The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1883-02-08
4 NrGnT ApYENTURE m LONDON.

.lrfi u nc ulIuO WAS u9
gales were blowing terrific hurricane.
it was raining in torrents. / had the
misfortune OF dining out, not far from
Hampstead, in one Of those numerous
suburbs OF London where cabs on a
rany night or on any ordinary morn NO
are as scarce as pleasure yachts on tho
SUNNI of the Rocky Mountains | was.
therefore. toiling ankle deep in water
and drenched to the marrow, when
suddenly apiercing yell rose for sec
ond or two above the continuous up-
roar OF the tempest. j rushed forward.
a young and active policeman, emerg-
ing at the same time from some inyisf-
Die spot, passed me with lightning ra-
pidity. quickly caught up with him.
His helmet, however, was already
drifting on the overilowed g1tter, and
he was engaged in fierce conflict. The
villain ha was fighting was mechanic
OF ponderous weight, evidently an ex-
perienced ruflian, an old hand at muir
derous assaults, whom he had disturbed
IN the act of kicking his wife out of OK
istehce, Tho unfortunate woman was
lying on the ground wailing Accord
ing to the training Of the London
roughs he had anticipated the police
! mans intervention by trying to ram
w
vigorously plunging ones head in ones
adyersary's stomach Unlike most Of
the members OF the Metropoltan forco
whom have generally seen taken by
that trick, the young pol ocman warded
OF the attack, and for moment
stunned his foe by lifting his head with
. well-judged blow from the left. But
1t was only an ephemeral success The
villains head had come clear in time
out,ot other mills. The policeman was
soon overmatGhed but ho was an OBJ
sCinate young Irishman, and he cluno
to the man as q wounded bloodhound
to a wild boar. He refused TO be shaken
of. The situation was critical. Sud
denly band Of half doom men. riot
ous and drunk, who had lust been
turned out from neighborin9 tavern,
came toward us bowling a low cantata
TO the incoheront strains Of tin whistle,
"HOlloaW exclaimed ono O.; them.
"here ie jim drumming on hobby's
other.
what are you iawine ahouton in.
terfered third; obi ter tn, M p,
Jim. and stiff him, ally how"
"Pn swing for tho bl ody 'op."
echoed the miscreant, by way of show
ing him elf worthy of the encourage.
mont
The policeman, however. did not yis.
IDLY caro- for anything but his duty. He
had Just succeeded in blJwinga whistle.
Upto this time had been Occupied in
Trying to revive the half-murdered wom-
an, but now | tn ,ught [ w uld leave h,r
alone Tor awhile. Fortunately tho
whistle ad boon hearL, and ! st then
two stalwart p licemen, long used to all
varieties of rulfaEs, favored by the
darkness Of the night and the noise f
the wind, unexpectedly appeared on tho
ground and rapidly changed the physi-
ognomy of airs. Jim was secured
and marched Off, and one of his friends,
having made determined attempt ut
res uing MN, was soon, owing to tho
ARRIVAL OF TWO more constables. though |
unWillingly, addict to the Importance Of
the procession. AS to myself, | was in
Vited by the police to come to the STA
Gion as witness. The errand had but |
nttle attractioni the walk had none, as
the tempest was still at its highest, un-
concernedly Juggling with unroofed and
mrooted stray fragments.
1he station was reached. Our gen.
eral condition was so lamentable that it
seemed as If the wise Inspector might
have his doubts as to whom he would
charge. Jim, however, was eventually
put behind the iron bars whore every
prisoner is charged before being taken
70 the cell in which, unless bail is ten
dered and accepted, he spends the hours
VIII Oh separate him from his appearance
before the magistrate. A policeman
stood by him outside the bar jim was
particularly repulsivo man, with a low
forehead, q curl of hair on the temple, n
rough red beard under the chin, o
broken noso and q retriever's mouth.
The scale on tho wall fixed him at five
feet ten, He had the back of q brew
er'B horse. His clothes wore much
torn, and he exhibited other proofs of
the steadness with which the Irish po-
liceman had played a losing game.
Nevertheless, he bore his fate spirited
~. de listened .contemptuously to tho
cause given for his apprehension by the
constable tho had arrested him to tho
Inspector. When searched he prinned.
When questioned as to his name, his
age. bis procession, his residence, he
sneered deEantly. and as he looked
quite refreshed and ready for another
bout, moro policemen silently grouped
themselves around him in order To
quickly overcome all troublesome re-
pugnance that he might manifest at be-
ing shown to q cell. This display of
force probably convinced the prisoner
OF tho afutility OF sally for when or
6iered to ret re he simply indulged q
few eStemporized imprecations, which
rang in tho police hall as If launched
giraightou of hell. had to give my
name and address as witness and was
told by the Inspector that he would OK
pect me on the next morning at ten
b clock at the Police Court.
was at this court at the appointed
1mes The access to the place resembled
10 Taneh sone of the worst haunts that
I hesitatingly inquired, fearing to be
laughed at. from q ruddy cobbIer if 4
vas in the righS direction,
sCan It you read that ere inscription
5n that 'ere door Police CouTtP'"
aid he. Indicating an unpreending
,uilding; and then, with cunning
srIn, pointing to varlous groups of un-
lttractjye creatures who exclusively oc-
'upied the approach 10 the place.
'gan you see that you are at the right
7ioket9 HI OF the hupper crust ere,
fna fttt.est 20 cratssf, tpt.s nh tbaiF eyvnok