Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1889-09-04
FIGHTING WITH BURGLARS
Two Victorious Encounters WIN
Mignight Marauders.
ADVENTURE NO. /.

freeze my young DlOOu, anu Jul ~ - -,
as gray as rats before my lor'ieUn VII VII
| day.
under-clerk or apprentice in a wholesale
hardware store in New York After sew
eral years service, during which gained
good practical knowledge Of the business
and gradual promotion, became the head
salesman and enjoyed the fullest confidence
| of my employers.
was nearly twenty years OF age when
| the adventure which am aboutto relate oc-
Cured The work Of my early apprentice-
ship had enlarged and strengthened my
muscular system, my health was atlts best,
and as had never been exposed to peril
knew but little of the sensation OF fear.
For many years l had slept alone In the
store. Every evening the doors ana WIN
dows IN the rear were protected WIN
heavy iron shutters, swung from OUTSIDE
and strongly barred and boted inside; the
hatchways leading to the cellar ana seconu
floor were securely covered and fastened; :;
one Of the massive wooden front doors was
bolted at the top and bottom, while the
other was only carefully locked, and the
key was seldom removed 20
NV bed occupied a corner OF the counting
room, midway between the front ana rear
of the store. Upon retiring always turned
off all the gas, for, If necessary, coulu'
from long familiarity with the store ana its
contents, make my way safely ABOUT ali
parts of it in the most profound DARKNESS
In all my mercantile life the premises
had never been beset by burglars, and, IN
deed, the store was so carefully closed
and guarded against intruders that 1t was
deemed invulnerable.
One night was suddenly awakened by
some noise that seemed to come from out
side of the store As l raised myself in
bed TO listen / heard a neighboring city
clock strike two. When its vibrations
ceased. | felt sure that something was
wrong at the front door. There seemed to
DO saw and other sharp implements in
operation. Thus impressed, quietly rose,
dressed, and made my way in the dark TO
the front. ~--.s.s--.
Listening for n few seconds, could hear
faint whispers, and then the sound OF
n small saw. Then l knew that burglars
were cutting hole in the door, in order
that the key might be reached and turned.
From marks discovered on the key, during
subsequent examination, 1t was evident
that they had tried to turn it with nippers,
but it was too cumbrous, and the effort had
been abandoned.
| could have frightened away the IN
truders by making noise and lighting
the gas, but wished, if possible, TO thwart
their purpose in another manner, ana
capture one Of the marauders. With this
intention | cautiously crept to package
of stout bed-cords, one of which l seized,
and returned to the door. In the end Of
the cord made an easy-running moose, and
strongly fastened the blight to the leg OF a
neighboring counter that supported heavy
boxes Of tin-plate
Then carefully held the moose around the
place where the burglars We're cutting the
hole After waiting few minutes, heard
them remove the Eicco of wood which they
had sawed out The light OF buh's-eye
lantern flashed for an instant at the aper-
ture, sufficiently TO reveal its outline and
enable me TO adjus the moose Then mans
arm was thrust through the hole,
This was the opportunity for which mad
waited A quick and vigorous movement
drew the moose tightly around the fellows
wrist, and then l hauled on the cord with
all my strength until had pulled the arm
through the hole AS far as l could, nolwith-
standing the opposition manifested by its
owner.
There was no noise, although the fellow
was undoubtedly in great pain and when
had firmly secured the cord 10 the counter i
felt along it until / touched the arm, and
found that il had been forced through the
opening almost 20 the shoulder,
Twas not in the least frightened. l had
one OF the burglars prisoner, and knew
that the others would not long remain with
him. On the whole, was rather pleasant
ly excited, and quite exultant over my sue
cess,
Slipping on my shoes, l lighted three or
four gas Jets, unfastened back door and
shouted down the alley for policeman. As
soon as he came let him inside Of the store,
and then we began 10 reconnolter and as
certain the status Of affairs NJ the front
The arm was still there, Of course-l should
have boen exceedingly astonished II 1t had
disappeared. The cord was tightly drawn
around the wrist, aud the hand was black,
owing TO the stoppage of the circulation of
the blood.
The policeman then returned 10 the alley
and made his way 20 the front picking up
another oEicer ON the street 10 assist him
Presently heard them shouting 10 me that
the burglar was dead; that his companions,
finding il impossible 70 release h.n, and
fearful that he would expose them 10 the
authorities, had cut his throat from ear 10
ear.
was young aud unused % dreadful acts
like tins. and the unexpected denoacment
not only astonished me, hut SO shockod my
nerves that nearly tainted. The roturn OF
the policemen 10 aid me in looSenmg the
arm aud open the front door partially re- I
stored me but after the dead burglar had
been removed aud the doors were securely ,
refastenei. | could DO nothing but walk the .
roor In great nervous distress until il WAS +.
time 10 open tue store for business ia tue Z
morning.
Then, when the clerks arrived, and had .
related my adventure 90 them, was fa4n .
10 40 home aud avoid tho excitement that
knew would distract me II l renamed %
answer tho thousand questions that would
be asked of me.
IAsd ealy enc ssssfscsieA. hpslt was oas
fCuntinuSd On third plsr,