Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1888-01-26
"CoOs HUNTING,
Confusion Caused By a Coon.

twice lately. They closed early
Thursday night. As Mr.. Ben
Schmidt was going home from town,
passing by the store, he heard a mys-
FERROUS noise inside, as if some one
was hammering on iron. He sus-
pected burglary at once and started
for policeman He failed to find
one. Telling his story to two other
gentlemen, they decided to go down
and reconnoitre. They heard the
noise, and were likewise convinced.
Two of them were stationed at the
building to watch and the third
started out with palpitating heart,
but with unfaltering resolution, up
on the long and weary task of find
ing a policeman. The vigorous and
persistent blowing of the police
whistle alarmed quite a crowd.
Among others, a BANNER reporter
caught on and falling in with the
crowd, which was constantly increas-
ing by new accessions, proceeded to
the scene of the disturbance. Ar
rived at the place a spectacle was
beheld, which might well cause ones
blood to thrill. Two brave and de-
termined men, weapons in hand,
were holding at bay at least 20 bur
glars. This was the number
they said were in the house
though the crowd had not
been there's minnie before they had
increased to 200. A brief consulta-
ton was held. Some favored quick
and decisive means. Others favored
a siege, thinking the burglars could
more easily be starved out than cap
tured. But when it was remember
ed that the store was chuch full of
provisions and eatables, to say moth
ing of turntables, this plan was dis
carded. Finally it was decided to
send in accommodating party, con-
sisting of Messrs Swain and Lockett.
A rapid inspection of arms was had.
Captain Woehler had rifle of new
and improved design, said to be very
effective at the breech. On account
of his well known bravery as well as
his superior supply of weapons, Mr..
Herbst was chosen captain. He had
a rife, a shot gun, sword, spear,
a rapier, slung shot, niger
shooter sand bag, butcher knife,
a dirk, a bowie, a meat axe and IA re
volvers. Mr.. Seelhorst suggested
that he be allowed to shoot through
the door, remarking that it would
certainly cause the burglars to shoot
out at the front door, when they
could be easily captured The sng-
gestion was not adopted. Mr. Seel-
horst, was made End Lieutenant,
however, for his courage. The mys-
FERROUS noise still kept on and every
time it sounded, one could hear a
dozen guns click, and two dozen
hearts beat. Expectation was
wrought up to the highest pitch.
Breathless silence prevailed. The
accommodating party began work.
They searched every nook and cor
ner of the house. They turned over
every box, tub, bucket and vessel in
the house, but no burglar was to be
found. Finally away up in the far
corner, small box was spied.
There was evidently something un-
derit. A scareof guns were pointed at
the spot. The bravest man in the
crowd proceeded to turn it over,
when strange to say, by some leger-
demain, the burglar yes all the
burglars, had transformed themsel-
yes into a-coon, a harmless coon.
He was tied to a piece of loose gas
pipe, hanging upon the wall, and as
he moved to and fro, the pipe struck
the wall, and made the mysterious
noise. The feelings of the crowd
may better be imagined than de
scribed. They had captured the
burglar, but somehow they didn't
feel proud of it. The health of the
coon was drunk by the multitude,
and adj went home. The members
of the posse were far too modest to
say anything about their valiant ser
vices in behalf of the peace and good
order of the city. But the exploit
leaked out, and the citizens feeling
that such merit should not GO unre-