New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-17
HE KICKED THE BURGLAR OUT.
FOUR ROBBERS ROUTED EMPTY HANDED.
BoNIFAcE TAPPEN, OF sHEEPsHEAD BAY. SAVES
Ills MONEY Ky PLUCK AND MUSCLE.

BONIFACE TAPPEN, OF Dali SA' i~'
Ills MONEY By PLUCK AND MUSCLE
Some cnterprisIng burglars nearly "bursled'
quiet little hotel at shccpshcad Bay, IN tho smali
hours OF yesterday morning. Tho PROPRIETOR Is
George Tappcn. who has lived in that quarter of
Concy island for the last forty-four years This IS
his first experience with burglars, and he does not
waItt another Mr. Tappcn IS bachelor and his
mother, who is sixty years of age, Keeps house ior
him. lie was asleep in his room, when measures
twelve feet by twelve and Is on the second noor WIN
the whole receipts Of Saturday and Sunday upward
Of $780, in the pockets of his clothes, but thefe "ero
ITO thieves in his dreams, and he had his bedroom
door and window wide open.
lie was awakened suddenly shortly after Q a. m. BY
fash OF light in his dazzled eyes. He scarcely re-
allied that dark lantern had been flashed upon them,
when he heard n hoarsc voice say Keep s'ill'
Mr.. Happen is in the prime Of life. squarely built
strong and not cowardly by any means. So, drowsy
as he was instead of keeping still he kicked vigor
ously with both feet, sending the intruder with the
lantern clear out to the landing at the head OF the
stairway Mr. Tappen Immediately followed his feet
out of bed and, sprngng TO the floor rushed to tho
landing There, as he told Tribune reporter, he
saw several men, four he thinks indstlnc'y IN tho
darkness, and before he had time to call for as
sistancc ono OF them fired at him. The bullet, from
32-ca,brc revolver Just missed his left arm Cthc
rascal had undoubtedly aimed at his heart and lodged
In the wall where 1t was afterward found embedded
Mr. Tappcn now shouted Justify for help. The
first response was from Captain Jordan Greenwood,
of the sloop Netie, which belongs to Mr. Tappcn and
anchors IN the bay not hundred yards from the
hotel. Edward Holmes. a summer cottagcr on part
Of Mr. Tappen's property, also heard the ely and hu
ricd to the hotel. The burglars became alarmed at
this stage and before the got to the scene Of
action tumblcd pellmcn down stairs and away, no
one knows where.
Mr.. Happen asked his nclchbors TO communicate
with the police and they summoned Officer james
Jameson. All that he found the bullet I'm the
wall ana long, nooscl rope, lying In heap on Mr.
Tappen's bod and without doubt intended either to
bind sranglc him with II all had gone well for tho
burglars. Mr. Happens mother is a plucky woman
As he could he hurried to her room, not far
from his own, to II she was all right lie found
that she had struck a match aud getting ready
TO come and what was the matter, having heard
the scufe and the pistol shot
The whole neighborhood stlll excited over the
matter when Tribune" reporter visited 1t In the after
noon. All the cottages surrounding Mr. Happens hotel
at present occupied by we'll known people. Among
his nclghbors Harry Mann, The manager Of
the Evans & Ioey Theatrical Company, and Robert b.
Mantcll, the hero of MOnbars7 Gus. Pitou, and W.
J, scanOn, who IS widely known from his song Peek
a-BOO.' Their peaceful vacation al Sleeps head has
never before been disturb d By such occurrence.
The Oldest lnhabitent who Is probably Postmaster
Bur:s, docs not remember its Hike, and everybody
hopes that the housebieahing villains viii b. brought
to justice and that their example VIII have followers