Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-07-28
A SHOWER OF BULLETS.
STREET DUEL IN CHICAGO


sboo,,ua and AdvaucIng-The comp"''"''
Empty Their REVIEWERS and Both Are had
" Wounded
A Chicago Gll.) special OF sunday
saws: An exciting scare, after the APP
proved border fashion, took place on
State street this afternoon between 70
lice-Officer Peter Soergel and Charles
M. Eberts, of Topeka, Kan. The COM
bat was short, sharp, and furious. In
less than two minutes the men ex-
changed fourteen revolver shots, and
great excitement prevailed in the crowd
ed thoroughfare.
According to the officers account no
was walking south on the east side OF
State street when the first bullet struck
him. He was then in front OF No. 4ls
State street. For an instant after eI-
perieneipg the shock he did not know
what had happened to him. Then the
report Of the revolver sounded IN front
of him, about fifty feet distant
A DELIBERATE SHOOTER.
Tn the middle OF the street stood
Eberts. preparing to fire second shot.
The wild westerner had his revolver
pointed at the officer. In the door
wars on both sides Of the street many
women and children were seated en-
loving the fresh air, while the side
walks were crowded with people. Be
fore they had time to realize what bad
occurred Eberts had fired again. He
stood with his left foot slightly for
ward, his head bent over the weapon,
and in order to secure deadly aim he
shaded his eyes from the rays Of the
sun with his left hand.
PERFORATIEG THE POLICEMAN.
The first bullet struck Soergel few
inches above the right hip. lie caught
sight Of his would-bs assassin just as
the second bullet pierced him under the
left shouldsr-blsde. Quickly drawing
his revolver he leapsd off the sidewalk
to give shot for shot. EbertS advanced
a few steps, firing rapidly and appa-
rently with as much GOODNESS a. il be
were indulging in some favOrite pas
time.
RETURNING THE FIRE.
Though feeling the sting Of his
wounds and almost blinded by the sun,
Soergel fired as he advanced. Eberts
refrained from approaching further,
but stood his ground with the utmost
GOODNESS and deiberation. He kept up
a continuous fire, sending bullet after
bullet in the direction OF the advancing
officer. Eberts's fourth shot lodged a
bullet in Soergel's left arm. Still the
policeman advanced, resting his To-
yolver on his wounded arm and firing
with all the precision he could com
mand. As soon as the on-lookers real
lied the situation they began to thrOng
the Railways, dodge around the cor
ners. and crowd behind friendly dry
goods boxes.
EMPTYING THEIR REVOLVERS.
Socrgels second shot wounded the
Kansas man in the left knee. 1t Grip
pied him and he started to run. Shouts
from row Of second-story windows
caused him to turn about again. Seer
gel was coming toward him. Three
shots more were fred by the policeman,
and Eberts took aim to retaliate. He
snapped his revolver in the face Of the
officer. then about ten feet distant, but
no report answered. The revolver was
empty. EbcrtS then ran, and as he fled
he kept fumbling with his hip-pocket.
Soergel, now almost at his heels, snap
ped his revolver at the mans head, but
the weapon missed fire.
TIE DESPERATE ARRESTED.
Soergel had fought his man to the
corner of Polk street, nearly half a
block, when Eberts turned, with Sc
cond revolver in his hand. Before he
could use it he was in the grasp OF 9
young man who had witnessed the due
from corner store. After a struggle
Ebert. was made prisoner. A crowd
Of excited people gathered around, and
but for the officers interference Ebert,
would have been lynched. lie wa
taken to the armory.
PROBABLY A CRANK.
Little is known OF Eberts. lie i!
about thirty years OF age, but it i
thought that he is crank. Las
Thursday night he was locked up anC
fined s35 for fourishing revolver OF
the street. He said tonight that h
came from Topeka, and was a ma
ckinist by trade. He also says thai
Soergel was the man who arrested hin
on Thursday.
Officer Ssergel has the reputation o
being the most fearless man on th,
force. In 1883 he became involved il
quarrel with some drunken BOhe
mians, and shot and Killed one OF thu
party who refused to submit to arrest
Soergel is badly though not danger
! oucly -ounda1