years, had not sense enough to warn
me that the company of such men after
night was dangerous. 1t did not strike
me then as it did afterward that the men
were too willing to oblige me in matter
of no interest to them, and I agreed to
return to the saloon at ten o'clock.
I was free of duty after nine o'clock
that night, there being DO meetings,
lectures or outside business on the diary.
[ mentioned the fact of my engagement
to the city editor, and he warned me that
] had better break it. The men might
have some designs against me, or might
lead me into trouble. He said so much
that l gave up the idea, and slipped my
revolver from my pocket to the table
drawer.
Having an hour to while away before
bedtime. l set out for the theater. 1
was not four blocks from the office, when
l ran against the two convicts. They
recognized me in moment, and insisted
that | should descend into a basement
saloon and take glass or cigar. They
anxiously inquired if I intended to keep
the appointment, and appeared disapoint
ed when / informed them that other
engagements prevented.
cit was only a step-only two or three
blocks, remarked Dave. eve are both
iard fellows, but we wouldn't never
think of harming you. We were just
doing it to oblise."
The two talked so much that I forgot
the words of the city editor, and at
length resolved to accompany them. I
proposed to use Only an hours time, but
they said this was enough not only to
hear Cracks" story, but to examine
his exit" of burglar and safe-blowing
tools. Blessed fool that / was, to think
4 f..A 4