Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-01-18
FIGHT WITH BURGLARS.

Twice in my life have been placed in
positions that served to harrow up my soul,
freeze my young blood" and turned my hair
as gray as rats before my fortieth birth
day
had been hired. when a small lad, as an
under clerk or apprentice in a wholesale hard
ware store in New York After several
years service, during which | gained good
practical knowledge of the business and
gradual promotion, | became the head sales
man and enjoyed the fullest confidence of my
employers
| was nearly 20 years of age when the ad-
venture which am about to relate occurred.
The work Of my early apprenticeship had en-
larged and strengthened my muscular sys-
TEN, my health was at its best and as had
never been exposed to peril knew but little
Of the sensation of fear
For many years had slept alone in the
store. Every evening the doors and win
dows in the rear were protected with heavy
iron shutters, swung from outside and
strongly barred and bolted inside, the hatch
ways leading to the cellar and second 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 sell
dom removed
Ny bed occupied corner of the counting
room, midway between the front and rear
of the store, Upon retiring | always turned
off all the gas, for, If necessary. could, from
long familiarity with the store and its con-
tents. make my way safely about all parts of
it in the most profound darkness
In all my mercantile life tho prarniSas had
never been beset by burglars, and. indeed, the
store was so carefully closed and guarded
against intruders that it was deemed invul-
nerable
One night | was suddenly awakened BY
some noise that seemed to come from outside
of the store. As 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 he a saw and other sharp
implements In operation Thus impressed |
quietly rose, dressed and made my way in the
dark to the front
Listening for few seconds, | could hear
faint whispers. and then the sound of small
saw. Then knew that burglars were cut
ting a hole in the door in order that the kew
might be reached and turned From marks
discovered on The key, during a subsequent
examination, 1t was evident that they had
tried to turn it with nippers, but it was too
cuinbrous, and the effort had been aban-
doned
could have frightened away the intruders
by making a noise and lighting the gas but
wished, If possible, to thwart their purpose
In another manner, and capture one Of the
mnrauders, With this intention cautiously
crept 10 package Of stout bed cords, one Of
which seized. and returned to the door In
the end OF the cord made an easy running
nocse, and strongly fastened the blight to the
leg of neighboring counter that supported
heavy boxes Of tin plate
Then | carefully held the moose around the
place where the burglars were cutting the
hole. After waiting few minutes. beard
them remove the piece Of wood which they
had saved out, The light of a bull's-eye Ian
tern flashed for an instant at the aperture,
sufficiently to reveal its outline and enable
me to adjust the moose Then mans arm
was thrust through thc hole
This was the opportunity for which had
waited. quick and vigorous movement
drew the noosc tightly around the fellows
wrist. aud then | hauled On the cord With all
my strength until | had pulled the arm
through the hole u far as | could uotwith-
standing the opposition manifested by its
owner
There was no noise, although the fellow was
undoubtedly IN great pain, and when I had
firmly secured the cord to the counter felt
along IL until touched the arm, and found
that 1t had hcea forced through the opening
almost To the shoulder.
| was no. In the least frightened bad
one OF the burglars a prisoner, and knew
that the others would not long remain with
him On the whole | was rather pleasantly
excited and quite exultant over my success
Slipping on my shoes, lighted three or
four gas jets unfastened back door and
shouted down the alley for policeman As
soon as be came let him inside Of the store,
and then We began to reconnoiter and ascer-
tain the status Of affairs at the front The
arm was still there, Of course-I should have
been exceedingly astonished IL it had dinp-
peared The cord was tightly drawn around